• The Dividing Knife
• Stabbing Trick No. 2
• Stabbing Trick No. 3
• Four Ace Trick (Double Cards)
• The Simplicity Four Ace Trick

T H E   D I V I D I N G   K N I F E
(DeLawrence)

Two freely selected cards are returned to the pack, which is then shuffled and wrapped in a piece of newspaper. A knife is taken, inserted in the paper and upon removing paper, spectator is allowed to remove the cards, finding one of the selected cards above the blade of the knife, the remaining selected card below the blade, the performer having stated which card was above and which one below. Two cards are selected at will, but performer requests that the cards be inserted back into the pack together, riffling- the ends of the cards for this purpose, and holding thumb against opposite end of pack so that the cards cannot be pushed flush with balance of pack, the performer pushing cards in the balance of way himself.

When pushing in cards, have first finger resting on edge of these projecting cards and while showing them into deck, lever down on them, so that the deck is slightly separated in order that the little finger may enter at back of cards above these selected ones; turn slightly to left; executing the pass under cover of the turn and continue to square up cards. Then false shuffle, cut once or twice, without disturbing the top cards, then slip top card to bottom and give the deck an actual cut, but when replacing the two packets together, have thumb of left hand on inner sides of cards and resting against the cut, keeping the cards very slightly separated at the cut, as in the flesh grip. This cutting of the cards should be done with faces of the cards up, so that when top card was slipped to bottom of pack. a glimpse of it was - obtained, this will enable you to know the name of one of the cards, and also the knowledge of which card will be above the blade of the knife at completion of the stabbing.

Take a piece of newspaper about twice or three times the size of the deck-of sufficient size so that it will easily go around it with a balance to spare; show this paper on both sides and then wrap the deck therein, but do so as follows: Deck held in left hand, faces of cards towards audience, all fingers showing, and thumb slightly holding cards apart. Paper held in right hand by upper right corner, place over face of cards, a couple of inches of paper above top of cards; as soon as paper hides cards from view, the thumb separates the cards at point held, pulling back the back section, and an inch or two of paper is pushed down between the separated halves of the pack, the thumb releases the pulled back portion and paper is then wrapped around the balance of pack. (See illustration.) On completion of this maneuver you will have part of the paper forced down between the two selected cards, this will leave a very noticeable crimp in the packet and the insertion of the knife at this point will be found an easy matter.

Insert knife at end of cards, in the crimp, and then pull it around to the side, effectually concealing the act that any of the paper is forced into the deck.

While removing paper from deck, have spectator hold handle of knife, at the same time inquiring names of cards. When paper is removed, state which card is above and which one below ¿he blade and ask him to remove the cards himself, which are then exhibited to audience.

S T A B B I N G   T R I C K   N o .   2

Another variation of this neat effect; one that can be performed without the use of sleight of hand hot having the drawback of being unable to proceed further with the same pack.

The effect is practically the same; two cards are selected, replaced in center of deck, the cards wrapped in paper; a rubber band placed around the pack, but in this case a knife, or similar instrument, such as a nail file, given to the spectator, who is requested to himself insert the blade at the spot where he thinks the selected cards lie in the pack. After he does so, the paper is completely removed, the upper portion of the deck lifted up and one of the selected cards is seen to be above the blade, while below the blade is found the second card.

OPERATION
It is necessary to use a forcing deck, consisting of any two sets of cards; take eight or ten cards of one kind and place to one side, likewise about the same number of the other kind; now arrange the balance of your deck alternately throughout; that is, say the cards used were the five of spades and ten of diamonds: place a five and then a ten. then a five and another ten, etc., until you have used up all the cards except those placed to one side; take these extra cards and place one packet on the top of your arranged cards, the other one on the bottom.

It is now necessary that you force a card near the top of the deck, then running cards through, until nearly the entire deck has been run by, force another card from the lower packet; those two cards are replaced together in the center of the deck. Of course, after wrapping, a knife inserted any place at all near center of pack will penetrate between two of the arranged cards. There is one possible chance of an error: Should the two cards be replaced near center and break up y our order and the knife be inserted at this one point it would cut between duplicates.

S T A B B I N G   T R I C K   N o .   3
(Thompson)

This variation is on the same working basis as above- that of allowing spectator to place knife in deck, but the cards are not prepared in any manner. Any ordinary pack is used, two cards are freely selected and replaced together by one of the spectators. Do not allow the cards to be shoved flush into pack, by holding the thumb against bottom edge a quarter of an inch or so of the cards will extend out; push these into the deck yourself, but in this manner: With deck held in left hand rig- lit hand pushes card into deck. but in so doing, lift up on these two projecting cards, so that little finger can be inserted underneath them, as they are pushed flush, turn to left, at same time executing the pass, and continue to square up pack. The two selected cards are now on bottom of pack. False shuffle, make two or three cuts without disturbing bottom cards, and on last cut slip bottom card to top of deck. You now have a selected card on the bottom and one on the top. and should obtain a glimpse of the card you placed on top, or the one that remains on the bottom; the idea being so you will know at least one of the selected cards.

Completely wrap the deck as above, placing rubber band around if desired, and either stab with knife or allow spectator to do so.

Have them hold the knife. Inquire names of cards while completely removing paper, separate the cards where the knife is inserted, but do so in this manner: Left hand grasps sides of cards, apparently to take lover packet, right hand takes off upper packet with a sliding motion towards yourself, but right thumb presses against bottom card of lower packet and removes this lower card, carrying it away as the bottom card of upper packet. (See illustration.) State that the card above the blade should be the....... and exhibit it as such. Now state that the....... (other selected card) should be the top card of this packet (indicating lower packet) at the same time the right hand approaches against the lower packet, as hand indicates this packet, and first and second fingers of left hand grasp the top card of packet in right hand, making the familiar slip pass, or that of slipping the top card from the packet in right hand to top of packet in left hand, which leaves the second selected card thereon. This move should be accomplished as an explanatory gesture, and immediately the card is slipped onto lower packet, the left hand draws out and towards spectator, while the right hand is also drawn away; allow the spectator to turn the card over himself and he will find that it is the second of the chosen cards.

F O U R   A C E   T R I C K
(Double Cards)

Take three off cards of any kind and the ace of clubs, hearts, and diamonds, gluing these three aces onto the off cards, back to back, that is, so the three aces show, and by turning the aces over three off cards are seen.

Prepare your deck as follows: On bottom of deck, place the three prepared aces, with the ace of spades, in any manner you desire. On top of the deck, place three off cards, and then the three remaining unprepared aces.

Hold the deck, cards face up, or bottom of deck up; take off the four aces laying them in four piles, face up, of course, on the table; deal off the three top cards (off cards) onto any heap, faces down; the next three cards are the unprepared aces, and should be dealt on top of the ace of spades. These cards being dealt face down, and it is well to show the first three cards removed, or allow a flash of same, then concealing the other cards dealt; that is, dealing them in such a manner that a flash of the faces cannot be seen. It is well to lay the aces out in this manner: First a prepared ace, then the ace of spades and the other two prepared aces, so that the cards are dealt off in a regular, uninterrupted manner.

Have one pile of cards selected, forcing the pile with the ace of spades and the other three unprepared aces, which to the audience are three off cards, using the old method of selecting two piles, and removing two, and left or right, as desired. Take the pile with the ace of spades, squaring up the cards and laying to one side.

State that you will endeavor to pass the aces from the remaining piles into the selected one; the other three aces are all this time in sight, as the cards should be placed but half way over them, allowing the face of the aces to be seen.

Pick up first pile, showing that it contains an ace and three other cards; reverse these off three cards, laying them face up underneath the fake ace, so that the ace remains in sight; now turn the cards over, grasping them in this manner: Resting in the curve of second, third and little fingers, first finger at cod of cards thumb on top, push first card off top of deck, counting "one," turning hand upside down and throwing the card on the table; for the second card, instead of pushing off the top card, the thumb presses down tightly on packet, as hand is turned over, first and second fingers push out the bottom card, throwing it down with the same motion as the first card, thus you have gut rid of the fake ace, though from all appearances you have thrown the second card; the third card be a little more deliberate in your movements, and for the last card, which is supposed to be the ace, give it a little shake, blow on it, or riffle the edge, turn face up and show that it has changed to another card.

Repeat the above outlined operation with the two remaining packets, take the packet with ace of spades, turn over and show that it really contains four aces.

This is really a very deceptive trick and can be performed with persons on all sides of you; the fingers of the hand effectually conceal the bottom card at all times, so that the faces are never seen, and it will be found that with a little practice the bottom card can be thrown very easily and yet anyone standing right at your side will believe that you threw the second card.

It is best to split your cards and then glue them together, otherwise the double card. unless working on a cloth, will have a heavier sound than the others, and while ordinarily, would not be heard, a keen observer might call on it.

T H E   S I M P L I C I T Y   F O U R   A C E   T R I C K

The below described combination does not require the use of tables, stands, apparatus, or duplicate cards, but does require a fair degree of skill and to the manipulator who is not already familiar with the method, will be a welcome addition to his repertoire.

An assistant, or performer himself, after removing the four aces, places a black ace on the top of the deck, one on the bottom and the two remaining red aces in the center. They are exhibited in such positions, performer riffles ends of cards and then shows that the aces have changed places, a red ace being at the top, likewise at the bottom, while the two black aces are found in the center of pack. Another riffle and the pack is shown to be entirely devoid of aces.

The aces are brought back to the face of the pack by the performer hitting the face of the cards, or, they can be produced in a fan from the knee, arm, or out of the air- in fact the production can be varied to any extent- made to rise, back palmed and produced one at a time from the air, and so on and so forth.

The necessary maneuvers for the accomplishment of the changing and disappearance of the aces are as follows: Black ace placed on top and also at bottom and two red aces placed together near center of pack. Top card shown to be black ace, deck held up so bottom card can be observed; the cards are then fanned to display the red aces in center, the cards being divided at this point so that one red ace is shoved over side of packet in left hand, the remaining red ace being on bottom of packet in right hand; in again placing packets together, insert the little finger between them, executing the pass; then exhibit the red ace on top, one on bottom and show that the two black aces are in center of packet, fanning these two black aces and showing them clear over packet held in left hand, and, in putting packets together, while apparently squaring up deck, slip these two aces onto top of packet, which leaves the three aces on top, and one on the bottom; while stating that by riffling deck the aces will fly from the deck, slip bottom ace to top of deck, and then at completion of riffle steal another card from bottom, placing it on top of pack. (See "Side Steal" color change.)

Exhibit top card of pack, showing that no ace is in this position, holding the card in your right hand, also holding up pack so bottom card can be seen and replacing card taken from top of pack onto bottom; now fan the cards but just as you start your fan, with first finger of right hand show down a half dozen or so cards about a quarter of an inch, so that the four aces will be slightly lower than balance of deck; the pack now being fanned these cards so shoved down are held behind the pack, with no chance whatever of a glimpse being obtained by even a careful observer.

To bring the aces back by hitting with hand, use the side steal as shown under color changes, sub-title 'The Side Steal.' or vary to suit your favorite change.