The Mystery of the Merry Magician (8 page)

“Heave up, lad!” It was Captain Foster leaning over the side of the barge.

Gully pushed and Fisty pulled until the Captain could reach down and grab the man by the shoulders. Gully hung on to the bottom rung of the ladder, gasping for air while Fisty and the old captain pulled the unconscious man up and laid him on deck.

“Blankets, Peggy,” Captain Foster called. “This man is hurt. Get the first-aid kit.”

“Yes, Grandpa!” Peggy replied. She bent over the edge of the barge and asked Gully, “Are you all right?”

“Yes, just winded.”

Then she was gone. Gully climbed to the deck. Captain Foster was bending over the man, giving him artificial respiration. The man’s face was turned away from Gully.

“Who is it?” Gully asked.

“Didn’t you see?”

“I was too busy …”

“It’s Mr. Ryan, the night watchman on Pier B,” Peggy said.

“How did he fall in the river?” Gully wondered.

“He didn’t,” Captain Foster said, without looking up. “He’s been hit on the head. Fisty, go call the police. There’s a phone at the all-night luncheonette down on the next block.”

“Right!” The boy went off at a run, leaping to the dock and speeding toward West Street.

Captain Foster wiped Ryan’s face and head with a towel. The towel came away stained with blood. Following the captain’s directions, Peggy made a pad out of some gauze from the first-aid kit and pressed it to the cut on the back of the injured man’s head. Then they made Ryan as comfortable as they could with the blankets. He lay quietly, his face white.

In a moment he opened his eyes and looked about him. Suddenly he saw Gully’s face, and his lips moved as he tried to speak.

“Take it easy, mate,” Captain Foster said. “You’ve had a bad knock on the head …”

“The … thing was … in front … came right out of the … the planks … don’t know how …” His voice was faint and grew weaker even as he spoke. Gully bent down, putting his ear almost to the man’s lips. He heard Ryan say, “Behind me … some one … hit me … didn’t see him … only the thing … the thing … the black thing …”

Gully looked up as the voice died away. Ryan was very still, his eyes closed.

“Is he … is he …” Gully could not control his voice.

“Fainted,” Captain Foster said quickly.

A siren cut through the night stillness, its shrill wail rising and falling in waves as a squad car dashed down West Street and turned into the dock.

A policeman jumped out and ran to the barge.

“Let’s have a look.” The police officer knelt beside the unconscious man. He felt his pulse, then looked at his head. “Jim,” he called to his partner in the squad car, “put in a call for an ambulance.”

“You’ve almost got the bleeding stopped,” he said. “I’ll just bind this pad in place so it’ll hold until he gets to the hospital.” Peggy handed him the first-aid kit.

He worked quickly, with sure, efficient hands. There was a rough gentleness in his movements as he wound a bandage over Ryan’s head.

“Can’t do any more. The ambulance will be here soon.” The policeman nodded to Captain Foster. “Let him rest now. How did it happen? Know who he is?”

Fisty returned while Gully told the police officer all he knew.

“We had a call through Inspector Queen,” the policeman said.

“Inspector Queen?” Gully was surprised.

“Sure, I got him on the phone,” Fisty said. “He must have called the squad car.”

The patrol car had left and the ambulance was taking the unconscious man away when Inspector Queen and Velie arrived. Gully had changed into dry clothes and was drinking some hot chocolate that Peggy had made.

“I’ve some hot coffee on the stove, Inspector,” she said. “Would you like some?”

Velie answered, “Sure, that’ll get the sleep out of my bones.”

“I didn’t think Fisty would call you …” Gully began to say.

“Good thing he did,” Inspector Queen interrupted. “Now, tell me what happened.” He took the mug of steaming coffee which Peggy brought up.

Velie shook his head when Gully finished telling them about the rescue. “So all you did was pull Ryan out of the river, eh? That’s all!” He looked at the boy. “I don’t know if I would have had the courage to dive right in.”

“It was the bravest thing I have ever seen,” Peggy said, her eyes bright with admiration as she looked at Gully.

Gully blushed and buried his nose in his cup of chocolate.

“Well, one thing I want you to understand. Get that silly business of monsters and weird things out of your head,” Inspector Queen said severely. “There are enough waterfront thieves to make it dangerous around here … petty thieves, but they can be vicious.”

“Yes, sir,” Gully said. “But, gosh, grandpa! Read the notes I’ve got …”

“Save those notes for Ellery.” Inspector Queen brushed the notebook aside.

“Ahoy, there!” a voice called from the dock. “Is it all right to come aboard?”

“Why, it’s Mr. Merlin,” Gully exclaimed.

“Saw the light and you people up, so I thought I’d drop by,” Merlin said. “I was taking Banjo out for a walk when the ambulance and the squad car caught my eye …” He looked at Inspector Queen, then Velie. “No trouble, I hope?”

“This is my grandfather, Inspector Queen … and this is Sergeant Velie … and Captain Foster.” Gully introduced the magician, “Mr. Merlin has a magic shop across the street.”

“Glad to meet you,” Inspector Queen rasped. After a keen look at the magician, he turned to Gully. “As I was saying, there’s enough danger around here without inventing any monster. I don’t know but maybe you should come home …” “Aw, grandpa. I’ll be all right.”

“We live here all the time,” Captain Foster said. “Haven’t had any trouble up to now.”

“I’m around to give some protection, too,” Mr. Merlin broke in. “I’ll keep an eye out, Inspector. Rest assured … with me to protect them, they’re perfectly safe.”

Velie looked at the little magician who barely reached to his shoulder.

“And who’s going to look out after you, Mr. Merlin?” he laughed.

The magician drew himself up proudly. “I can well take care of myself,” he announced. “You’re big, but I can easily handle you, Sergeant.”

“Really?” Velie was amused. “Show me. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you …”

“It is I who must be careful not to hurt you, sir,” Merlin replied coldly. “Why, I can take you with my bare hands …”

He grabbed the burly sergeant by the arm and tried to twist it behind him. Velie laughed as the little magician struggled vainly. He could not budge the sergeant. Finally, Merlin stepped back.

“Goodness,” he said. “You are strong.”

“That’s right,” Velie replied, boastfully. Smiling he added, “But don’t you feel bad about it, Mr. Merlin. Lots of bigger men found out they couldn’t handle me.”

“May I feel the muscles on your arms?” Merlin asked with awe. “I admire strength …”

Velie laughed. “Sure.” He held out his hands.

There was a sudden click of metal. Quicker than the eye could follow, Mr. Merlin had snapped a pair of handcuffs on the wrists of the amazed detective.

“But, Sergeant, I admire skill and wit even more!” Laughing, Mr. Merlin stepped back.

For a moment Velie stared blankly at his hands. A flush began to creep over his face. Suddenly he took a threatening step toward the magician.

“My own handcuffs!” he roared. “You picked my pocket.”

“Stand back!” A revolver appeared in the magician’s hands, aimed at Velie.

“My gun!” Velie gasped.

“Better put the revolver down, Mr. Merlin. It might go off,” Inspector Queen said quietly.

“Oh, dear, yes. I don’t even know how to use this thing.” Merlin handed the weapon to Velie.

“The handcuffs …”

“Of course, sergeant.” Merlin placed his fingers on the handcuffs. They opened easily. “There,” said the magician. “Everything’s fine now.”

Velie grinned sheepishly. “I don’t know how you did it, but I guess you proved your point. Eh, Inspector?” Velie turned to his superior. “The kids will be all right with Mr. Merlin keeping an eye on them.”

Captain Foster chuckled. “I feel a lot better now I know Merlin’s on our side.”

Inspector Queen smiled. “You should have seen the look on your face, Velie.”

“Look, Inspector, let’s forget it, huh? If the boys down at headquarters find out …”

“I won’t tell them,” Inspector Queen promised. “Speaking of headquarters, we’d better get some sleep. We have to work tomorrow.”

“I’ll run along,” Mr. Merlin announced and waddled away.

“Me, too,” said Fisty. He stopped. “I almost forgot your notebook,” he said, handing it to Gully.

“We’ll drive you home, son,” the Inspector said.

They left and a few minutes later Captain Foster went below to his cabin.

“I’m going to sit up a while. I want to write down what happened,” Gully said when he and Peggy were alone on deck.

“I don’t feel like sleeping,” Peggy said. “I’ll stay up, too. If you don’t mind …”

“I’d like that.”

The night mists rolled over the river, streamers of ghostly fog crept along the surface of the water, rising and swirling until the lights on the New Jersey side were blotted out.

They went into the deckhouse and closed the door against the chilly air. Gully sat down at the small desk and began to write. Peggy watched in silence until he looked up, puzzled.

“What’s the matter?” she asked, noticing the worried expression on his face.

“It’s Mr. Merlin,” Gully said. “Banjo wasn’t with him.”

“The dog was left at home …”

“But Mr. Merlin said he was taking Banjo for a walk when he saw us on the barge and came right over!”

“Yes …” Peggy said doubtfully.

“Then he wasn’t telling the truth. He wasn’t taking Banjo out for a walk.”

“What do you think he was doing?”

Gully flipped several pages over in the notebook. “He promised that tall stranger he’d take care of something tonight.” Gully shut his eyes and leaned back. “Could the attack on Ryan be …” He didn’t finish. He opened his eyes wide and looked at Peggy.

Their eyes met for a moment. Both shivered suddenly, and it was not because of the chill dampness on the river.

T
HE
morning mist remained thick on the river. It was a gray, overcast day with the sun trying vainly to break through the heavy clouds.

Captain Foster had to leave early for the barge company’s office. He squinted up into the sky and shook his head.

“We’re in for a hot spell,” he said. “The sun will be a-blazing by afternoon.”

He jabbed his black pipe into his mouth, hitched up his trousers and jumped to the dock. Then, with a wave, he shambled down the pier to the street.

Later, as Peggy was preparing to go ashore to do her day’s shopping, Inspector Queen and Velie arrived. She stayed long enough to serve them some coffee.

“Stay and keep Gully company,” she said.

Inspector Queen sipped his coffee. “No, we have to get to headquarters. I dropped by because I like the way you make coffee.”

“Really? I thought it was because you were worried about that business last night,” said the sergeant.

“Whatever the reason, I’m glad you came,” Peggy said. Then she ran lightly over the deck to the dock and hurried away.

“Velie, you’ve got to learn to keep that big mouth of yours shut,” the inspector growled.

“What’d I say, now?”

“Too much!”

“Grandpa, if he hadn’t said it, I would have,” Gully interrupted. “It’s pretty clear you don’t think I can take care of myself.”

Inspector Queen buried his nose in his cup and said, “Not just you, Gully. I’ve been worried about what happened to the night watchman.”

“Ryan? How is he this morning?”

“I phoned the hospital,” Inspector Queen replied. “He’s still unconscious. They took X-rays. Slight fracture of the skull but he’ll be all right. He’ll have to stay in the hospital for at least a week after he regains consciousness.”

“That sounds like he’s badly hurt …” Gully said.

“He is,” his grandfather grunted. “Now you see why I’ve been worried.” After a slight pause, he added, “Let me see that notebook of yours.”

Gully handed it over and the Inspector began to read it slowly. Gully and Velie watched silently. When he had finished, Inspector Queen returned the book to his grandson.

“It doesn’t make sense, Gully,” he said. “There doesn’t seem to be any connection between the attack on Ryan and on Merlin and that … that silly space monster idea of Fisty’s.”

“But I
saw
the thing myself!”

“Somebody swimming in the river … or maybe a box or garbage. The sanitary conditions on the Hudson River aren’t the best in the world …”

“What about Ryan’s words after I pulled him out of the water?”

Inspector Queen shrugged. “We’ll know more after he regains consciousness. I’ll question him.” He turned to Velie. “What did you find out about Sandro and the houses across the street?”

“Oh, he’s a real importer and exporter. Does most of his business with South American countries. Has branch offices on the West Coast … Los Angeles. Also a branch on the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans …”

“New Orleans!” Gully cried, then quickly closed his mouth.

“Go on, Velie.”

“Sandro rented the house about two months ago. Has a two year lease.” Velie glanced at the boy. “I looked up Magnus Merlin, too.”

Gully nodded. “What did you find out?”

“An old-time magician, retired broke several years ago. He was pretty good, too. Rented his house about the same time Sandro did. But how he pays for it, I don’t know. He hasn’t been on the stage for years …”

“He invents and sells new magic tricks to other magicians,” Gully said.

“Well, that could be profitable,” Inspector Queen nodded. “Check on that pier,” he added, glancing across the water. “And the Seven Seas Shipping Company.”

“Right.”

“You’ll tell me what you find out, won’t you?” Gully asked the sergeant as the two men were about to leave.

“Sure, Gully, sure. And Gully …”

“Yes?”

“Don’t go fishing in the river.”

“Why not?”

“You might catch a space monster!” Velie laughed.