The Nines

Begin by handing a spectator a small pad and pencil and ask him to write a digit. Go to a second person and have him write one figure under the first. Do the same with a third, fourth and fifth spectator, possibly a sixth. You add the figures mentally as they are written and, when the total reaches thirty-seven or more, draw a line under the column, quickly adding one more figure to make the total forty-five. Hand the pad and pencil to still another spectator and have him add the figures, then add the two figures of the total. The result will he that one digit will have been arrived at, you say, by the purest chance. Let the person fold the paper and retain it without letting any one else see the final figure.

While this last operation was being done you have picked up a deck of cards and, quietly riffling it through, you have assembled the four nines on the top. Palm them in the right hand and offer the pack to be shuffled. This done have the pack put on your left hand and cut by the spectator. Pick up the lower packet, adding the palmed cards.

Deal the four nines face down on the table and have a spectator touch one. Place this card aside without showing its face. Be-assemble the deck putting the three nines at the bottom.

Riffle count nine cards off the top under cover of squaring the deck with the right hand and hold a break at that point. Deal two or three cards rather quickly, then continue slowly, as you ask a spectator to call "Stop" whenever he pleases. You have to get just nine cards on the table, so if he calls before you reach the break, deal the last cards above it as one card. If, however, in spite of your dealing the last two or three cards very deliberately, he does not call until you have passed the break, put the extra cards a little over the side of the first nine so that you can easily palm off the unwanted cards in placing the packet aside. Get rid of the palmed cards at once by picking up the pack.

Spread the rest of the cards and have a spectator touch three and draw them half way out of the pack without looking at them.

Close the spread and slip the tip of the little finger above the three bottom cards (nines), by riffling their inner ends with the right thumb. Grip the pack by the right thumb and middle finger at the inner end and, moving the left hand outwards carrying the three nines, strip out the protruding cards letting them fall on the nines.

Drop the pack on top of the six cards and put it face down on the table.

The climax follows and is quite unexpected, since you have given no hint as to what is to follow. Patter about chance, fate, Kismet or what have you? Ask the spectator to unfold the slip and read the figure he arrived at........NINE.

Turn over the single card chosen..........NINE.
Have the cards dealt out counted..........NINE.
Turn the deck over and show the three.....NINES.