tip, which is a hollow shell shaped and painted flesh color to
resemble the first joint of the thumb over which it fits. As used
in this effect, the thumb tip should be long enough to cover the
full first joint of the thumb, and fit easily so there is room to
hold a folded billet which lies under the ball of the thumb, and
concealed within the tip.
The slips of paper used should measure about 1" x 2-1/2". When
folded twice, the billet may easily be concealed within the tip,
as described. The thumb tip is used to get secret possession of
one of the questions.
One method is to have the blank slips in the left vest pocket
along with the thumb tip, the latter being nearest the body with
the open end up. An envelope, size 6-3/4, is in your left side
coat pocket. After passing out a few slips, allowing time for
these spectators to finish writing their questions, the performer
withdraws a slip from his pocket and at the same time brings out
the thumb tip in position on the right thumb. He uses this slip to
show how the spectators should fold them. With this sample
folded billet in his left fingers he thrusts his left hand in his coat
pocket, leaving the sample billet there and getting the envelope.
He spots a spectator whose question is written and slip folded.
This spectator and one or two more are allowed to drop their
billets in the envelope.
The performer then quickly inserts his right thumb in the
envelope as though to open it, withdraws his thumb, leaving the
thumb tip inside the envelope through which it is lightly grasped
and held upright by the fingers of the left hand. While doing
this, the performer requests a spectator to "just put your slip in
envelope," however performer does not let this spectator drop it
in--performer simply reaches for the spectator's billet, taking it
in his right hand between first finger and thumb which go into
envelope. Actually, the billet is put into the thumb tip, the right
thumb going in with it and the hand quickly withdrawn, thus
secretly bringing out the billet in thumb tip. In getting more
slips from pocket, thumb tip containing stolen billet is left in
pocket.
The envelope is then handed to another spectator to drop in his
billet, and he passes envelope along to others, meanwhile
performer has been handing out slips to others, and in talking
and moving about, has plenty of opportunity to get thumb tip
with stolen billet out on his thumb and quickly extract stolen
billet and open it. He must not look at it, just get slip opened out
and placed underneath slips in left hand. The next spectator is
handed a slip and instructed to "write briefly and plainly and be
sure to sign your name--then fold writing inside like this" this
giving performer a chance to take stolen slip and secretly read it
as he folds it.
Some spectator looks after the collection envelope and brings it
to the stage, and is directed to dump the billets out on the table.
In the meantime, performer has gotten thumb tip with stolen
question in it on his right thumb, and he has also secretly gotten
from his left coat pocket, the blank sample billet that he first
folded down in the audience, and this blank billet is secretly put
on the edge of the pile and used as in previous methods. The
one ahead principle is employed, but the use of the thumb tip
provides an easy and most natural switch whereby the question
just answered may be returned at that moment to the writer.
The right hand, wearing thumb tip containing stolen question,
picks up a slip from the pile, and after giving the answer,
switches the one ahead billet for the stolen one in this manner:
If you take hold of thumb tip with left fingers and thumb, you
should be able to withdraw right thumb and billet both at once
from thumb tip. With palms towards you, try it before a mirror.
The tip remains concealed behind the left fingers, while the
billet appears to be taken by the right fingers from the left hand.
Now, with the loaded tip
on right thumb, and
billet No. 2 held openly
between tips of right
fingers and thumb (with
tip on) you have just
completed answering the
stolen billet, and you
open billet No. 2 to
confirm (really to read
the one ahead). You
refold No. 2 with both
hands and finish with it
in left hand. To
exchange the No. 2
billet for the stolen one
in tip, you merely bring
the hands together,
palms toward you, and
put right thumb (with tip
on) on No. 2 billet
behind the left fingers,
grip thumb tip with left
thumb and fingers, slide
out stolen billet as right
thumb is withdrawn
from thumb tip, and it
will appear to be the No.
2 billet just seen in left
hand. See Fig. 2.
Try this before a mirror,
and the deceptiveness of
the move will be
apparent. The stolen billet is now returned to its writer by an
usher, or voluntary assistant.
Your left hand holds concealed, the No. 2 billet against the
fingers, the thumb tip against the billet, and the left thumb
against the thumb tip. The fingers are curled inwards in a
natural position and no one suspects anything in the hand.
The next billet (we will call it No. 3) is now picked up by the
right hand which is raised to the forehead and an answer given
(to No. 2). The hands are brought together to open No. 3 to
verify, and is refolded and finally held in right hand which
pushes it into the thumb tip along with the right thumb, and the
No. 2 billet is brought into view at the same instant, being
grasped between fingers and thumbs of both hands for a second,
and may then be returned to its writer. You are again prepared
with one ahead for the next reading.
It will be noted that the second move, or switch, is the reverse of
the first, and both should be practiced before a mirror until you
can make the moves with rapidity and certainty, without looking
at your hands. It should be done while you are addressing the
audience with some remark, such as, "Where is Miss White, I'll
return your question, etc."
Also note that both hands are seen to be "empty" as you answer
the first question, and likewise on every alternate billet. You
make no comment about it, but the "emptiness" of the hands
permits you to make open handed gestures so frequently that no
one will suspect that anything is, or could be, concealed in the
hands at any time.
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