Once in a while a really good effect pops up and is found to be different in its psychological appearance to an audience. There isn’t any definite part of this that is new or original except for the dress. Dr Jacob Daley first told me of the general effect using playing cards for both spectators used. Al Baker then came along with the idea of illustrating to one person how the slip should be torn for burning, and getting information in this ingeniously ordinary way. Finally, after using the stunt for a dozen or more times as an impromptu item, I varied it by combining it with a picture and began using a slate for the denouement. This developed the problem into one that can be presented in front of goodly sized audiences and gatherings.

In effect, the performer asks two spectators to come forward to be on each side of himself. The performer shows a pack of cards, and the first person is asked to take them himself, merely cut somewhere and remember it for a moment. The second person is asked to think for a minute, and decide upon any simple picture or diagram he may like. Both are given slips on which they jot down the mental ideas. Close at hand is an ashtray. The slips are torn and burned while the performer picks up a slate. Standing between the two people, a little bit to the rear, he marks upon it.

The first person now names his card, and the second person shows his thought of picture. The slate is turned and upon it the performer HAS DUPLICATED THE PICTURE OR DIAGRAM, AND IN THE CENTER OF THE SKETCH HAS WRITTEN THE NAME OF THE CARD. Therefore this makes a telepathic effect suitable for those who wish to do a bit of thought reading in the middle, or as an interlude, of their regular program of mysteries.

There are certain variations that can be used by those who adopt this trick, but as it stands now, it has a double climax at once which does away with the usual reading or revealing of the thoughts one at a time as has been customary.

As I myself have been doing it, a one kind deck has been used for cleanness. Some may think this a funny idea of ‘cleanness’ but I mean from the audience standpoint. The minute you start messing around, spectators get lost in following you, and no matter what you have to do, the presentation, as far as they are concerned, MUST be direct and open.

Have the deck at hand or in your pocket with the usual different card at the bottom. Have a few pieces of opaque white paper about two by three inches in size. A couple pencils, a nearby ashtray, matches, slate, and a piece of chalk in your left coat pocket completes the set up.

Have the spectators on each side of you with about three yards between. Take out the deck and overhand shuffle it, the fingers of the hand holding the deck retaining the bottom odd card in place. Explain to the first that you want him to look at a card by chance while he has the deck in his possession. He is to hold it in his left hand, and with the right merely cut off a bunch of any amount, look at the card thus cut, and replace those removed. As you say this, illustrate by cutting off a bunch and looking at the face card, but don’t let it be seen. Now deliberately put the deck on his left hand and step back. The moment he replaces the cut, step up and take the deck. As you take the deck from him, turn and ask the second person to think of a geometrical design or any simple picture that he likes, and which means something to him. Do not hesitate or stall between taking the deck and giving these instructions. The card selection has been so direct that no one gives it a thought, especially with the immediate mention of the picture and because it is a bizarre idea in comparison to a card.

As the spectator says he has a picture in mind, drop the deck in the left coat pocket, at the same time taking two papers from the right or vest pocket and give one to him to draw the sketch so he’ll have a definite idea.

Then, give the other paper to the first spectator with the remark that he also may as well write his thought down in order to firmly fix it on his mind. I’ve tried various routines for this part, and the described actions worked out best. Then tell them to fold the paper tightly once each way.

Explain now that in ancient times, the soothsayers gazed into the smoke of burning incense or that of some personally owned article to divine secrets pertaining to that person. You will attempt the same thing, but in a smaller and less impressive way. Look at the first person and remark that you want him to tear and burn his paper. Continue “Look, tear it and then burn it like this.” As you say this, you take the paper the second man is holding. Still addressing the first person, hold the closed corner of the doubly folded paper to the upper left, and tear the paper through the long way, just a trifle to the right of the center. Put the right hand torn off bit in front (audience side) of the left hand piece, and keeping the closed corner always in the left fingers, tear them again in half, again a little to the right of the center. Put the right hand pieces once more in front as the left thumb draws back with the folded piece (middle) of the original whole slip. The right fingers take away the torn pieces, minus the left finger palmed piece (not really palmed), which is held by the thumb against the fingers, and you step over to the ashtray where you drop them. As you finish this action, repeat “Just be sure that the pieces are small and will burn easily.”

Now watch the first person tear his slip and put it with the pieces you dropped. Then tell the second person to light them. Until now you have ignored him since taking his paper. Afterwards both will swear, as do the audience, that they have torn and burned their own papers. The described maneuvering is the perfect misdirection in regards as to what takes place.

As the second person lights the paper, you pick up the slate and step back. The left hand has dropped to the pocket for the chalk as you directed the burning, and the folded piece flipped open. It is small enough to be in the palm but you may only open it half way. Bring it out and put it under the tip of the right thumb holding the slate. Ask them to each think of their card and picture. Start to make a few rough lines on the slate with the left hand holding the chalk. At this time, you have the picture. Look at the second person and tell him to think of the picture as a whole and not as individual lines. Your right hand with the slip go to the pocket for a handkerchief, and you rub out something. The paper is left behind and you are now free to finish the picture and write the name of the card in the middle of it.