STIRRING THE STEW
word on page 639. Read its definition silently to
yourself. Keep your finger on it. "
Pretend to concentrate. Then rearrange the nine
letters to spell THREATENS. "Please read the
definition you are touching. " Eileen responds,'To
make threats, as of injury. To indicate danger,
etc."
Background. This started with Allan's Otwone
Prediction which was published in the March, 1991
Genii. This issue was devoted to Stewart James.
Prior to publication, Allan sent the trick to Stewart
who seemed to like it. He wrote,"/ do not recall
where letters from a card have been used in this
manner previously."
Then, as Allan puts it, "Hepromptly improved
it...considerably." Stewart's Anger With a 'D'
appears on page 1050 of The James File. When
Allan noticed that Stewart's version required the use
IMAGINARY VANISH
Steve Beam
The following item is relatively simple in method.
I thought you might appreciate this lull before the storm
created by the next item.
This is a coin puzzle converted to a magic trick
with the addition of a story. Try not to overly
complicate the story, something that familiarity with
the script will help you to prevent.
For close-up work, start with a change purse
containing ahalf dollar and four dimes. The purse
should be one whose contents can be accessed with
one hand when the purse is open on the table.
"People are always asking me how I got
started doing magic and tricks with cards. The
truth is that I wasn't very good at gambling with
cards. I used to play cards with all the kids in the
neighborhood and they always seemed to win.
This may sound strange to you... since I was 35
at the time... but it's the truth. I remember one
day, I had run out of bills so I reached for my
change purse. Without even knowing how much
money I had, I placed a bet with one of the little
cheating kids for 50%, or half of what was in my
111
of the ten of hearts, he immediately thought of his
classic Further Than That. The combination of the
two effects resulted in the above.
Leftovers. For those of you not familiar with
the Countback Force, it forces the 10th card from
the top of the pack. Hand the deck to your volunteer
and ask for any number between 10 and 20. Assume
she names 17. Ask her to deal 17 cards to the table.
Ask her to table the remaining cards and pick up the
packet she just dealt. Explain that the number 17
consists of two digits, a 1 and a 7. Adding the two
digits together yields 8. Ask her to deal 8 cards back
onto the top of the pack, but to note and remember
the 8th card. This is your force card. Finish by asking
her to drop the remaining cards on top of the pack.
As you might imagine, you can find a lot more
about the Countback Force in The James File.
Consult Chapter 13 on page 1242.
purse. I lost to the little card sharp. So I placed
another bet for 40% of what was in the purse. I
lost to that little double-dealer as well. It was
time to pay up and go home. "
"When I opened up my purse, I found I only
had 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 cents. " Starting with the
fifty-cent piece, the magician picks up the coins with
his right hand and places them into his left. On the
second dime, tap it against the coins in the left hand
but secretly retain it clipped in yourrighthand Drop
the last two dimes into the hand cleanly. "Theydidn 't
have any change, so nobody knew how to settle
the bet. Suddenly I got an idea. I asked them to
pretend that I had an imaginary dime, which I
added to the other coins giving me an even
dollar. " Reach into your right pocket and remove
the clipped dime as if from the pocket. Cleanly place
it in the left hand with the other coins. (Alternatively,
produce the clipped dime from the air, a spectator's
knee, your knee, or your elbow.)
"I paid off the first little cheater by giving
him half of what I had, or 50 cents. I paid off the