The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
SLElGHT- T-0F.HAND.
The Way Prcstidigitator Fooled Parry
of Loungers.

How mnch can you inhuehce any
one ?"
IL will show you the whole extent of
nv power, or any other mons, in this
respect said the professor, taking a
pencil from his pocket. He borrowed a
vieiting-eard from one Of the party, held
il under the table, and wrote a figure on
it. Then he folded it up until it was like
a ball, and tossed it across the table to
the writer
"Put that piece OF paper in your pock-
ct, please, and button your coat over 1t.
Now I'll tell you what | propose to do.
Give me another card. Observe, / write
on this card series of numbers. II
doesn't make much difference how many.
They are
5,1,3,6,2,4,7,9,s.
"Now, l propose, by an effort of my
mind, to make you select the number
from this list which is written on the
folded card in your pocket, and which
you have not seen. Take the pencil and
card, tossing them across the table, "and
cross out one of those numbers. Look
me in the eye for moment. Noww
Thewriter deliberately chose the figure
4, and was about TO cross il ont when he
suddenly resolved to take the Z. He
changed his mind again, and abruptly
drew the pencil through the figure 2.
take the card out of your pocket,
please, and open it,"
When the card was unfolded the figure
was written in the middle.
II don't claim that can do that every
time,' said the professor, taking no
notice Of the ainazement of the Others,
"but it seldom fails. Sometimes ] have
the subject cross out three figures at a
time. This is done twice, and leaves
three more If nine are written. Then !
let him cross out two more, and the one
left standing is the one in his pocket,
There is small trickery about it,"
He then, at their request, tried the
experiment on the other five members
of the party. He was successful in every
instance.
"That is all there is of spiritualism or
mind-reading," said he; "the rest is
simple trickery like this" As he spoke
he stretched ono hand across the table,
gently took a two-dollar bill from the
hand of a waiter who was handing it in
change to one of the party, and crumbled
it up in his hand, which he still held
over the table. Then he showed it to
the man, and IT was changed to a 500
pill. Goldberg tossed it to him, and he
at once thrust 1t into his pocket with the
remark that he was SlS winner.
Are you sure ?" asked the professor.
"Of course. know when | put $40
bill in my pocket"
"It's a 81 bill," said the professor,
quietly. "rhe original 50 bill is in the
celery glass"
The man pulled out the bill, found il
was 81, threw it across to the professor,
pulled the So out of the celery glass, and
gasped:
"Wbere's that twenty"
Here in my hand"
"Well, motion is quicker than sight
wrong again. Motion cannot be
quicker than sight. The reason you
don't see me substitute one of those bills
for another is because distracted your
attention at the instant l made the
change. Show usa poker hand if you've
got cards with yon."
81 havn't any. | left mine at the club
A pack was procured by the waiter
who regarded the magician with ave. as
he said:
"Very many poker players, men of the
world at that, do not believe that one
expert card sharp could go into party
Of four or five honest players and cheat
them without discovery. Now I'll deal
four hands,"
He shufiled the cards in number OF
ways, but always, so far as appearance
went, very honestly. He then asked the
man on his right to crt them, and had
them cut once more "for purity's sake
by another player. Then he dealt them
around, one at time, TO four players
including himself, and the other PLAYERS
picked up their cards.
"Gad I'd like to play this hand NUT
tered the first man.
II could down you,' said the second
man, with an important scowl
The third was the expression of man
who looks down upon his fellows, as he
remarked: "Td bet everything | could
win on this"
Meanwhile the professor had slipped
into his top coat and was drawing on
his gloves. The first had three kings
and pair of queens, the second foul
aces and king and third a straight
flush, nine high, an almost invincible
hand.
whats yours. professor ?"
The magician turned up the winning
hand ten-high straight flush.
Beware Of card-sharpers, gentlemen y
he said, with a smile, and strolled away
Hat