Chapter 1: What story does Blackstone tell in this episode?
The Magic Detective, starring the world's greatest magician, Blackstone. He tells you the inside story of... The Phantom Intermezzo. And right after the story, Blackstone will explain tricks that you yourself can perform. Reveal the guarded secrets of the world's greatest living magician. And now, stand by for Blackstone, the magic detective. I was reading a book last night, Blackstone.
Hooray for you.
We'll skip that crack, Rhoda Brent. As I said, I was reading a book about ghosts. Did you ever see a ghost, Blackstone? No, Don, I never saw one, and I doubt if anyone ever did.
I thought I saw one once. Remember, Blackstone?
Yes, Rhoda, I certainly do. I don't think I've ever seen anyone turn so pale.
Except Yamamura. I thought he was going to faint.
Who is this Yamamura? He was a medium.
You know, one of those call the spirits back from another world boys. Maybe we'd better give her the story, Blackstone. Don looks kind of puzzled.
I'm plenty puzzled. Well, Don, I had a telephone call a few weeks ago from a Mrs. Covington Moss, a wealthy widow who lives in a funny old house outside of town. Rhoda and I thought we were to do a show for some party of hers. So we drove out. It was dusk as we arrived on the doorstep, and the butler let us in. Mrs. Covington-Morse is expecting us. Very good, sir. Right this way. Thank you.
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Chapter 2: What mysterious events surround Mrs. Covington-Moss?
And original, too. David always is original.
What about this playing for you?
Oh, yes, the playing. Well, every night before David goes back to the spirit, he plays to me on the accordion. Isn't that sweet? Just as he used to play to me when he was alive. He plays right here at this table, of course. Oh, no. David never could play without walking up and down. And evidently being dead hasn't changed his habits at all. He plays all over the room.
And sometimes, even from that linen closet over there, with the door shut.
That's quite a trick.
Oh, but it isn't a trick. My lawyers say it is, but they can't explain it to me. So, I don't listen to them.
What did you call me in for, Mrs. Covington-Moss?
I want you to find out if this could possibly be a trick. I know you can't, of course. But I want to have some proof to take to my lawyers. Then? They'll let me have the money. More $100 bills for Yamamura? Oh, no. Yamamura is going to start a foundation to bring back spirits. And I'm going to contribute $50,000. $50,000? Don't my lawyers feel that Yamamura isn't quite all that he might be?
So, I've asked you here to prove that he really does call back my David. Oh. There he is now. David? Oh, no, Yamamuro. You'll stay and watch the seance, Mr. Blackstone?
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Chapter 3: Who is Yamamuro and what role does he play?
Well, I've never believed in ghosts, John, so I knew that Yamamuro's trick, whatever it was, was a trick. Mrs. Covington Moss had said that very often the music came from the linen closet, so I thought that perhaps there was a phonograph installed there.
So he hid in a closet before the seance began.
But I realized that there was no mechanical device secreted there, and then I knew that the trick was simple ventriloquism. Yamamuro had a tiny harmonica in his mouth. By opening and closing his lips, He made the sound rise and fall as though near or at a distance.
And Blackstone came out of the closet dressed in a sheet and scared the daylights out of that medium.
Yamamuro knew that he had no psychic powers whatsoever and was more scared than anyone else at the sudden appearance of the ghost.
Except me.
That's right. Except Rhoda. I had to choke Yamamuro to keep him from swallowing the inch-long harmonica. That's all there was to it. So another mystery was solved by magic. Well, what trick have you for us, Blackstone? Well, this time it's a little mystery. Suppose we try the droider first.
Okay, how do we begin?
Now, here's a piece of notepaper and a pencil. Just fold the paper so that you can tear it into three strips.
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Chapter 4: How does David communicate during the séance?
There. There are the slips. How about it?
Now give the papers to Don and let him shake them in that hat. Hold the hat high, Don. Okay. There it is. Above my head. Very well. Now I reach into the hat and try to catch the magician vibration. What I'm after is the slip of paper with Rhoda's name on it.
You have only one chance in three.
Oh, no, Rhoda. With the vibration working, this trick can't miss. Here's the slip of paper from the hat. Open it and read the name.
What? It's my own name, Rhoda.
I told you it would be. Now it's up to you to figure out how it's done.
And if I can't guess?
Then I'll be back to tell you. Well, Rhoda, how are you making out?
I'm not.
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