Everywhere and Nowhere

Nothing is quite so amazing to the general public as witnessing the mysterious transformation of one card to another; perhaps that is because it so nearly approximates the popular concept of "magic." Here we have a fine feat of this type. The magician, attempting to find a chosen card, shows three indifferent cards. Each of these, a moment later, is shown to be the chosen card; still a moment later, everything is as it should be, with the chosen card flanked by two indifferent cards.

You will require two duplicate aces of spades, with backs matching those of the pack you use. Place these, together with the ace belonging in the pack, at the top of the deck. Have three clear-glass tumblers on your table, neatly spaced.

1. "Ladies and gentlemen," you say, "a card trick which proves that, although seeing may be believing, you should not always believe what you see." Advance to someone on your left, shuffling the cards by the overhand method to place the aces at the middle in position for forcing. "Will you help me, sir? Take any card." Force one of the aces, preferably by the one-hand force or the classic force .

Have the card shown to all and replaced at the point from which it was taken, then square the cards neatly and give them one riffle shuffle , doing this slowly so that all may note its fairness. When performing for a small group it is most convincing to permit the spectator himself to make this shuffle. Take the pack, saying, "A very minor card trick, a simple little feat. I shall find your card in the easiest possible manner, by looking for it."

2. Openly run through the cards. A single riffle shuffle will not separate the three aces by more than two or three cards. Openly rearrange the cards so that two indifferent cards separate the three aces, then cut the pack, placing the first ace at the top, the second ace third from the top, and the third ace fifth from the top.

An amusing bit of business to use as you do this is the following: Let us say that you are performing for a small group in a home and have arranged with someone to provide soft waltz music at appropriate intervals. You now turn to this person, saying, "A little waltz, professor looking-for-a-card music, if you please," and the instant the music starts you say, "Thank you, professor, that's little enough!" and the music stops.

3. Turn to the person who selected the card, saying, "I think I have found your card. Do not tell me its name–let me show you."

Double-lift the two top cards and turn them face upwards on the pack, as one card, showing an indifferent card. "There is your card!" This is denied and you glance worriedly at it. "It does not matter," you say, brightening. "I will find it another way." Turn the two cards face downwards as one, remove the top card, the ace of spades, and place it on your table leaning against one of the tumblers. The face of the card naturally is away from the audience.

4. "I will find it by cutting," you announce. Hold the deck between the first phalanx of the left thumb on one side and the first phalanges of the middle and ring fingers on the other, with the forefinger's first phalanx bent on the outer end.

With the right thumb and middle finger seize the upper half of the deck at the inner corners and press the tip of the right forefinger on the top card. Push this card slightly forwards with the right forefinger and swiftly draw the upper half away to the right, the top card being retained by the pressure of the left forefinger. In the action, separate the hands, moving them in opposite directions for about six inches. Drop the cards held by the right hand on top of the other packet.

You have made what seems to be a genuine cut, in the course of which you have got rid of the indifferent card at the top of the pack, at the same time placing an ace at the top with an indifferent card under it.

5. Prepare for a double lift. Turn the two cards at the top face upwards on the pack, as one, saying, "This time I am confident that I have found your card. It is your card, is it not?" Again this is denied, and for a moment you appear to be reviewing what you have done, glancing unhappily at the pack. Again you brighten, shrugging off your misfortune as you say, "It is of little consequence. I will try again." Turn the two cards face downwards, as one, remove the top card, an ace, and place it against a second glass with its face away from the audience.

6. Cut the pack again as given in step No. 4, bringing the third ace to the top. Prepare for another double lift, and turn the two cards face upwards on the pack, this time not quite so confidently, saying, "Would this be the card? No? Just as I thought, something has gone wrong…. My mother told me there would be nights like this." Turn the two cards, face downwards as one, remove the top card, the third ace, and place it with the others on your table as before.

7. "Apparently I have made a miserable failure," you comment. "But you will remember that I told you that you should not always believe what you see. I will tell you a little secret. Sometimes I cheat…. Tell me, sir–if you were to choose one of the three cards, which would you take–the one on the right, the one in the middle, or the one on the left? Whichever you choose, I promise that it will be your card."

Pick up whichever card is selected and hold it before you in readiness for display. "Will you name your card? The ace of spades?" Slowly turn the ace face outwards, saying, "You see, it is your card after all!"

8. You will be applauded at this point, for the audience thinks the trick is ended. Turn to your left to replace the card on the table, but as you do so make the top change , exchanging the ace for an indifferent card. It is the latter card which you replace on the table, with its back to the audience.

9. As you say the following, cut the cards as in step No. 4, thus burying the ace somewhere in the middle of the pack: "But, you may say, what would I have done if you had chosen one of the other two cards? Suppose you had chosen this card–" (pick up one of the other two) "–I then would utter the potent spell 'arbadacarba,' which is abracadabra spelled backwards, and–" (slowly turn the card face outwards) "–you see, it too is your ace of spades."

10. "I know what you are thinking. What about the third card?" Turn to your left toward your table and make the top change , placing an indifferent card on the table. Pick up the third card and hold it face outwards, showing still another ace of spades. "It too is your card!"

11. "Now you are thinking, 'Ah, they are all aces of spades!' That is not so." Pick up the other two cards and place them on either side of the ace, showing them to everyone. "One ace of spades only! That you must believe, for seeing is believing!"

In the hands of a good actor–and we say "actor" advisedly, for all good magicians are good actors–this feat is one of the most delightful imaginable.