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magic and real detectives-第40章

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envelopes from the small table where they lay in full view。  He now

descended and rapidly returned the unopened envelopes to their

respective writers。



The basket is what is known as a 〃Billet changing basket。〃  It is

lined with red satin and is a small affair with straight sloping

sides。  It has a handle which; when down; locks two flaps up

against the sides of the basket。  This is done by two little

projections on the base ends of the handle。  They are of wire and

are bent into such shape that they project downward when the handle

is down; and hold the two side flaps up against the sides。  These

flaps are of pasteboard; and are covered with red satin the same as

the basket lining。  There is a spring in each flap which closes it

upon the bottom of the basket when it is released by raising the

handle。  Envelopes in the bottom of the basket are thus hidden and

retained; when the flaps are released; and the duplicates drop into

the basket; from the sides where they were concealed by the flaps。



This basket can be supplied by the conjuring depots; or it can

easily be made。  The handle can be made of wire and wrapped with

raffia grass which is on sale at the department stores。  A

pasteboard lining covered with red satin must first be sewed into

the basket; and then two flaps of pasteboard should be hinged to a

pasteboard bottom by pasting on a hinge of cloth。  A suitable

spring can be made of spring wire and sewed into position; after

which this is all covered with red satin and placed in the basket。

The basket should have sides about four inches high; and the bottom

should measure about seven and one…half by ten inches。  The sides

and ends slope outward; and the basket is open wicker work。

Suitable bows of ribbon on the ends of the handle and corners of

the basket conceal the mechanism。



In the present instance; the assistant behind the scenes; after

reading and placing the questions in duplicate envelopes which the

manager had previously numbered; sealed them and placed them in the

sides of the basket; bent up the flaps into position; and lowered

the handle locking them in place。  He now pushed this basket into

view on a table at the rear of the stage; and when the manager was

ready to return the envelopes; he scooped the dummy envelopes from

the table (where they lay after the bag was emptied) into this

basket。  He then lifted the handle which released the flaps;

covered up the dummy envelopes and dropped the originals into view。

These he took down and quickly distributed to the writers。  Being

numbered; this could be quickly done。



          。          。          。          。          。



I will now describe the method employed on the third evening。  This

time dummy envelopes were placed in the sides of the basket; and

the handle left in a lowered position while the operator gathered

up the envelopes。  As the manager returned to the stage he took the

basket by the handle。  This released the dummy envelopes; and

covered up the originals retaining them。  He emptied the dummy

envelopes upon the small table and then laid the basket on a table

near the flies in the rear; and rather out of view。  An assistant

behind the scenes took out the original envelopes; opened them; and

as he read the questions repeated them into a small telephone。  The

wires from this telephone ran under the stage carpet to a pair of

metal plates with a tack in the center of each plate which pointed

upward。  These plates were located under certain spots in the

carpet and directly in front of the medium's chair。  There were

also two other pairs of wires leading to two other positions on the

stage。  The medium was dressed as a 〃Mahatma〃 on this evening;

wearing a large turban。  A large tassel dangled by his left ear;

completely concealing a small 〃watch…case receiver〃 which was

attached to this ear。  Two tiny wires led from this receiver;

inside his collar; down his person; and were connected inside his

shoes to other wires which penetrated the soles of his shoes。

These latter wires were soldered to copper plates which were tacked

into position on his shoe soles。  He now took his position in the

chair and placed his feet over the hidden tacks; which now

contacted his shoe plates; completing the circuit; so that anything

whispered into the telephone on the stage was repeated in his ear。

He then gave a few tests; tapping his spirit bell; which was a

signal for more information from the assistant。



He soon grew nervous and walked away giving a test as he walked。

He now paused in a certain position for a moment; placing his hand

to his head as if somewhat dazed and tapping his bell。  In this

position his feet were again over two concealed tacks; and he again

secured information for another test; which he gave as he walked

about。  He now paused in a third position and gave another test;

after which he returned to the chair; continuing his work。  This

maneuvering he kept up until all the tests were given; after which

he fell upon a couch exhausted; but with his feet from the

spectators。



The manager now stepped to the rear of the stage and took the

basket; which was now in place containing the original (?)

envelopes behind the flaps; and stepping to the small table he

scooped in the dummy envelopes; then taking the basket by the

handles; he stepped down the runway and rapidly returned the

unopened (?) envelopes to their writers。  The assistant had; of

course; sealed the questions in duplicate envelopes previously

numbered by the manager。  He had placed these behind the flaps; and

shoved the basket into view on a table at the rear of the stage。





I use a variation of these tricks in my double parlors。  I have

made a 〃billet changing basket〃 as above described; and have also

made a similar basket except that it contains no mechanism。



I pass cards and envelopes to the spectators in the front parlor。

When the questions are written and sealed in the envelopes; I

gather them up in the mechanical basket; I step to a table in the

rear parlor and apparently empty them upon it。  In reality; I have

just raised the handle so that the originals are retained; and the

dummy envelopes are emptied on the table instead。



I now step to an adjoining room for an instant; to get a small

decorated screen。  I secretly leave the basket containing the

original envelopes in this room and return with the other basket in

my hand in its place。  I place the small ornamental screen on the

table back of the envelopes; but leave the envelopes in view and

request the spectators to notice that I do not go near them until I

get ready to give the tests。  I now carelessly lay the non…

mechanical basket on a table in the room where the spectators are

and proceed with some other tricks。



Usually I give the series of experiments described in the chapter

entitled 〃Mediumistic Reading of Sealed Writings。〃  I state to the

spectators that I will not give the tests for the sealed envelopes

until later in the evening。



Meanwhile; should anyone think of such a thing; he can easily

examine the little basket; which he thinks I have just used; as it

still lies on the table in the front parlor with other discarded

paraphernalia; including slates; etc。  I use no assistant; so after

a time has elapsed; and when by the performance of other sealed

readings; suspicion has been diverted from the tests with the

billets; my wife retires on some trifling errand。  While out; she

opens the envelopes in the basket; prepares the sheet of questions;

and places it in the Bible; then she re…seals the questions in

envelopes previously marked by me; places them in the sides of the

basket; raises the flaps and lowers the handle。  She then usually

enters with some light refreshments for the spectators; which

explains her absence with a word。



I continue with other experiments for ten or fifteen minutes after

her return; then I gather up my surplus paraphernalia; including

the dummy basket; and carry all to the room adjoining the back

parlor; where I leave it。  I return instantly with the mechanical

basket which I place near my own table; and then I give another

experiment of some kind。



I now pick up the basket and announce that I have decided to return

to their writers the envelopes on the table in front of the screen

before attempting to give the tests。  I do this as if it were a

later notion。  I now scoop in the dummy envelopes; and raise the

handle; which action covers them up and releases the originals (now

sealed)。  I now distribute to the writers their envelopes; which I

can do; as they are numbered as described earlier in this chapter。

I request each sitter to hold his envelope until I shall give his

test。  Then I usually perform some other little experiment before

giving the tests。



I now take up my Bible; which I will stake I brought into the room;

unnoticed; when I returned w
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