The Mystery of the Merry Magician (9 page)

The two men walked down the dock, leaving Gully staring after them, a little resentfully. Then he smiled, put his notebook into his pocket, and began to gather up the dishes.

“I deserve to be kidded by Velie,” he said to himself. “After all, space monsters! Silly … but I’m beginning to believe in them.” He frowned. “Well, I did see the thing …”

He shook his head, shrugged and took the dishes below to the galley. By the time Peggy returned with several heavy shopping bags, the dishes were washed, dried and stacked away.

“What does a detective do when he’s working on a case?” she asked while storing away her purchases. “I mean when he isn’t fighting or shooting or things like that?”

“You’ve been watching television shows,” Gully laughed. “Uncle Ellery says it’s mostly gathering information. Anyway, I’m
not
a detective and I’m
not
working on a case.”

“Well, does a detective just wait for the facts to come to him?”

“No.” Gully had not thought of that. “You’re right. I shouldn’t just wait …”

“What are you going to do?”

“Maybe I ought to keep a watch on Mr. Merlin’s place.” He observed Peggy’s face as he spoke, not sure of himself. “There are a few things about him that are suspicious.”

“I’ll help,” Peggy said. She seemed very sure of herself. “I like him. But that doesn’t stop me from suspecting him …”

“Of what?”

“I don’t know, exactly. What about attacking Mr. Ryan?”

“Ha!” Gully snorted. “Don’t tell me you’ve got a woman’s intuition about that!” He turned to the stairs. “I’m going to watch Merlin’s house.”

“I’ll join you after I finish my work here …”

“All right.”

Gully wasn’t quite sure of how a detective went about watching a suspect. Of course, he thought with a smile, he wasn’t a detective. Still, it would be useful to know some of the tricks.

On sunny days the shadows under the elevated highway were deep. That was where the tall, gaunt man had been standing the day he watched Merlin. The sharp contrast with the bright sunlight on the street had made it difficult to see him lurking in the darkness. Vaguely, Gully thought of doing the same thing.

But the overcast sky had wiped away all shadows, spreading a uniform grayness everywhere. No hiding place here, Gully realized when he passed under the highway.

On the sidewalk, Gully assumed a casual manner. He thrust his hands deep into his pockets, bent his blond head forward and slouched as he walked.

But his eyes, in swift searching looks, sought a place from which he could keep a watch on Merlin’s house without being seen himself. As he passed Sandro’s building, he glanced quickly at the painted window—it was impossible to see anything going on inside. Mr. Merlin’s door was shut and his windows, Gully noticed with surprise, were covered by heavy shades.

Beyond Merlin’s house was a store with a deeply recessed doorway. Gully was considering the place when he heard the door of the magician’s store begin to open.

Instinctively Gully dived into the doorway and flattened himself against the side.

“All right, my friend. You can come out.” It was Merlin’s voice, light and cheerful.

It brought panic to Gully. For a moment he had the sinking feeling that Merlin was talking to him.

“I can’t take the chance of being seen around here with you,” another voice spoke, a deep, vibrant voice.

Merlin laughed. “Who’s to know you?”

“I might be recognized. Being with you, some people might think …”

“I set up my shop here because it’s out of the way,” Merlin interrupted. “Now stop worrying. I did what you wanted …”

“It was a good night’s work, Magnus.”

Merlin said in a light, bantering tone, “I was well paid for it.”

“You’ll say nothing about it to the Brotherhood?”

“Not a word. You can depend on old Magnus Merlin.”

“I will. Goodby.”

A tall, thin man passed Gully’s hiding place, carrying a large, paper-wrapped package under his arm. Gully recognized him instantly. He fell back against the old doorway, barely stifling a cry of amazement.

It was the gaunt watcher with the skull-like face.

Merlin stood outside his store, chuckling and muttering to himself for a few moments. Gully waited. The moment Merlin went inside, closing the door behind him, Gully was out of his hiding place and striding swiftly after the gaunt man.

He had no plan clearly in mind. But he felt that this mysterious man had something to do with the events of the night before. Had he paid Merlin to attack the watchman?

When Gully reached the corner the man was already halfway up the block, walking quickly without looking back.

Gully followed. Keeping close to the building line, he set a pace fast enough to catch up. By the time the gaunt man reached a subway entrance, Gully was only a short distance behind him.

The man did not go down the stairs immediately. He stopped to look about cautiously. With the first movement of the man’s head, Gully turned to a store window and stared intently at the display.

He saw the man’s strange face reflected in the glass for a moment. Then the black, piercing eyes swept away. Apparently satisfied that he had not been followed, the gaunt man disappeared into the subway.

Gully took a long, deep breath, then followed the man.

It was late afternoon when Gully returned to Pier A. The sky had cleared and a blazing sun blistered the city. Tired and hot, he walked toward the barge feeling the fresh river breeze on his flushed face.

As Gully stepped to the deck of the barge, Peggy and Fisty popped out of the deckhouse. Their faces were stiff and worried. But at sight of him, relief came over the two.

Fisty raised his fist at his friend and growled, “I’ve got a mind to give you a taste of my knuckles! Where’ve you been?”

“I looked for you, Gully. We were so worried, we didn’t know what to do …”

“Yeh! In ten minutes I was all for calling your grandpop!”

Gully sighed wearily and dropped into a chair.

“I found out who the mysterious tall man was,” he said. “The one who had been watching Mr. Merlin’s house.”

Fisty and Peggy stared, wide-eyed. Gully told his two friends of the conversation he had overheard between Merlin and the gaunt man, then how he had followed the man.

“He got off the subway at Times Square …”

“You followed him?”

“To a little boarding house, or maybe you’d call it a hotel. A dirty, run-down sort of brick building.”

“What if he’s spotted you? You ought to have your head examined.”

“Fisty is right. I thought you said we’re not detectives? Just gathering facts …”

“Well, gosh! The man paid Merlin for doing
something
last night. The only thing I can think of is Mr. Ryan …”

“So? Now Mr. Merlin’s a killer, huh?” Fisty snorted. “Not that little guy.”

“You saw how he handled Sergeant Velie,” Gully said. “Like he was a little boy!”

“Okay, so he’s a handy guy with his hands. So what? It doesn’t prove a thing.”

“I’m not trying to prove anything. Just to find out who the man was. How is Uncle Ellery going to solve the case if I have no information about this man?”

“What’d you find out?”

“His name is Thundero and he’s known as The Man Faster Than Lightning.”

“That all? You took a chance of getting your head knocked off just to find out that?”

“It’s what I’m supposed to do, get all the facts I can,” Gully replied. He pulled the notebook out of his pocket and waved it under Fisty’s nose. “I can write down who the man is, where he lives and what he does.”

“What does he do?” Peggy asked.

“He’s a magician. He’s doing a show at a movie theater on 42nd street and Ninth Avenue, not far from where he lives.”

Fisty was not convinced. “What’s the good of knowing that? Will it help Ellery Queen solve this case?”

“I don’t know. The information keeps adding up little by little. When Uncle Ellery reads all the facts, he’ll have to decide. Maybe the solution is right in this notebook. You’ll see.”

“Okay, I’ll wait and see. But you’re not supposed to do crazy things like following dangerous characters.”

“I’m going to do something else tonight,” Gully said slowly. “Want to help?”

“Sure, what is it?”

“Never mind what it is.” Gully looked at Peggy. “Is it all right for Fisty to sleep over?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll ask Mom,” Fisty promised. “Now, let’s have it. What do you want to do tonight?”

“You’ll find out,” Gully said. “Bring your swimming trunks with you.”

“Huh? What for?”

“Because we’re going for a swim.”

And Gully refused to say any more.

I
T WAS
already dark when Fisty arrived on the pier. A night lamp inside the deckhouse cast a weak light through the windows and over the stern.

Peggy and Gully were waiting alone, Captain Foster having retired to his cabin early. From somewhere in the distance came the hoot of a ship’s horn. Except for the soft strum of Peggy’s guitar, the night was still.

“Why so late, Fisty?” Peggy asked.

“I had a lot of things to do at home before Mom would let me come.” He dropped to the deck and sprawled out. Then he said in a troubled voice, “I think I’ve figured out what you’re up to, Gully.”

“Have you?” Peggy asked brightly. “He’s such a teasel He won’t tell me a thing.”

“Yeah, we’re going hunting for the monster.”

Peggy laid down her guitar and turned quickly to Gully. “You’re not! What a crazy thing to do.”

“Whoa! Not so fast,” Gully laughed. “We’re not going after your space monster, Fisty.”

“No? What are the swimming trunks for, huh? We’re going in the water, aren’t we?”

“Yes, but …”

“And what happens if you swim right into that horrible thing?” Peggy interrupted.

“We’ll get away from there as fast as we can,” Gully replied.

“Oh, sure! That ought to be easy.” Fisty said gloomily.

“We’ve tried to find out where the noises come from,” Gully said, standing up. “We tried on land and failed. Now I want to try from the river …”

“It’s too dangerous,” Peggy said.

“Not any more than snooping around Pier B,” Gully replied. “I’ve got to find out what makes that noise.”

“Why?” asked Peggy.

“It’s only half a fact right now. Uncle Ellery wants
whole
facts.”

There was no arguing with that. Fisty shrugged and frowned.

Peggy said, “I’ll dress in my cabin, you use the deckhouse.”

“You’re not going with us,” Gully insisted. “We need someone to keep watch on deck.”

“You’re just saying that because I’m a girl!”

“No.”

“I’m going with Gully,” Fisty broke into the argument. “I’m like a fish in the water. You’re not such a good swimmer, Peggy.”

Reluctantly Peggy accepted their arguments and agreed to remain on the barge. The two boys went to change into their swimming trunks. Alone, Peggy stared at the dark river, thinking of the danger her two friends were going to face in the water. Like a silent ghost, a ship moved downstream, lights shining brightly through rows of portholes.

Gully came out, walking silently on bare feet. His lanky body was deceptively thin for he was hard and wiry and had well-trained muscles. In the moonlight his blond hair appeared almost white. In sharp contrast, Fisty was a dark, chunky figure.

“When are you going in?” asked Peggy unhappily.

“As soon as we hear the noises.”

“I’m ready now,” Fisty said hoarsely.

They waited, sitting silently on the deck. The night around them was profoundly quiet. All three were startled when the ship’s clock in the deckhouse began to strike.

Peggy counted each stroke. “Eight bells,” she said in a low voice. “Twelve o’clock.”

A distant boat whistle seemed to hang on the air. Somewhere in the night there was a screech of brakes, then the roar of a car racing through the deserted streets.

No sound came from the water. They became impatient. Gully stood up. He walked to the edge of the barge and leaned over.

“Shouldn’t we be hearing the noise by now?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe they went away?” Fisty suggested hopefully.

“Who?”

“They …”
Fisty repeated. “Whoever makes the noise.”

“We’ll see what happens,” Gully replied in a low voice.

He sat down on the edge of the barge and let his feet dangle over the side. He stared across at Pier B. It was a huge dark hulk standing massively over the water. The roof, rising to a height of three floors above the street, was clearly visible against the star-filled sky.

From the deckhouse one bell sounded.

“It’s twelve-thirty,” Peggy said in a pleased tone. “Nothing will happen tonight. You won’t have to swim out …”

“You know, I’m kind of glad.” Fisty sighed, then laughed softly. “Not that I’m scared, see. But I wasn’t looking forward to meeting that thing in the water.”

Gully paid no attention to them. He remained motionless, leaning forward to peer into the darkness.

“Didn’t you hear, Gully?” Fisty inquired in a louder voice. “I was saying …”

“I saw a light under Pier B,” Gully said.

Fisty pattered across the deck in his bare feet, shivering a little as he joined his friend at the edge of the barge.

“I don’t see anything.”

“There it is again!” Gully pointed.

“I saw it that time,” Peggy said.

“Yeh.” Fisty frowned. “What’s anybody doing down there?” Again there was a bright, quick flicker of light reflected in the pitch-black waters under the pier.

“I’m going to find out.”

“Maybe we ought to go to the pier first, huh?” Fisty suggested weakly. “From the street, I mean.”

“That would be just a waste of time.” Gully turned to the girl. “Have you a rope? Something I can use to get down to the water without a splash?”

“The rope ladder we used to bring Mr. Ryan up,” Peggy replied. “It’s hanging over the stern.”

Gully went to the stern and found the ladder. Turning, he felt around with his bare foot until he located the first rung. Then quickly he descended and slipped into the water.