Читать книгу Modern Coin Magic - J. B. Bobo - Страница 64

MILTON KORT

Begin the trick by showing a half dollar in the right hand and a handkerchief in the left hand. Hold the right hand palm up with the coin clipped between the tips of the first and second fingers. The left hand drapes the handkerchief over the coin, making sure coin will be at its center, then the left hand grasps the coin through the cloth from above, with the fingers at the front and the thumb at the rear. That is what apparently happens, but actually the left hand grasps only the center of the cloth as the right hand moves downward and inward toward the left and tosses the coin into the left coat pocket. Without hesitation the right hand continues in an arc as it is brought up about chin height, the right forefinger gesturing toward the spectators, as you caution them to “watch!”

After the left hand grasps the handkerchief by its center the right hand is immediately brought downward in a counterclockwise movement before it swings up to assume the position described. As it swings around in this circular movement it passes very close to the left coat pocket. As it passes it tosses the coin into that pocket, Fig. 1. To facilitate the coin going into the pocket, a handkerchief can be wadded up and placed in beforehand. The pocket then remains open and makes an easier target.

The coin should not be aimed at the pocket itself but at a spot two or three inches above its opening, and should be in a vertical position as it strikes the coat at this point. It then falls easily into the pocket. The pocket opening presents a difficult target to hit but if the coin strikes the coat flatly somewhere not too far above the pocket it will find its mark automatically.

The act of bringing the right hand up to a point in front of you as you direct the spectators to “watch” is a perfectly natural one. Even though you should actually take the coin in the left hand the right hand would still follow the same movement as described to dispose of the coin. Try it before a mirror, going through the action slowly until you are thoroughly familiar with the course the right hand must follow. Once you are familiar with it you will be able to remove the right hand from underneath the handkerchief, toss the coin into the coat pocket, and bring hand up for the gesture without hesitation. It should be all one motion and should appear that you merely grasped the coin through the handkerchief with the left hand and then gestured with the right forefinger as you commanded “watch.”

When the right hand with the coin leaves the handkerchief, the left is holding the handkerchief not directly in front of the body but a bit to the left. Handkerchief must be held about eight inches in front of the left breast coat pocket to mask the flight of the coin. Although coin actually travels only two or three inches before it enters the pocket it is completely hidden in its flight by the handkerchief.

After cautioning the spectators to “watch,” the right hand grasps one corner of the handkerchief and flicks it into the air. It is caught with both hands, opened and shown on both sides. The coin has vanished without a trace.

The effect is worth the necessary time to master it.