The Mystery of the Tiger's Eye by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

society people came. Two brothers who performed a magic act were hired for entertainment. I suppose the crowd was more interested in eating and talking than watching a couple of men do card tricks. The youngest magician became angry because they weren’t paying attention.”
    â€œWhat did he do?” asked Jessie.
    â€œHe announced to the party-goers they would be sorry they’d ignored him,” Edward replied. “He said he would be a great performer one day and astound audiences the world over.” Edward’s voice dropped to a hush. “Then the young man predicted odd things would happen in this very building. He would leave something of himself behind.”
    Violet’s eyes were wide. “Did anyone find anything?”
    Edward shook his head. “No one found anything unusual. At least, not that I know of. But some very strange things began happening about a month ago.”
    â€œWhat kind of things?” Henry asked.
    â€œPictures shifting from one room to another on different floors,” Edward replied. “Books falling out of bookcases when no one was around. The clock stops and starts at odd times. One morning I found a playing card in the kitchen sink! Nobody in this house plays cards.”
    Henry leaned forward, interested. “Who were the magicians at that party?”
    â€œThey were called the Houdini Brothers. One of the brothers was Harry Houdini,” said Edward.
    Henry was impressed. “Harry Houdini was the most famous magician in the world! He was an escape artist. He’d be locked in a trunk with chains around his hands and feet and he’d still get out.”
    â€œCool!” Benny said. “And he was here?”
    â€œYes, but I think Harry Houdini was simply showing off that night,” Edward stated. “He was very young, just starting out as a performer.”
    Grandfather looked seriously at his friend. “Are these strange events still going on?”
    Edward nodded with dismay. “James, it’s very important to stop these … pranks. I want Cliffwalk Manor to be a nice place for my great-nephew.”
    Grandfather lifted his eyebrows. “Your great-nephew is here? I thought he lived in Europe.”
    At that moment, footsteps clomped down the grand staircase. The sullen face of a dark-haired boy around Jessie’s age appeared in the doorway.
    â€œOh,” he said. “I see these people are here.”
    â€œCome in, Dorsey,” said Edward. “Meet James Alden, my college roommate. And these are his grandchildren — Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. Everyone, this is my great-nephew, Dorsey Pindar.”
    The Aldens said hello, but Dorsey merely scowled.
    â€œWhen is dinner?” he demanded. “I’m starving.”
    â€œIn a little while,” replied his great-uncle. “The Aldens need to get settled first.”
    â€œHurry up,” Dorsey said. “I’m used to eating at exactly six o’clock.” He stomped back up the marble stairs.
    Edward turned an apologetic face toward his guests. “Please excuse my great-nephew. I’m afraid he’s had a different lifestyle. His parents — my niece and her husband — are archaeologists. They are on a dig in North Africa for the next two years.”
    â€œDorsey doesn’t live with them?” asked Grandfather.
    â€œNo, he’s always gone to boarding schools in either England or Europe,” replied Edward. “But now my niece and her husband have decided that he should be in the States. So they found a boarding school in Virginia. He’s only staying with me until the school starts next week.”
    â€œIt must be hard for a young boy to live with strangers,” Grandfather said sympathetically.
    â€œWe wouldn’t want to live with anyone but you, Grandfather,” Violet said loyally.
    Edward sighed. “I’ve been trying to convince Suzanne, my niece, that Dorsey