The Mystery of the Singing Serpent - M. V. Carey [42]
“I am,” said Jupe. “We’ve had black magic, and now we need a white witch. It could be Barrister. He certainly knows the subject.”
Jupe took the telephone from the wall and dialed the information operator. “Have you a listing for Henry Barrister in Ruxton?” he asked.
Bob put a pad on the counter in front of Jupe and handed him a pencil. Jupe wrote down a number the operator gave him and hung up. “If only he’s at home,” he said.
He dialed the Ruxton number. At the other end of the line, a telephone rang and rang.
Then there was a click as someone lifted the receiver.
“Is this Dr. Barrister of Ruxton University?” asked Jupiter.
After a pause, the other boys heard Jupiter say, “Good! My name is Jupiter Jones, Dr.
Barrister, and I need your help. It’s difficult to explain over the telephone, but there’s a woman here who has had a curse put on her, and we —” Jupiter stopped talking and listened.
“Yes, she’s very ill,” he said.
Again Jupiter listened.
“Yesterday,” he said. “A package was delivered to her. It contained a statue of a serpent.”
After a few moments, Jupiter said, “I’m calling from Rocky Beach. The woman’s name is Miss Patricia Osborne.”
There was another pause, and Jupe said, “That’s very kind of you.” He gave the address of the Jamison house and hung up.
“He’s coming,” he told Pete and Bob. “He said he’ll bring someone who can take off the curse.”
“Hot dog!” crowed Pete. “A voodoo priest, maybe?”
“We’ll see,” said Jupiter.
The kitchen door opened and Aunt Mathilda put her head in. “Jupiter, what are you doing?”
“I found a doctor, Aunt Mathilda. Dr. Barrister.”
“Thank heavens! Dr. Peters isn’t able to get anywhere with Miss Osborne. Maybe she’ll listen to her own doctor.”
“Let’s hope so. He’s on his way.”
“Good. I’ll go and sit with her in the meantime. And one of you boys should see to that horse.”
Allie drifted into the kitchen. “I’ll take care of Queenie,” she told Aunt Mathilda.
“The doctor’s coming,” said Jupe to Allie.
“You found one? That’s great!”
Aunt Mathilda went upstairs and Dr. Peters took his leave, fussing and promising to return later. The boys wandered out to the veranda and sat down on the steps. Allie joined them presently. “How long will it be?” she asked.
“Very soon now,” said Jupe.
And very soon a car turned onto the street and came at a rapid clip toward the Jamison house. It swerved into the driveway and the motor died. The driver got out and rushed up the walk.
“Jupiter Jones!” said the man.
Jupe started, and so did the others.
“Miss Jamison, I’m very sorry,” said the man to Allie. “I had no idea things would go so far.”
Jupe stood up. “Just who are you?” he demanded.
“I’m Dr. Barrister, and I should have known better. I thought they were the usual harmless dabblers in magic.”
Allie gasped. “You … you shaved off your mustache!” she managed at last.
The man who had been known as Bentley touched his upper lip and smiled. “It wasn’t real. I thought if I was going to be a snoop, I’d need a disguise.”
Chapter 21
Mara’s White Magic
DR. BARRISTER SAT IN THE Jamison living room and turned the little figure of the cobra in his hands. “An intricate bit of work,” he said, “but then, they weren’t playing to a primitive audience. A wax doll wouldn’t have been convincing.”
“Does it matter what the witch uses?” asked Pete.
Barrister put the serpent down. “Not at all, so long as the victim knows he’s been cursed. The power of suggestion takes over. The victim is terrified, and the terror doesn’t end.”
“Can you help?” asked Allie. “Can you make Aunt Pat believe you’re taking the curse off?”
“Not I. Do I look like a witch doctor?”
Allie and the boys had to admit that he didn’t. Whether you called him Bentley or Barrister, he was the same calm, inoffensive person.
“Your aunt has seen me pushing a vacuum cleaner in this house,” he said. “She wouldn’t believe in me, but I think she’ll believe in Mara. Mara is very convincing. She’s waiting in the car. I’ve explained the entire affair to her and she knows what to do.”
“Is she a witch doctor?” asked Bob.
“She’s a gypsy,