3. LOOP AND SLEEVE METHOD
Preparation. Cut a short piece, about ten inches long, from the rope to be used and tie the ends tightly together with thread, making a loop of about five inches in length. Attach a piece of cord elastic to the closed end of the loop; pass the cord up the left sleeve (over the shoulder) and fasten the free end to a suspender bottom on the right-hand side, adjusting the length of the pull so that the loop will be drawn up close to the elbow when it is free. Pass a handkerchief through the rope loop and pull the ends down to the cuff. There is nothing unusual in carrying a handkerchief in this manner and it permits you to get the faked loop into your left hand in merely taking the handkerchief from the sleeve.
Method. Coil the rope, about fifteen feet in length, over the left arm and bring it forward. Invite two spectators to assist; stand them one on each side and give each of them an end of the rope to hold. Have them test its strength, then slacken it so that you will be able to make a loop in the middle. Pull your sleeves back a little; let both hands be seen empty; take hold of the rope in the middle and draw up a small loop, holding it in the left hand projecting over the fist.
Look closely at the loop and say that the rope must be absolutely free from dust or the experiment is likely to fail. Let the right side of the loop fall from the left hand, but retain hold of the rope itself with that hand. With the right hand draw out your handkerchief; pull the faked loop into your left hand and hold it against the rope, covered by the back of the hand and the fingers. Rub the middle of the rope vigorously with the handkerchief; make a pretense of pulling up a loop as before, but in reality seize the fake loop and bring it up above the fist. Put the handkerchief in your coat pocket, bring out the scissors, cut the loop, and show the ends well separated.
Replace the scissors in your pocket; grasp the cut ends with your right hand apparently but really release the hold of the left fingers and let the fake fly up the sleeve, at once making a loose knot with the slack of the rope itself. Rub the middle of this loop between your hands, have the spectators pull the rope taut—the knot is pulled free and the rope is whole.
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