Effect : Two spectators are chosen from the audience, and one is handed a
hatful of numbered cardboard squares. The performer explains that these
are numbered from one to fifty-two, and they can be examined freely. The
assistant is told to mix these thoroughly, and the performer never touches
them again.

A pack of cards is handed to the second spectator for mixing as much as he
may wish, and the performer never touches them again.

Spectator A, with the cards, stands on one side of the table, and spectator
B, with the numbers in hat, or perhaps a bowl, stands on the opposite side.
The performer now stands about ten feet in back of the table and writes a
prediction on a pad or borrowed business card.

‘A’ is then directed to hold the cards, one at a time before his eyes and look at
the face of each himself. Then he is to place it face down on the table. As ‘A’
holds each card up, ‘B’ is to reach in the hat and draw out a number which
he calls aloud. ‘A’ only looks at each card but does not name it.

This procedure goes on until the performer says “Stop.” ‘A’ is now holding
a card and ‘B’ a number. The performer now has a third spectator read what
he has written as a prophecy.

The prediction reads something like this “When B calls the number 26, A will
be looking at the Six of Spades.” ‘B’ has, of course, just called the number
26 and holds it in his hand, and ‘A’ holds up his card for all to see. It is the
Six of Spades. Climax. And the best part is that all numbers and cards are
found ordinary.

Method : The cardboard numbers are without preparation, and the spectator
‘B’ draws them freely from the hat or bowl. Some may prefer to use wooden
counters numbered from 1 to 52, something like those used in the game of
Lotto. The deck used is a Bicycle League Back deck, at the center of which
is a three-wing design that makes a perfect reverse mark, noticeable to one
who knows from a distance of ten to twenty feet. However, there are decks
on the market now with picture backs that make excellent reverse designs
without being too obvious.

Beforehand, the deck is set with all backs pointed one way except for
one card which the performer knows. This is the predicted card. The only
necessary gimmick is one of the now popular thumb writers sold by all
dealers. The numbers are handed to spectator ‘B’ and cards to ‘A’. As the
performer hands the cards to ‘A’ for mixing, he gives them a little overhand
shuffle which serves to ‘force’ the spectator to mix them that way, and which
does not disarrange the backs. During this mixing, the performer writes the
prediction as given in the effect, but leaves out the number. He throws the
pencil on the table and stands at a little distance where he can see the backs
of the cards as ‘A’ holds them up to look at the faces. ‘B’ calls the numbers
each time, and the performer watches for the reversed card to show. The
moment it pops up, the performer says “STOP”, at the same time filling in
the number just called. At this point, he hands the card to a third person and
has the prophecy read aloud. ‘A’ then shows the card he is holding, and it is
found that the prophecy is correct.

The cleanness of working makes this an astounding effect.