Once more there comes along an effect which has been tested thoroughly before appearing herein, and the directness of its presentation has much to do with its success. One who can tell fortunes is always the lion of the gathering, and it is seldom that a magician is not asked if he is so gifted. Just giving a straight “spiel” reading is one thing, but I’ve found it 100% more effective if one can answer a direct question in giving the talk. And the following routine will be found attractive because it can be done practically impromptu.

A pack of cards is borrowed, and the performer stands behind a small table across which he works to one or two spectators at a time. The sitter shuffles the deck well, and then gives it to the performer who hands him a piece of paper on which he is to write a question and fold once each way. The written query is openly burned by the spectator himself, whereupon the performer fans the deck and has five cards drawn from different parts, and dropped face down on the table. The spectator looks at these, places them in a row still face down, and then starts turning them over one at a time in any order. The performer gives a short reading as each card is turned, and finally is able to apparently look at them all and answer the important question that has been on the spectator’s mind.

Taken all together, it is really the routine and presentation of this effect that makes it a worthwhile number. There are many (too many, in fact) booklets and pamphlets that give meanings for cards, that is, if one wants to be a bit consistent. However, in most cases, just a little imagination and a short, tactful fairy story, made up while you peer wisely at the cards, will suffice. After all, the mockout part, it also being the convincing point too, is when the question is answered.

Beforehand, have two pieces of paper about 2 inches square. Fold one piece once each way and put it in your left trouser pocket. Borrow a deck and have it shuffled. Put the second piece of paper before the spectator, and have the dummy in your left fingers. Take the deck back with your right hand and place it face up on your left hand over the dummy. Tell the spectator to write a question and fold. Turn away towards left, and your left thumb pushes out two or three of the face up cards and the right hand turns them over, backs up. Turn your back, take the folded paper with your right hand, put it on top (?) of the deck under the left thumb, and with your right hand gesture at the ash tray and ask the spectator to light a match. As the right hand comes back, the deck is transferred from the left to the right, being turned over in the passing, and which is a most natural move.

Immediately the deck is over in the right hand, the left fingers pick off the dummy and put it on the ashtray with the remark that it should be burned. As the dummy flames up, the deck is fanned out in the two hands, all except the last few cards of course, and the spectator asked to pull out five at random. Again you turn away, with the request that he look them over and place them in a face down row. At this time you read the question, reverse the bottom cards you turned over in the beginning, and pocketing the paper turn back to drop the deck somewhere on the table, and go through with the fortune and answer.

The actions for this presentation are so simple, and natural, that it makes a perfect and interesting reading method for single sitters. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone does take this idea and use it with as great success as did Mogul with the torn center method.