Pushkin.

This is the final episode of a three-part series.

You can enjoy it on a standalone basis,

but if you've not heard episodes one and two,

you might prefer to listen to them first.

Rose McEnberg picked up her morning newspaper, saw the headline on the front page,

and choked on her coffee. She was genuinely staggered, she later wrote.

If this was true, it was... The story of the century, an actual, factual, miracle.

The headline, Houdini sends from Grave the word he promised wife.

The date was January 9th, 1929.

Two and a bit years had passed since the death of Harry Houdini at the age of just 52.

Rose McEnberg had worked for Houdini as his chief investigator of fraudulent mediums,

as Houdini transformed himself from a magician and escape artist

into a crusader for critical thinking about supernatural ideas.

In particular, the fast-growing religion of spiritualism,

with its claim to enable communication between the living and the dead.

Rose read the article in her newspaper.

Houdini and his wife Bess had a secret code, it said.

The previous day, the medium Arthur Ford had visited Bess and delivered her a message

in the secret code. Having thus established his identity, Harry went on,

Spare no time or money to undo my attitude of doubt while on earth.

Place the truth before all those who have lost the faith.

...