Who Done Houdini Read Online Free PDF Page B

Higgins.”
    She held the board closer to her eyes and turned it from side to side. “Oh, yes. Mr. Higgins it is. You won’t be able to get to his room alone. Visiting hours haven’t started yet.”
    As she spoke, the door behind her opened and a young man in white appeared.
    â€œAllen, please escort Mr. Higgins to 611.”
    A long walk and an elevator ride later, Allen pointed to a closed door, his finger to his lips. “He may be sleeping. I’ll look in on him first.”
    He gently rapped on the door and opened it. Seconds later he gestured for me to follow.
    â€œUncle Ralph” lay propped up on the bed in a sitting position. He threw me a sharp look and set the copy of the Saturday Evening Post on the bed next to him. “It’s about time you got here, nephew,” he said in a suitably irascible tone.
    â€œHello, uncle. You had us worried.”
    â€œNonsense. There’s nothing wrong with me. Why are they keeping me here over night?”
    â€œDon’t you remember being brought here by ambulance?”
    â€œI have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    Allen shuffled his feet nervously. “Have a good night,” he mumbled before ducking out.
    I shut the door. “So far, so good.”
    Holmes rubbed his hands together. “Better than good, old friend. The ambulance attendant was in a chatty mood to ease my ride to the hospital. He says he was with Houdini when he was brought in. He also told me Dr. Charles S. Kennedy, Houdini’s surgeon, is the attending physician tonight.”
    â€œHow do you expect to learn anything from him?”
    â€œProfessional pride, dear fellow.”
    I wasn’t sure if I knew what he meant, but at that moment the nurse came into the room. “I’m nurse Preston and it’s time to take your temperature, Mr. Howard.” She made a gesture in my direction. “You’ll have to leave for a minute or two.”
    Impossible to hide a smile, I got up from my chair. The nurse pulled the curtain around the bed.
    Seconds later, Holmes bellowed, “What do you intend to do with that?”
    â€œI’m sure you must have had your temperature taken before, haven’t you? Roll over on your stomach.”
    â€œI will not! I’m perfectly capable of taking my own temperature. Now give that to me.”
    I heard sounds of a scuffle.
    â€œDon’t. That’s not . . .”
    I couldn’t suppress gagging and laughing at the same time, so I made a dash for the hallway. After several peeps through the door I finally saw the curtain pulled away from the bed.
    Both Holmes and the nurse were beet red.
    â€œI apologize for my uncle,” I stammered. “He isn’t used to hospitals. It’s too bad all the patients aren’t as nice as Mr. Houdini was.”
    It was a shot in the dark.
    â€œHe was. Everyone in the hospital was excited that he was a patient here. I’m sure we all must have looked in on him at one time or another.”
    â€œWere you ever his nurse?”
    â€œNo.” Her voice turned wary. “And I can’t tell you who was. We’ve all been sworn to secrecy.”
    â€œI can understand that,” I said. “I’m sure the poor man must have been in terrible pain.”
    â€œWe all felt sorry for him. After surgery, he woke up early in the morning and tried to get out of bed, saying it was important to get back on stage to finish his act. He was so agitated when he heard everyone had already left the theater, it took three attendants restrain him.”
    Eyebrows raised, Holmes and I traded satisfied glances. Nurse Preston had managed to maintain medical confidentiality and at the same time tell us all we wanted to know.
    â€œIs there anything I can get for you?” the nurse asked. “Do you need some fresh water?”
    â€œI’m quite fine, thank you,” Holmes said.
    â€œThen . . . I guess I’ll be on my way