The Silver Shoe.
By Alec Bell A.I.M.C.

Effect--
A wedding ring is borrowed and dropped into a glass tumbler. In keeping with the matrimonial spirit of the problem to be, the emblem of good fortune in the shape of a Silver Horseshoe is shown. Taking a long piece of pale blue ribbon, the ends are threaded through the top nail holes of the horseshoe. Two assistants are invited on to the stage, one end of the ribbon being given to each to hold. The threaded horseshoe is then dropped into an empty paper bag, this being rested in an upright position on a small easel. The borrowed ring is then removed from the glass and wrapped in a small piece of paper; the small package is held with a pair of tweezers, and is inserted in the flame of a candle. The package vanishes in a flash. The paper bag is lifted down from the easel and the assistants asked to pull on their ends of the ribbon, thus bringing the horseshoe clear of the bag. The borrowed ring is found threaded on that part of the ribbon between the two ends of the horseshoe.

Requisites--
A silver coloured horseshoe made of wood or very stout cardboard (not painted with aluminium paint, please!). The nail holes should be just large enough to accommodate the tip of the performer's second finger. The other properties required are a wedding ring, a pair of tweezers, a piece of flash paper, a candle and candlestick, a piece of pale blue ribbon half-an-inch wide and five yards long, a paper bag and a small easel. Round one of the top nail holes of the horseshoe, a fair amount of conjurer's wax is smeared. The horseshoe is placed with this part face downwards and projecting slightly over the back of the table used.

Presentation--
The conjurer comes forward with wedding ring on third finger of right hand, concealed by folding all fingers in towards palm of the hand. After a willing victim has been persuaded to part with her wedding ring, the performer takes it with the tips of the first finger and thumb of the left hand and places it on the second finger of the right hand. Holding that finger up so that everyone can see the ring, the performer walks back to the stage and apparently drops the ring off the second finger into the glass. Really the second finger with the borrowed ring on is turned into the palm of the hand, at the same time the third finger is straightened and it is the duplicate ring on this finger which drops into the glass.

The horseshoe is now picked up from the table, the second finger slipping inside the waxed nail hole thus pressing the ring on to the wood until it is retained by the wax. The pale blue ribbon is threaded through the holes, care being taken not to dislodge the ring from the wax (needless to say the side of the horseshoe holding the ring is kept away from the audience). Once the ribbon is threaded, the ends can be held with impunity, as the pressure of the ribbon against the ring is a preventative against dislodgment. The horseshoe is placed on the table ring side down.

Two members of the audience are then invited on the stage and stationed about nine feet apart and about three feet in front of the table. One end of the ribbon is handed to the assistant on the performer's right, whilst the assistant on the left is asked to examine the paper bag, which after its innocence has been affirmed is taken back by the performer, and the remaining end of the ribbon given to this assistant. Holding the mouth of the paper bag open with the left hand, the performer picks up the horseshoe and in placing it in the bag dislodges the ring with his finger nail. The ring in the glass is vanished by means of the flash paper, the well known "coin fold" being used for the secret extraction of the ring from the packet.

End of Percy Naldrett's Volume Six.