"Will you remove the handcuffs for a moment," he said, "in order that I may take my coat off?" For a few seconds the journalist considered. Then he replied: "I am indeed sorry to disoblige you, Mr. Houdini, but I cannot unlock those cuffs unless you admit you are defeated." The reason was obvious. Mr. Houdini had seen the cuffs locked, but he had never seen them unlocked. Consequently the press man thought there might be more in the request than appeared on the surface. FROCK COAT SACRIFICED. Houdini evidently does not stick at trifles. He maneuvered until he got a penknife from his waistcoat pocket. This he opened with his teeth, and then, turning his coat inside out over his head, calmly proceeded to cut it to pieces. The novelty of the proceeding delighted the audience, who yelled themselves frantic. The _Mirror_ representative had rather a warm five minutes of it at this juncture. Many of the audience did not see the reason of his refusal, and expressed their disapproval of his action loudly. Grimly, however, he looked on and watched Mr. Houdini once more reenter the cabinet. Time sped on, and presently somebody recorded the fact that the Mysteriarch had been manacled just one hour. Ten minutes more of anxious waiting, and then a surprise was in store for everybody. VICTORY. The band was just finishing a stirring march when, with a great shout of victory, Houdini bounded from the cabinet, holding the shining handcuffs in his hand--free! A mighty roar of gladness went up. Men waved their hats, shook hands one with the other. Ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and the committee, rushing forward as one man, shouldered Houdini, and bore him in triumph round the arena. But the strain had been too much for the "Handcuff King," and he sobbed as though his heart would break. With a mighty effort, however, he regained his composure, and received the congratulations of the _Mirror_ in the true sportsmanlike spirit he has shown throughout the contest. PRESENTATION MODEL The journalist intimated to the audience that a beautiful solid silver model of the handcuffs would be made, and asked Mr. Houdini's permission to present this to him at no distant date. A SPORTSMAN'S TELEGRAM. Late last night Mr. Houdini sent us the following telegram: Editor "Mirror," 2, Carmelite Street, London. E. C. "Allow me to thank you for the open and upright manner in which your representative treated me in to-day's contest. Must say that it was one of the hardest, but at the same time one of the fairest tests I ever had." "HARRY HOUDINI." [Illustration: HOUDINI, manacled and chained, Diving head first off Queen's Bridge, into the Yarra River, Melbourne, Australia, Feb. 18th, 1910. Australia's Coast is infested with Man-eating Sharks, luckily for Houdini, none happened to be around when he dived.] * * * * * AN EPISODE IN HOUDINI'S LIFE.