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FOUR ACES ON CORNERS OF HANDKERCHIEFS
An Original Version by Ellis Stanyon
This is an entirely new version, original with the author, of the older form of the trick where the four aces are dealt, one on each corner of a handkerchief (spread flat on table) and two covered, each with a half sheet of note paper. One of the visible cards is then passed under the handkerchief and pushed upwards completely through it, to position under the paper at No. 1; and so on until all four aces, IN CORRECT ORDER OF SUITS, are found under the same piece of paper.
The novelty consists of working the trick with the four ordinary aces taken from any pack, i.e., without the aid of prepared cards or duplicates; and further, ALL THE FOUR ACES ARE DEALT FACE UPWARDS.
EXPLANATION: The aces are dealt on the corners of the handkerchief in this order: diamond, club, heart, spade--the performer standing behind handkerchief and reading this order as the page of a book.
The half sheets of note paper are held (long side) one in each hand, thumbs on top; they are first lowered (not released) over Nos. 1 and 2; then over 2 and 4. No. 4 still covered, the LEFT-HAND paper is lowered over No. 1. Nos. 2 and 3 are covered next (No. 2 with right hand), the performer explaining, as an excuse for these movements, that the papers cover the cards in a satisfactory manner; that if two be covered, two will be visible, and so on. Now for the crucial move. The papers are again moved to cover Nos. 2 and 4 (No. 4 with left hand). In doing this, the left hand secretly picks up the card under the paper, while at the same instant and in a manner to cover the movement, the right hand drops its paper over the vacant space at No. 4. The left-hand paper with card beneath it is then dropped on to No. 1, thus covering 2 cards (supposed one only).
The performer now picks up the Heart (No. 3) in the right hand and proceeds to pass it under the left-hand rear corner of handkerchief, then suddenly struck with an idea, he remarks, "But I think it will be better to pass a black card next to the red one, so I will change this Heart for the Spade."
He accordingly raises the rear edge of paper covering the supposed Spade at No. 4, and goes through the action of changing the cards, really bringing out the Heart reversed (presumably the Spade). He now raises the left-hand rear corner of the handkerchief and passes the card beneath it, again reversing it and leaving it in the fingers of the left hand. The right hand is then advanced under the handkerchief, the under side of which is filliped with the thumb, indicating the passage of the card through the cambric to position under the paper at No. 1.
The right hand, withdrawn, now raises the paper (at No. 1), which is forthwith passed into the left hand and so secretly over the heart, while the two aces, IN CORRECT ORDER OF SUIT, remain exposed at No. 1. The left hand now drops the paper over these two cards, thus placing the Heart in position.
The performer now picks up the club and, making the same excuse, again seems to change it for the heart, supposed to be under the paper at No. 4, thus preventing two black cards appearing together.
The supposed Heart is now passed through the handkerchief in like manner. The paper at No. 1 is again raised, showing the Heart in position, and again replaced, thus the Club is secretly placed in position for the next and final move.
To conclude, the paper at No. 4 is struck a sharp blow with the fist, then raised, revealing the fact that the Club has disappeared. Finally the paper at No. 1 is raised and all four cards found beneath it.