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THE STORY
Part I
"Well," said Blake, cautiously, "there
are some magicians here in this city who perform feats, or reveal what seem to
be remarkable phenomena, beyond me to explain. The greatest expert among them,
or rather the one to whom many go for instruction, gave a performance, here in
the city just three days ago. He lives in Northern India. He was to have left
the city today. They say he gives a performance in a certain cave, known as
Black Cat Cave, up in the Himalaya Mountains, that members of his own cult
cannot follow and keep their sanity. I have heard of some of his followers
leaving the cave for very fear before his performance was fairly begun. The
Magician himself claims that there is no man living who can go with him from
the mouth of the cave to the end and back again, when once he has started his
performance.
"If you think this man will interest you
I'll phone and find out if he has left the city." 'Do be so kind, Mr. Blake,"
said the Professor. "Time will drag while I wait." Blake hurried to the hotel
phone, and having satisfied himself, returned with the information that the
great Magician would leave on the 5:15 train for his home in the north, that he
could not change his plans, but that he would be delighted to meet Professor
von Scholtz.
Blake took out his watch and said, "We
have a good half hour to make the train. It is now 4 :45." Professor von
Scholtz was quick to see his opportunity; he decided to take his baggage with
him to the station, so that in case he could not persuade the Magician to stop
over in the city another fortnight, he would in that case go with him, if it
were even to go half way round the world.
Accordingly, von Scholtz made known his
intentions to Blake, who lost no time and soon had a conveyance at the
Professor's disposal.
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