266 
MAGICK WITHOUT TEARS 
in a hotel in London. He telephoned a friend named 
Fielding at the latter's house, and was answered by Mr. 
Fielding's secretary, who said that his employer had left 
the house a few minutes previously, and could only be 
reached by telephoning a certain office in the City at 
between 11 0 'clock and a quarter past. FRA TER 
PERDURABO had an appointment at 11 0 'clock with a 
music-hall star, the place being the entrance to a theatre. 
In order to remind himself, he made a mental note that, 
as soon as he saw the lady, he would raise his hand and 
say, before greeting her: "Remind me that I must 
telephone at once to Fielding," when he met her. He did 
this, and she advanced toward Him with the same 
gesture, and said in the same breath, "Remind me that I 
have to telephone to Tom lones"-the 
name of a 
music-hall agent employed by her. 
Here comes another, this time completely crazy! Nothing 
"literary" about it; no sense anywhere; a pure freak. 
A friend of mine, A, rang up a friend of hers, B. at her flat 
in Holland Park, some 3 or 4 miles west, and a p'int to the 
Nor'rard, of Piccadilly Circus. After the usual series of "they 
don't answer," "line's engaged," "unobtainable," 
"line's out 
of order," 
"line's 
temporarily 
disconnected 
at the 
subscriber's request," 
an appeal to "Supervisor" 
got her 
connected instantly. Yet another girl friend, C, appears in, 
and vanishes from, the story; she said "Oh, what a pity, 
you've just missed her; she went out five minutes ago. I think 
she'll be back in an hour's time, try then." 
A waited impatiently, and rang up once more. Again the 
series of nonsense-difficulties 
about getting the connection. 
At last the answer came. This time yet one more girl friend 
D. "Oh, what a pity! You've just missed her; she left the box 
not five minutes ago." "Box," screamed A, "what box? Have 
I got mixed up in a Trunk Murder?" "Why, this box," replied 
D, calmly. "What -
-
box?" shouted A. "Isn't that her