1. THE THIMBLE ON THE TIP OF THE FOREFINGER
1st Method. Stand facing the front with the left hand palm upwards, the fingers half closed, the left arm bent, and the left hand a little to the left of the body. Show the thimble on the tip of the right first finger, the other three fingers bent in, the arm extended to the right. Bring the right hand over toward the left palm rather quickly, the back of the hand to the front; the moment before it reaches the left hand, thumb palm the thimble and instantly extend the forefinger again, placing it on the left palm and completely closing the left fingers on it (Fig. 7).
Remove the left fist, simulating a slight effort as if the thimble required a little pull to free it from the forefinger. Hold the right hand still for a moment, showing the forefinger bare; then let it drop naturally to the side. Move the left hand diagonally upwards to the left, agitating the fingers as if crumbling the thimble away; then slowly open the fingers one by one, the little finger first, and show the hand empty.
2d Method. Starting from the same position, place the right forefinger, capped with the thimble, on the left palm, the left fingers stretched out (Fig. 8). Close the left fingers rather slowly and, as soon as they form a screen in front of the right forefinger, rapidly thumb palm the thimble and instantly extend the finger again. Complete the closing of the left fingers and finish the action as in the preceding sleight. The right forefinger must be bent in and extended again in the twinkling of an eye.
3d Method. Show the thimble on the tip of the extended right forefinger, the other fingers closed and the thumb separated. Turn the right side of the body to the front and hold the left arm half bent, the hand stretched out with its palm to the front, the fingers pointing to the left, the thumb upwards. Place the right forefinger against the palm, with the thimble near the top of the hand but not protruding. Close the left fingers slowly, so that the thimble is actually in the left hand but not gripped tightly (Fig. 9).
To make the steal, raise the back of the right hand a little; bend the right forefinger and withdraw it, placing the thimble in the thumb grip at once while moving the hand, first toward the right, then toward the left and downwards—as if to call attention to the other hand, which you hold still and which is supposed to contain the thimble. Agitate the left fingers and vanish the thimble as usual.
Variation. The two middle fingers only of the left hand may be closed on the thimble (Fig. 10). The withdrawal of the forefinger and the thimble and the final vanish follow, as described in the preceding paragraph.
It should be noted here that by reversing the action of the forefinger described in the first method, the thimble can be secretly inserted in the left fist. To do this, show the left hand empty on all sides, make a pretended catch in the air, and close the left fingers. Extend the right forefinger, closing the other fingers in; push it into the fist and immediately bring it out capped with a thimble. The thimble was picked up from the thumb palm in the right hand just the moment before the forefinger entered the fist. This is a useful and effective move.
4th Method. Stand facing the spectators, the thimble on the tip of the right forefinger, the back of the hand to the front at the same height as the mouth and about six inches away from it. Pretend to place the thimble in the mouth by raising the wrist, rapidly thumb palming the thimble and putting the bare forefinger in it. Push the cheek out a little with the tongue, then pretend to swallow the thimble as you withdraw the finger.
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