The New Spell

Many versions of the now popular spelling trick are extant. Here is one which gives an effective climax to the trick. Briefly a card is chosen, replaced and the pack shuffled. The drawer of tile card holds the pack behind his back and mentally spells the name of his card, bringing forward one card for each letter. When he reaches the last letter he brings the pack forward and his card lies face up on the top.

Any pack having been well shuffled you have a card freely chosen. In closing up the pack after the choice turn the bottom card over. (See page 93). Holding the pack so that this card is towards you, under-cut about three-quarters of the cards and begin and overhand shuffle. At the same time advance your hands towards the spectator, asking him to replace his card. As he goes to do this, pause in your shuffle allowing the card to be placed on top of those m your left hand and at once drop the rest of the pack on it The reversed card is thus brought on top of the chosen card.

Square the deck up carefully and openly, showing all sides, so that it is plain there is no break, jog or crimp, but do not mention any of these artifices. Proceed again to an overhand shuffle. You know just about where the reversed card is and when the shuffle comes within a few cards of it, run the cards off singly. You are standing with your right side to the front so that when the reversed card shows up it is faced towards you and is not visible to the audience. Give this card a more vigorous flick with your thumb and let it fall to the floor. Drop all the rest of the cards from your right hand on those in the left.

The chosen card is now on top of the pack. As you stoop to pick up the fallen card, rest your left hand against your thigh, with the thumb push out the top card and deftly reverse it. In the meantime you have picked up the card from the floor with the right hand and, holding it up you inquire if it is the card selected. The answer being, of course, "No", replace it in the pack, which you are careful to hold with the bottom card facing the front.

The chosen card is now facing you so you know what it is. Remark, "I want to show you that the card is not at or near the top or the bottom of the pack, but just where chance has chosen to put it." Holding the pack with the bottom card facing the audience run cards singly off the bottom into the left hand. As you do so spell mentally the name of the card, taking a card for each letter. When you reach, and have taken off, a card for the last letter, pause and ask the drawer if he has seen his card. He says "No", and you drop the rest of the pack in front of those you have just run off, thus bringing them above the reversed chosen card and putting it in position for being spelt out.

Run off a few more cards from the bottom and again ask if the card has been seen. A negative reply is again made, so you drop the pack behind these last cards keeping them at the bottom. Next turn the pack over, take off and spread seven or eight of the top cards, ask the same question and again the answer is "No". You have already shown these last cards, but, barefaced as the procedure looks, I have never had it questioned.

Square up the pack and hand it to the drawer of the card, telling him to hold it behind his back, mentally spell the name of his card and bring forward one card for each letter from the top. Explain this carefully so that he will spell the name exactly as you have arranged for. He does this and when he comes to the last letter and brings a card forward, he naturally asks, "Well, what next?"

Ask him to name his card and then have him bring the pack forward. He does so and there is his card on the top of the pack staring him in the face.

It will be noted that the method for controlling the card and the other necessary manipulations have been worked out with the idea of placing the trick within the reach of the tyro. The skilled card worker will use his own pet moves to bring about the effect.