pages: unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf, 34
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unmaskingrobert00houdgoog.pdf | 34 | INTRODUCTION "Herr verreist," meaning "The master is on tour." This, I knew, from his age, could not be true, SO I took a week off for personal investigation. I ar- rived at Kötchenbroda on the morning of April 8th, 1903, at 4 o'clock, and was directed to his home, known as "Villa Frikell." Having found my bearings and studied well the exterior of the house, I returned to the depot to await daylight. At 8:30 I reappeared at his door, and was told by his wife that Herr Frikell had gone away. I then sought the police department from which I secured the following information: "Dr." Wiljalba Frikell was indeed the retired magician whom I was so anxious to meet. He was eighty-seven years old, and in 1884 had celebrated his golden anniversary as a conjurer. Living in the same town was an adopted daughter, but she could not or would not assist me. The venerable magician had suf- fered from domestic disappointments and had made a VOW that he would see no one. In fact he was leading a hermit-like life. Armed with this information, I employed a photog- rapher, giving him instructions to post himself opposite the house and make a snap shot of the magician, should he appear in the doorway. But I had counted without my host. All morning the photographer lounged across the street and all morning I stood bareheaded before the door of Herr Frikell, pleading with his wife who leaned from the window overhead. With that peculiar fervency which comes only when the heart's desire is at stake, I begged that the past master of magic would lend a help- ing hand to one ready to sit at his feet and learn. I urged [27] |