2. – The Two Balls, Placed one under each of the End Cups, pass successively under the Middle One.
A ball is apparently placed under “C”, really palmed. “A” and “B” are raised to show nothing under them, really for the purpose of secretly inserting the ball under “B”. Second ball is presumably placed under “A”, but palmed as before. Performer now pretends to pull the first ball through the top of “C”, showing the palmed ball at the fingertips. This is apparently placed in the left hand (palmed) which then simulates the action of throwing it under “B”. Right hand raises the middle cup, showing that the ball has passed, then when replacing it secretly introduces the second ball. With a wave of the wand, the performer now commands the ball, supposed to be under “A”, to pass under the middle cup, which is then raised and the two balls discovered. End cups knocked over with the wand and found empty.
3. – The Two Balls, placed under the Center Cup, pass under the End Cups.
Picks up and exhibits both balls in the right hand, then when seeming to replace both under the middle cup, replaces one only, palming the other. Raises the end cups to show empty and when replacing them, secretly introduces the palmed ball under “C”. Commands one of the balls to leave “B” and pass under one of the end cups. Raises “B”, showing one ball only then, when apparently replacing it under the cup, palms it as before. The palmed ball is now secretly inserted under “A” in the act of raising it to look for the first ball, which is finally discovered under “C”. Remaining ball ordered to pass under “A”, where it is eventually found; center cup knocked over and found empty.
PASSES WITH THREE BALLS (No Duplicate)
1. – Pass to obtain Third Ball from Pocket.
Right hand takes up one of the two balls from the table and actually transfers it to the left hand, which actually places it under “A”, both hands being then inserted, momentarily, in the trousers pockets. Right hand then takes up the second ball and actually places it under “B”, when both hands are once more placed in the pockets and slowly withdrawn – the right hand has palmed a third ball from the pocket. The performer remarks “Now! Ladies and gentlemen, you have all seen me place a ball under each of these two cups” and suiting the action to the word, he takes up “C”, the empty one, and places it over “B”, introducing the palmed ball between the two. Then before he can proceed further someone is sure to express the opinion that the balls are in his pockets; otherwise he pretends to overhear a remark to that effect. He pretends not to understand at first, but is eventually obliged to confess himself caught, then continues “Well! I merely did that to make sure you were watching me. (Derisive laughter) I am so pleased you noticed it, as that shows you are taking an interest in what I am doing. Now, as you are so satisfied as to the correct disposition of the balls, I may order them to return to the cups.” Slap the pockets on either side, then turn over “A”, revealing the ball which has been there right along. Right hand takes up the ball and seems to place it in the left (palming it), which then seems to throw it in the direction of the two cups stacked one over the other. Right hand picks up “A” and places it over the other two, secretly introducing the palmed ball under it. The cups are then separated and three balls discovered.
2. – To Place a Ball under each Cup and cause all to come together under “C”.
Starting with a ball on the top of each cup, remove and actually place the first one under “A”, duplicating the action when the ball is really palmed. The second ball, presumably placed under “B”, is really palmed in the right hand. The third ball is actually placed under “C” along with the second. “A” is raised and the ball openly taken up in the right hand; right hand seems to place it in the left, really palming it; left hand then appears to throw it into “C”, which is then raised by the right hand, disclosing the two balls. Then when replacing the cup, over the two balls, the one palmed is secretly introduced. The right hand now pretends to draw the ball, supposed to be under “B”, through the top of the cup, then to throw it into “C”; all cups overturned with the wand and the three balls found under “C”.
3. – To place Two Balls under “A” and One under “C”, then to cause them to change places.
The right hand takes up two and apparently throws both under “A”, palming one. The one remaining on the table is then thrown, along with the palmed one, under “C”, and the trick is done.
4. – To place all three Balls under “B”, then to find One under Each of the Cups.
Right hand apparently throws all three under “B” – two only go under the cup, the third being palmed. One commanded to leave “B”, which is then raised by the right hand, disclosing two balls only; these are picked up and exhibited by the left hand, which then seems to throw both under the cup, palming one. End cups raised, one in each hand, to show empty, the palmed balls being inserted when replacing them on the table. And the trick is done.
PASSES WITH THREE BALLS AND DUPLICATE
1. – Pass to Obtain Duplicate (Fourth) Ball from Pocket.
The procedure is practically the same as that already described at length at N°1, under passes with three balls. In this case, however, the pass starts with three instead of with two balls. The balls are actually placed, one under each of the three cups, while inducing the belief, by the same ruse, that they are placed in the trouser pockets. The performer here undertakes to cause the balls to return to the cups. Slaps the outside of the pockets as before, then overturns “A” and “C”, showing a ball under each. The remaining ball, the duplicate fourth, is now openly removed from the right hand pocket and apparently placed in the left hand, which forthwith throws it into “B”. Right hand raises “B”, disclosing the ball, then when replacing the cup on the table, secretly introduces the palmed ball under it.
2. – To pass three Balls in Succession under the Middle Cup.
There being a ball under the cup already, it only remains to pick up one of the three, vanish it by one or other of the sleights already described, then to raise the cup with the hand in which the ball is palmed, disclosing the one under the cup then, when replacing it on the table, secretly inserting the palmed ball. Repeated with the remaining two balls.
3. – To cause three Balls to fall through a Cup onto the Table.
At the conclusion of the last pass, “B” is raised, showing three balls; then when replacing it, the palmed ball is inserted beneath it. One of the three visible balls is now put on the top of “B” and covered with one of the end cups. The two cups are then knocked over and the ball discovered beneath them. Both cups are then raised, the innermost one being withdrawn and the other (with the ball) inverted over the ball on the table. The operation repeated with the remaining two balls.
4. – The Pyramid – A variation of my own.
At the conclusion of the last pass, having knocked over the two cups and disclosed the three balls, “B” is replaced on the table over the concealed ball. One of the three on the table is now placed on the top of “B” and covered with “A”; a second is placed on the top of “A”and covered with “C”. One balls remains on the table. The performer now taps the top cup with his wand, then tips over the three together, revealing the ball under the lower cup. Picking up the three cups together, he withdraws the inner one, then inverts the other two over the ball. There are now two balls under the lower cup. The remaining ball is now placed on the top of the two cups and covered with the loose one. The cup tapped with wand as before, pile turned over and two balls disclosed under the lower cup. Lower cup withdrawn and the others inverted over the two balls; there are now three under the cup (lower). Loose cup again placed on top of the others, tapped with wand, and the pile turned over, disclosing the three balls. The Galloping Post (Sleight 6) is now executed, to prove the absence of any ball between the cups, after which all three are placed on the table, opening upwards, in line A B C. The duplicate ball remains in “B”.
5. – To Pass Three Balls Upwards Through Table into a Cup.
At conclusion of last pass, duplicate rests in center one of the three cups set in line mouth upwards. Right hand takes any one of the visible balls, seems to place in left, really palming in right. Left is now put below table and ball presumably rubbed up through same. Right knocks over “B” and out rolls duplicate ball. Right replaces ball in cup, at same time inserting one from palm, and the trick is repeated with the remaining two balls.
(To be continued…)