TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I — THE VANISHING LADY
CHAPTER II — A DANGEROUS SWING
CHAPTER III — TOO MANY PEOPLE
CHAPTER IV — THE RUSTED WIRE
CHAPTER V — A FIRE SENSATION
CHAPTER VI — SOMETHING NEW
CHAPTER VII — THE PAPER EXPERT
CHAPTER VIII — JOE EATS FIRE
CHAPTER IX — THE CHEMIST'S LETTER
CHAPTER X — THE PET CAT
CHAPTER XI — THE RESCUE
CHAPTER XII — THE FIRE ACT
CHAPTER XIII — A SENSATIONAL DIVE
CHAPTER XIV — HEAD FIRST
CHAPTER XV — THE SWINDLERS AGAIN
CHAPTER XVI — RINGS OF FIRE
CHAPTER XVII — THE BROKEN BOTTLE
CHAPTER XVIII — A NARROW ESCAPE
CHAPTER XIX — JUGGLING WITH FIRE
CHAPTER XX — THE BLAZING BANQUET
CHAPTER XXI — HAM IS MISSING
CHAPTER XXII — A SUDDEN WARNING
CHAPTER XXIII — A STRANGE SUMMONS
CHAPTER XXIV — THE TRAP IS SET
CHAPTER XXV — A BLAZE OF GLORY
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you will kindly giveme your attention for a few moments I will behappy to introduce to your favorable notice anentertainer of world-wide fame who will, I am sure,not only mystify you but, at the same time, interestyou. You have witnessed the death-defying divesof the Demon Discobolus; you have laughed withthe comical clowns; you have thrilled with the hurryinghorses; and you have gasped at the ponderouspachyderms. Now you are to be shown a trickwhich has baffled the most profound minds of thisor any other city—aye, I may say, of the world!"
Jim Tracy, ringmaster and, in this instance, stagemanager of Sampson Brothers' Circus, paused in hisannouncement and with a wave of his hand indicateda youth attired in a spotless, tight-fitting suitof white silk. The youth, who stood in the centerof a stage erected in the big tent, bowed as themanager waited to allow time for the applause todie away.
"You have all seen ordinary magicians at workmaking eggs disappear up their sleeves," went onthe stage manager. "You have, I doubt not, witnessedsome of them producing live rabbits fromsilk hats. But Professor Joe Strong, who willshortly have the pleasure of entertaining you, notonly makes eggs disappear, but what is far moredifficult, he causes a lady to vanish into thin air.
"You will see a beautiful lady seated in full viewof you. A moment later, by the practice of hismagical art, Professor Strong will ca