edges between the tips of the right second finger and thumb—the back of the hand toward the spectators and the flat surface of the coins parallel with the floor, Fig. 1. The hands should be held about waist high, the left being palm up a few inches away and in position to receive the coins, Fig. 2. Move the hands toward each other casually. The right hand is about to place the coins in the palm of the left hand. Take a look at Fig. 3. Fig. 4 shows the performer’s view of the action.
As the stack of coins moves toward the left palm the two middle fingers of that hand come in contact with the bottom coin and it remains balanced on their tips hidden from the spectators’ view by the right fingers. Fig. 5 shows the spectators’ view, while Fig. 6 depicts the action as seen by the performer. As the right hand deposits the stack of coins in the left palm the left middle fingers push upward and press the stolen coin into the right palm, Fig. 7.
The action of sliding off the bottom coin from the stack and pressing it into the right palm is completely hidden by the right fingers which are held close together. Now separate the hands. Allow the spectators to get a brief view of the coins lying in the left hand, then close the fingers over them. In a perfectly natural manner you have placed a stack of coins in your left hand but in this action you have stolen a coin, which is now hidden in your right palm. No visible movement of the right hand is necessary to retain the coin as that hand reaches for a glass tumbler and picks it up by its brim. The glass is held between the fingers and thumb of the palm down hand in such a manner that the coin, when released from the palm, will fall into the glass.
Hold the hands some distance apart, make a tossing motion with the left hand toward the glass and release the coin in the right palm, permitting it to fall into the glass. Open the left hand and show one coin missing. The move can be repeated to cause a second coin to pass into the glass but the third and remaining coins should be caused to pass into the glass by employing different sleights.
This steal is so natural it can be executed in perfect safety at very close range. You may stand face to face with a spectator and execute the sleight without him being aware of anything unusual taking place. After becoming proficient with the sleight you will find that you can even curl back the forefinger to give a view of the coins from above. Even though you may permit the top of the stack to be seen the steal cannot be detected because the chicanery takes place underneath the stack while the spectators can only see the top of the stack. As far as they are concerned, nothing is hidden—they can see everything as the coins are placed in the left hand. Yet the sleight takes place without their knowing it!
PRODUCING A COIN FROM A SPECTATOR’S CLOTHING
A prettier and more convincing method of producing a coin from a spectator’s clothing has not been devised.
Effect: The wonder worker vanishes a half dollar, then the spectators see both hands empty as he reaches underneath a man’s tie and extracts the coin with his fingertips.
Method: Vanish a half dollar, using any method where it is retained in the right hand. Suddenly point to a man’s tie with the left hand. The right has dropped to the side and back palms the coin as the left lifts the end of the tie. Right palm is seen to be empty as the fingers reach underneath. Bring the coin to the front palm and come away with the half dollar lying on the fingers, Fig. 1.
This procedure can be used to produce a coin from other places, such as the bottom edge of a coat, underneath a scarf, or a sweater, or from behind your own knee. When done correctly it appears that you merely reached under the edge of the article and immediately came forth with the vanished money. It looks like real magic!
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A FUMBLE
What would you do if you accidentally dropped a coin, or missed one of your vanishes? Would you pick up the coin and apologize for your carelessness, then continue with something else, or would you take advantage of this little mishap and do some unscheduled effect?
The better prepared we are to get out of such difficulties, the more capable we become. Of course, we should be able to perform our tricks so well we do not make mistakes. There is no excuse for a fumble, but mortal man is never perfect. So, why not try to turn a fumble to advantage?
The following are tried and tested ideas that have served many close-up workers well. If you are not familiar with them, here they are for your edification.
For one reason or another you have dropped a coin. Prepare to pick it up by straddling it—that is, the coin is lying on the floor about midway between the feet. Bend down, or rather squat over the coin and pick it up with the right hand.
Now comes a bold move.
Immediately toss the coin backwards between the legs, catching it in the left hand, Fig. 1. The throw should be made just as soon as the right hand removes the coin from the floor, the body and the legs concealing the maneuver from the spectators. Then raise yourself up, pretending to hold the coin in the closed right hand. While attention is on the right hand the left sleeves the coin. Both hands are shown empty.
If working without a coat the coin can be disposed of in the left hip pocket. However, if you have sleeved it and would like to reproduce it, use one of the methods described in Chapter VII, The Art of Sleeving.
Here is another way of disposing of a coin which has fallen to the floor:
Bend down and pick up the coin with the right hand. Immediately toss it into the left trousers cuff. Do this quickly and without hesitation as you straighten up. You are supposedly holding a coin in the closed right hand. Pretend to place it in the left. Blow on the left hand, then open it to show coin vanished.
Or, you could do this. Bend down and apparently pick up the fallen coin. Actually the coin never leaves the floor. The right hand reaches for it and as the fingers touch the floor in front of the coin they instantly close. This action propels the coin inward along the floor and it slides underneath the right foot which raises slightly, becoming wedged between the toe end of the shoe sole and the floor, Fig. 2. The coin travels inward only three or four inches and is hidden in its flight by the right hand.
This getaway can only be done on a rug-covered floor. On any other surface the sliding of the coin creates a sound, which would be a “give-away.”
You straighten up and pretend to vanish the coin from the right hand.
Of course, the coin must be recovered—not left there on the floor. To get it, show a second coin and apparently place it in your left hand, retaining it in the right. Slap the left hand on top of your head, remarking that you will cause the coin to penetrate your
