Read Online The Magnificent Lizzie Brown and the Mysterious Phantom by Vicki Lockwood - Free Book Online Page B

she thought she was going to get an extra shilling. Mercy, did she ask them questions! As soon as a smart suit comes through the door, she’s telling them they’ll win big on the stock market and then asking them where their houses are and where they work. Do you know what she said?”
    Lizzie put on the haughty voice of Madame Aurora again. “‘Once I am certain of your geographical location, the spirits speak to me stronger.’ And when they told her where they lived and talked about their job in some bank or other and she’d um and ah and say, ‘Of course. I feel it now. An inheritance is coming your way,’ or ‘Your wife will give you a son before the year is out to carry on your noble line.’” Lizzie flopped down into the straw beside Erin. “I thought she was gonna do real magic. But it’s all make-believe.”
    Erin rubbed her back. “That’s the circus, Lizzie. It’s all a big illusion.”
    â€œBut Anita’s real,” Lizzie pointed out.
    Malachy shifted beside Hari. “She’s about the only one who is. The Pig-Faced Woman’s an old bear in a dress with a shaved face.”
    Lizzie gaped at him. “What about the mermaid?”
    â€œFake tail made out of walrus hide,” Nora laughed. “And Sid the Lobster Boy’s never even seen the sea. He was just born with his fingers and toes fused together.”
    Lizzie heart sank. “So they’re just scamming like Pa?”
    â€œThey’re just making the best of what God gave them,” Nora told her. “People like to see a show, so we give them a show.”
    Erin nodded. “A good show is a sure way to take folks’ minds off their troubles.”
    â€œMadame Aurora certainly did that.” Lizzie lay back in the straw. “Not one person got bad news. They all left thinking they was gonna fall in love or find a fortune.”
    Hari lowered his dark lashes. “Isn’t that better?” he said softly. “To believe that something wonderful’s going to happen. Isn’t that better than always worrying about the future?”
    â€œI guess.” Lizzie shrugged. “And I s’pose, sometimes, she may be right. Though if she’d told me a week ago I’d be working in a circus, I’d never have believed her in a million years.”
    â€œIf you can call it working,” said Collette. She’d slipped in silently. Lizzie clenched her fists but kept her mouth shut. Collette gave a dazzling smile and clapped her hands. “You’re summoned, boys and girls. Hurry up! To the main tent!”
    â€œWhat for?” Lizzie was instantly suspicious.
    â€œSo my brother can show off his new trick, of course.” Collette’s smile never faltered. “You aren’t going to keep him waiting, are you?”
    The others leaped to their feet and scrambled out. Lizzie followed, not really wanting to go, but not quite knowing why. Dru was agile and clever, wasn’t he? He couldn’t be in any danger . . . so why was a tight knot of fear growing in her stomach?
    â€œYou mustn’t mind Collette,” Hari said as she caught up to the rest of the group.
    â€œI don’t,” Lizzie snapped.
    Inside the huge tent it was gloomy and full of shadows. By day it had been a jolly place, but now that the audience had all gone home it seemed sad. Lizzie’s creepy feeling grew worse.
    Dru was standing at one end of the high wire, grinning down at her. In his pale costume, he looked like a ghost up there in the dark.
    â€œAnd now, for your delight and delectation,” he called out, “I shall demonstrate a brand-new feat, one never before seen in this circus!”
    Erin gasped and nudged her sister excitedly. Malachy watched, wide-eyed. They all seemed transfixed as Dru stepped out onto the wire, arms outstretched. One careful footstep followed another. The wire wobbled beneath his