Free Magic Tree House #50: Hurry Up, Houdini! (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) by Mary Pope Osborne Page A

Magicians—Fiction. 3. Houdini, Harry, 1874–1926—Fiction. 4. New York (N.Y.)—History—20th century—Fiction. 5. Magic—Fiction. 6. Tree houses—Fiction.] I. Murdocca, Sal, illustrator. II. Title.
PZ7.O81167Hur 2013   [Fic]—dc23   2012045610
    Random House Children’s Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.
    v3.1_r1

For the Korner family,
Jim, Toni, Courtney, and Tom



Prologue
    O ne summer day in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, a mysterious tree house appeared in the woods. It was filled with books. A boy named Jack and his sister, Annie, found the tree house and soon discovered that it was magic. They could go to any time and place in history just by pointing to a picture in one of the books. While they were gone, no time at all passed back in Frog Creek.
    Jack and Annie eventually found out that the tree house belonged to Morgan le Fay, a magical librarian from the legendary realm of Camelot. They have since traveled on many adventures inthe magic tree house and completed many missions for both Morgan le Fay and her friend Merlin the magician.
    Now Merlin needs Jack and Annie’s help again. He wants them to travel through time and learn secrets of greatness from four people who are called great by the world. Jack and Annie have just returned from the first of these four missions: a trip to ancient Macedonia, where they spent time with Alexander the Great and his warhorse, Bucephalus.
    Back in Frog Creek, they are waiting to find out where Merlin will send them to find the next secret of greatness.…

E arly one summer evening, Jack lay on the couch, reading a book about the history of horses.
    “Jack, could you run and get Annie from Jenny’s house, please?” their mom called from the kitchen. “We’re grilling hot dogs soon.”
    “Sure,” said Jack. He closed his book, hopped off the couch, and headed out the front door. As he started down the porch steps, Annie charged into the yard.
    “It’s back!” she said, out of breath.
    “You’re kidding!” said Jack.
    “No! I’m serious!” said Annie. “On my way home from Jenny’s, I checked the woods. I had a funny feeling it was back—and it was!”
    “Are Merlin and Penny there?” asked Jack.
    “I don’t think so,” said Annie. “I shouted hello, but no one answered. I wanted to come get you before I climbed up!”
    “Thanks,” said Jack. “Wait here. I’ll tell Mom.” He dashed back into the house. “Mom, can Annie and I do something for about twenty minutes?” he called.
    “Okay, twenty minutes, no more,” said their mom. “The grill’s almost ready.”
    “Thanks!” said Jack. He looked at his wristwatch. It was 5:42. So they had to be home by two minutes after six. He grabbed his backpack and hurried out of the house. Annie was waiting on the sidewalk.
    “Twenty minutes! No more!” Jack called, running toward her.
    “No problem!” Annie said, and they hurried up the sidewalk together.
    “I’ll bet Merlin wants us to find another secret of greatness,” said Jack.
    “I know,” said Annie. “I can’t wait!”
    They crossed the street and headed into the Frog Creek woods. They ran through the shadowy light until they came to the tallest oak.
    “Merlin? Penny?” Annie called.
    There was no answer. The woods were still, strangely still. Not a leaf moved.
    “Let’s go up,” said Jack. He grabbed the rope ladder and started climbing. Annie followed. When they scrambled into the tree house, there was no sign of Merlin or Penny.
    “Not here,” said Annie.
    “Nope,” said Jack. “But everything else is.”
    He pointed to a piece of paper lying on the floor in the corner. On the paper he’d written the secret of greatness they’d learned on their last mission:

HUMILITY
    Sitting on top of the paper were two things—asmall gold ring and a tiny bottle. Annie picked up the ring and held it out to Jack. “The Ring of Truth,” she said. “You get to wear it this