An Undetectable Stop Trick
Effect: A spectator is allowed to choose a card freely from any pack. He replaces it and the pack is squared without any sleight of hand move and thoroughly shuffled. It is handed to the spectator and he deals cards from the top, stopping at any card as the spirit moves him. Noting the number of spots on this card he continues to deal that number and there he finds the card he chose. The cards before and after the one he stopped at may be examined, and indeed all the cards, without any clue being found to the solution of the trick.
Working: The explanation lies in the fact that a nine, seven, five, three and an ace, with one indifferent card between each, have been placed on top of the pack with three indifferent cards above them and the chosen card is replaced below the ace. When the pack is handed to the spectator, he is told to deal cards slowly from the top one by one. When he has dealt three cards he is invited to stop at any time he wishes. If he elects to stop then he is told to turn the top card, a nine. His card is then nine cards further down.
If, however, he continues the deal, the magician has only to keep track of the alternate cards, the seven, five, three and ace. If the spectator stops with one of these in his hand he is told to turn it face up, but if he stops while holding an indifferent card, he is to turn over the top card. In any case he is invited to look at the card preceding and the card following, and these are indifferent cards. By insisting that the deal be made slowly it is practically certain that the stop will be made before the ace is reached.
To make the necessary arrangement of !he cards Mr. Lane has the drawer of the card write its name on a piece of paper, fold it and put it in his pocket. While this is being done he finds the five cards, arranges them as required and holds a break under the ace. Cutting at the break he has the chosen card replaced below it and shuffles the pack, running three indifferent cards on top of the packet set up. The trick then proceeds as described above.
Most performers will prefer to make the set-up before beginning the trick. The easiest and quickest way of doing this is to take the deck by the ends between the thumb and second and third fingers of the right hand, bottom card facing the palm of the hand, sides of the deck parallel with the floor. Put the ball of the left thumb on the top outer comer of the pack, double the left forefinger behind and let the lower side of the cards rest on the other three fingers of the left hand. By ruffling the comers with the left thumb the indices become visible. Riffle to the first nine of any suit, insert the tips of the three left fingers, press them on the face of the nine, drawing it away downwards and deposit it on top of the deck. In this same way a seven, five, three and an ace, of any suits, are brought to the top one after the other.
The next step is to put an indifferent card between each of these five and this is a simple matter. Begin an overhand shuffle by running off the top card, an ace, into the left hand, placing it well down into the fork of the thumb. With the tips of the left fingers pull off the bottom card, and with the thumb draw off the top card, the two cards falling simultaneously on the ace. Repeat this move three times, in-jog the next card and shuffle off. Form a break at the in-jog, shuffle to the break and throw on top. To place the three indifferent cards on top of the set-up. To add the three indifferent cards required it is best to riffle shuffle several times, letting the last card from the left hand packet fall last, being careful, of course, not to let any cards fall amongst the arranged nine. The change to the riffle shuffle is advisable not only because it is an easy way of adding the three cards to the top, but also to clinch the impression that the pack is well and thoroughly mixed.
In spreading the cards for a spectator to draw one, run them off rather rapidly in threes till you reach the twelfth and press the tip of the little finger on the ace, the bottom card of the set-up. Arrange so that this point is reached before he has a chance to draw a card, then spread the rest and allow a free choice to be made. Close up the pack, retaining the little finger break, and, holding the pack well down in the hand: so that it will not be noticed that the cut is being made near the top, cut at the break, have the card replaced, drop the cut on top and square the deck very openly, tapping the sides and ends on the table. Execute a false shuffle and hand the deck to the spectator.
The denouement is then reached as already described. Care must be taken to emphasize the slow movement in dealing and also to bring out clearly before the card stopped at is turned, that the cards following it and preceding it are entirely different and in haphazard order. The effect will be found to be all that can be desired. The trick has been treated in the fullest detail so that it may serve as a guide in other tricks requiring the setting up of a small number of cards.