Editor’s note : I dug this up from out of the past, and offer it now to those
who otherwise would never see or get to know it. I honestly consider
Stewart James as one of the best informed people in the business,
bar none, and one whose tricks always have a touch of genius in their
originality.

The performer writes a prediction on a slip of paper and a spectator retains
it. Two volunteers are each given a half of the pack and the first volunteer
shuffles his half and selects a card while they are all in his own hands.
Suppose he selects a four spot. He is handed a sheet of paper on which
is printed a list of celebrity names. He counts to the fourth name which
may be Houdini. The spectator opens the slip of paper and finds the name
Houdini written thereon.

Another prediction is written by the performer and given into the custody
of a spectator as before. The second volunteer shuffles his half of the
deck and selects a card freely as did the first. We will say that this is a ten
spot. The tenth name on the list may be Roosevelt. The prediction is read
and found correct the second time. Any cards are used and there are no
sleights or. exchanges.

Notice the four lists of names which are given here.

There are only two rules to follow in making up four such lists. Notice
that the name Houdini (the first prediction) is in 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th
positions on each successive list. Also note that Roosevelt (the second
prediction) is the last, or tenth, name on each list.

The audience is only aware of one list as will be seen. Place them in the
pocket arranged in rotation ready for instant separation, or, better still, put
the first list in your right coat pocket, second in the lower right vest pocket,
third in lower left vest pocket, and the fourth in the left coat pocket.

Shift all court cards, nine and tens to the bottom of the deck. Separate
this section from those above with a bridge. Start out by writing the name
Houdini on a slip of paper and giving it to someone to hold. Give the
volunteer the top half of the deck and have him shuffle, and select one
card. State that the spot cards will equal their face value and a court card
will count ten. Let us say he draws a four spot. You remove the list of
names from the lower right vest pocket because you know Houdini is the
fourth name on that particular one.

(Highest card the volunteer can draw is an eight. If he selects a two, four,
six, or eight, hand him the list with the name in that position designated
by his card. If he selects a one, three, five, or seven, hand him the list with
the name at a position just one beyond the value of his card. Tell him to
count down by marking off the names and note the next one.

After the first prophecy has been read, make another, writing Roosevelt.
The second volunteer selects a card from his half of the deck (lower). If he
chooses a court card, which you previously stated would amount to ten, or
a ten spot, have him count to the tenth name. If he gets a nine, have him
mark off the names, and take the next.

The volunteer must not see the faces of the cards in the half of the deck
from which he chooses one. At the conclusion, both halves of the deck
are shuffled together and not a clue remains. The performer may compile
his own lists of the names, and can place the two to be selected in their
proper positions. The feat is quite incomprehensible even to the average
magician, as all appears so fair.