He took his place in the upright cabinet, and three men volunteered to tie him in with ropes which were fastened at the back of the box, two ends being left free. The cabinet containing the professor was lifted up, and set down on the stage again. Then the ropes were tied, Joe supervising this. "Tie any kind of knot you like, gentlemen," Joe urged, "only make them so you can quickly loosen them again, as the professor is very much exhausted after this illusion." This, of course, was merely stage talk for effect. Finally the knots were tied, the committee retired, and Joe, taking his place near the imprisoned performer, asked: "Are you ready?" He looked keenly at the professor as he asked this. "It's all right Joe--I guess it's going to work properly," was the low-voiced response. Then aloud Professor Rosello replied: "I am ready!" "Light out!" called Joe sharply. This was a signal for the stage electrician to plunge the house into darkness. It was done at once. Then, to the no small terror of some in the audience, there appeared in the upright cabinet the figure of a grinning skeleton, outlined in flickering flames. It was startling, and there was a moment of silence before thunderous applause broke out at the effectiveness of the trick. The clapping was at its height when Joe, who always stood near the cabinet when this trick was being done, heard the agonized voice of the professor calling to him: "Joe! Joe! Something has gone wrong! There must be a short circuit! I'm on fire! Joe, I'm being burned! Help me!" CHAPTER II JOE'S RESPONSIBILITY Joe Strong was in a quandary. He did not quite know what to do. To give an alarm--to let the audience know something had gone wrong with the trick--that the professor was in danger of being burned to death--to even utter the word "Fire!" might cause a terrible panic, even though the heavy asbestos curtain were rung down on the instant. On the contrary, Joe could not stand idly by without doing something to save his friend, Professor Rosello, from the great danger. The applause kept up, none in the audience suspecting anything wrong. "Quick, Joe!" whispered the performer. "The current is burning me. I can't stand it any longer." "I'll save you!" hoarsely answered the young magician; and then, on the darkened stage, he lifted the cabinet, performer and all to one side. This was not an easy feat to do. The professor was no light weight, and the cabinet itself was heavy. But Joe was a powerful youth, and by raising the cabinet on his back, much as a porter carries a heavy trunk, he shifted it to one side. This took it away from the hidden electrical connections sunk in the floor of the stage, and the flickering, playing, shimmering electric lights went out.