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KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE
By JAKE STAFFORD

EFFECT: The good old "Living and Dead Test" cooked up a little different.

On the first inside page of a notebook, jot down the numbers 1 to 7 vertically. Ask a spectator to write down beside any one of the numbers the name of a living person. Repeat this several times, and then request the next person to fill in the name of a person now dead. Continue to have the other spaces filled in with the names of living persons and when you glance at the name at the finish, you are able to determine the name of the party that is dead.

CAUSE: Every effect has a cause and this time it is a lead-propelling pencil. Secure a hard and soft lead. Break off about three-sixteenths of an inch from each type, and load them into the pencil as follows: The long, soft lead first, then the three-sixteenths of the hard lead, and finally the three-sixteenths of the soft lead. With very little practice, the small pieces of lead can be ejected when desired.

Hand the notebook and the pencil to three or four people as the pencil is now prepared. Before offering the pencil to the party who is to write the dead name, turn the working part of the pencil with the first and second fingers of the right hand, holding the pencil with THAT HAND ONLY, and this causes the small piece of soft lead to drop on the floor, and the other small hard piece to appear in the pencil point.

Repeat this operation immediately after the party has written the dead name so that the next few writers will be using the soft lead.

Of course it will be an easy matter because the lead being harder causes the writing to be lighter than the other writings. This is quite a novel idea, and I know that lots of other tricks can be worked out, using the same principle. See what you can work out with it.

AND THE SECOND IDEA

EFFECT: A different method of presenting the TEST OF THE SWAMI.

Two envelopes, two cards and a red and black pencil. With the red pencil, jot down three or four thoughts that pop into your mind, briefly. Allow a spectator to initial the envelope with the same pencil, enclose the card written on, and seal the envelope. This envelope is handed out for safe keeping.

Now project those thoughts with the proper showmanship and ask different people to call out the first idea that enters their heads. With the BLACK pencil, write these thoughts on the second card. When completed, have this second envelope initialed with the black pencil, the card enclosed and the envelope sealed.

A choice is given of the two envelopes and the one selected opened to disclose the information written thereon. The other one is also torn open, the card removed to check against it. Both cards have the same objects listed and you have successfully demonstrated the art of mind reading.

CAUSE: Again the propelling pencil takes credit for accomplishing this delightful routine. Secure a red crayon pencil that is painted red on the outside. Also a black propelling pencil loaded first with a black lead, then three-sixteenths of an inch of RED lead (these can easily be obtained at any stationers) and finally three-sixteenths of an inch of black lead.

Actually three cards are used but shown as two. On the lowermost card has been written (The blank space is so you can fill this in later.):

"Make of Car"...................

Color.................

License................

Number...............

Present the experiment as the method to be employed by the police in the future for broadcasting the information regarding stolen cars. After showing the cards (2) blank, with the red pencil write in: "Make of Car, and then fill in beside it any make ear that happens to come into your mind. Continue to write on the same card, license, number and color, filling in beside each of them the answers, such as red, License 198765, etc., etc. After "License" put down the name of a state also. Flash the card to audience and seal in envelope and have the envelope initialed with the red pencil and BOTH kept.

Now pretend to project the thoughts and when spectators offer their suggestions write them down on the blank card in black, without the listing, such as make of car, etc. Coach them so that for "license" they will name some state that the car is licensed in. When completed, under cover of the envelope, slip the top card under the other and also turn the pencil so the red lead is showing. Now quickly pretend to be checking back, and fill in the blanks of the other card with the proper information.

Again twist the pencil so that the black lead is in evidence and allow a spectator to initial the envelope. Show the card (written in black) and seal in envelope. The extra card is now held behind envelope. Collect the first envelope and permit a choice. Whichever is chosen is opened up. If the red-initialed envelope is selected, slide it off with card from behind second envelope, tear open end, and pretending to withdraw the card in the envelope, you really pull out the one behind the envelope.

The other envelope may now be opened and the information on the two cards agree. Hence the therom. And you have successfully demonstrated to them, in simple language, that you were able to (1) read their thoughts before they themselves knew what they were going to THINK, (2) you were able to PROJECT the thoughts that YOU had to their minds, so that they, themselves, had the same identical thoughts that YOU had.

(Lane enters). Thanks, Jake, SOME STUFF, and the best part of it is NEW, and has never before been offered in any form to magicians. Fellers, Jake is a former Harvard quarterback, and has some sweet ideas that he'll give you in another book sometime. He is the one who originated that card trick, "The Devil's Whisper," and what a trick! I always offered, and still do, $100 to anyone that could duplicate it, if they gave me their word they didn't know it and hadn't bought it.

Incidentally, speaking about red and black pencils, here's a gag, Jake, that ARTHUR MONROE thought of, and I think it would look well if Art gave it to us here. Don't mind, do you?... of course not. Well, if he's sober, bring him out. Here's Arthur, boys.

ARTHUR MONROE