by H G Wells

I had seen the Magic Shop from afar ; I had passed it , shop window of alluring little objects, magic balls, magic hens, wonderful cones, ventriloquist dolls, the material basket trick, packs of cards that looked all right, and all that sort of thing, but never had of going in until one day, almost without warning, Gip hauled me by my finger right window, and so conducted himself that nothing but him in I thought the place was there, the truth--a modest-sized frontage in Regent Street, picture shop place where the chicks run about just out of patent incubators,--but there sure enough I had fancied down nearer the Circus, or round the corner in Oxford Street, or even in Holborn; always over the way and little inaccessible it , with something mirage in its position; but here now quite indisputably, fat end of Gip's pointing finger made noise glass

"If rich," said Gip, dabbing finger Disappearing Egg, "I'd buy myself that "-- The Crying Baby, Very Human--" ," mystery, and called, so neat card asserted, "Buy One and Astonish Your Friends "

"Anything," said Gip, "will disappear under one cones read in book

"And there, dadda, Vanishing Halfpenny--only they've put it up so's 't see how it's done "

Gip, dear boy, inherits his mother's breeding, and propose to enter the shop or worry in ; only, , quite unconsciously, he lugged my finger doorward, and his interest clear

"That," , and pointed Magic Bottle

" had that ? " ; at which promising inquiry he looked up with sudden radiance

" show it to Jessie," , thoughtful as ever of others

"It's hundred days to your birthday, Gibbles," , and laid my hand door-handle

Gip made no answer, but his grip tightened on my finger, and so we came shop

no common shop this; magic shop, and all the prancing precedence Gip taken matter of mere toys was wanting He left the burthen conversation

little, narrow shop, not lit, door-bell pinged again with plaintive note closed it behind us For moment or so we were alone and could glance about us tiger in _papier-mch glass case that covered, the low counter--a grave, kind-eyed tiger that waggled his head in methodical manner; there were several crystal spheres, china hand holding magic cards, stock of magic fish-bowls in various sizes, and an immodest magic hat that shamelessly displayed its springs floor were magic mirrors; one to draw you out long and thin, one to swell your head and vanish your legs, and one you short and fat like draught; and while, we were laughing the shopman, as I suppose, came in

At any rate, there behind the counter--a curious, sallow, dark man, with one ear larger other and chin like the toe-cap of boot

"What can the pleasure ? " , spreading his long magic fingers glass case; and so with start we were aware of him

" ," , " my little boy few simple tricks "

"Legerdemain ? " he asked "Mechanical ? Domestic ? "

"Anything amusing ? " said I

"Um ! " said the shopman, and scratched his head for moment thinking Then, quite distinctly, he drew head glass ball "Something ? " , and held it out

The action was unexpected I had seen the trick done at entertainments endless times before--it's part common stock of conjurers--but I expected it here "That's good," , with laugh

"Isn't it ? " said the shopman

Gip stretched out his disengaged hand this object and found merely blank palm

"It's in your pocket," said the shopman, and there !

" will that be ? " I asked

" no charge for glass balls," said the shopman politely "We get them"--he picked one out elbow as he spoke--"free " He produced another back neck, and laid it beside its predecessor counter Gip regarded his glass ball sagely, then directed look of inquiry two counter, and finally brought his round-eyed scrutiny shopman, who smiled " those two," said the shopman, "and, don't mind one from my mouth So ! "

Gip counselled me mutely for moment, and then in profound silence put away the four balls, resumed my reassuring finger, and nerved himself next event

"We get all our smaller tricks way," the shopman remarked

I laughed manner of one who subscribes to jest "Instead of going wholesale shop," " , it's cheaper "

"In way," the shopman said "Though we pay end But not so heavily--as people suppose . Our larger tricks, daily provisions and all the other things , we get out hat . And , sir, 'll excuse my saying it, there isn't wholesale shop, not for Genuine Magic goods, sir I don't know noticed our inscription--the Genuine Magic Shop " He drew business card cheek and handed it "Genuine," , finger word, and added, " absolutely no deception, sir "

carrying out the joke pretty thoroughly,

He turned to Gip with smile of remarkable affability "You, , are the Right Sort of Boy "

surprised at his knowing that, because, interests of discipline, we keep it rather secret even at home; but Gip received it in unflinching silence, keeping steadfast eye on him

"It's only the Right Sort of Boy gets doorway "

And, by way of illustration, there came rattling door, and squeaking little voice faintly heard "Nyar ! I warn 'a go in there, dadda, I WARN 'a go in there Ny-a-a-ah ! " and then the accents of downtrodden parent, urging consolations and propitiations "It's locked, Edward,"

"But it isn't," said I

" , sir," said the shopman, "always-- sort of child," and as he spoke we had glimpse other youngster, little, white face, pallid from sweet-eating and over-sapid food, and distorted by evil passions, ruthless little egotist, pawing enchanted pane "It's no good, sir," said the shopman, as I moved, with my natural helpfulness, doorward, and presently the spoilt child was carried off howling

"How manage that ? " , breathing little more freely

"Magic ! " said the shopman, with careless wave hand, and behold ! sparks of coloured fire flew out fingers and vanished shadows shop

"You were saying," , addressing himself to Gip, " came in, that like 'Buy One and Astonish your Friends' boxes ? "

Gip, after gallant effort, said "Yes "

"It's in your pocket "

And leaning over the counter--he really had an extraordinary long body-- this amazing person produced the article customary conjurer's manner "Paper," , and took sheet empty hat springs; "string," and behold his mouth was string box, he drew an unending thread, which when he had tied his parcel he bit off-- and, it seemed , swallowed the ball of string And then he lit candle nose of ventriloquist's dummies, stuck one fingers (which had become sealing-wax red) flame, and so sealed the parcel "Then the Disappearing Egg," he remarked, and produced one from within my coat-breast and packed it, and also The Crying Baby, Very Human I handed each parcel to Gip as ready, and he clasped them chest

very little, but his eyes were eloquent; the clutch arms was eloquent He playground of unspeakable emotions These, , were real Magics

Then, with start, I discovered something moving about in my hat-- something soft and jumpy I whipped it off, and ruffled pigeon-- confederate--dropped out and ran counter, and went, I fancy, into cardboard box behind the papier-mch tiger

"Tut, tut ! " said the shopman, dexterously relieving, me headdress; "careless bird, and--as I live--nesting ! "