EFFECT.--A match apparently thrown away persists in reappearing in
closed hand.
REQUISITES.--A box of ordinary safety matches, together with an extra
match top, broken off about half an inch long.
PRESENTATION.--First conceal the extra match top between the tips of the
index and second finger of the right hand. Now give the box of matches
to a spectator, and request that the tops of three of the matches be
broken off about half an inch long and handed to you. You then place
these upon the table and proceed to pick them up one at a time with the
right hand, and throw them into the left (each time closing that hand)
as follows: The first is thrown in quite fairly, the second one is also
thrown in but is secretly accompanied by the one which you have
previously concealed at the finger-tips, the third one you pick up and
apparently throw away, but really retaining it at the finger-tips as
above mentioned. You now open the left hand and throw three match tops
on to the table instead of the supposed two; apparently the one thrown
away has secretly travelled back to the left hand. This trick can be
repeated about three times without fear of detection, as you always have
a fourth match top in readiness at the finger-tips. Properly worked it
proves a very bewildering little trick.