4. BAG TO VANISH A WATCH
Various kinds of bags have been devised for the vanish or the switching of a watch. One is made by sewing the hems of two handkerchiefs together with the exception of about three inches at one corner, where a pocket is made between the two. A shoe button is sewn on this corner to enable the fingers to find it easily. To use the handkerchief, palm the duplicate watch in the left hand and throw the handkerchief over it, letting the corners hang down below the hand. Seize these corners with the right hand and bring them upwards, at the same time withdrawing the left hand and leaving the duplicate watch inside the bag thus made. Invite the owner of the watch you are borrowing to drop it in, while you open the mouth of the pocket to receive it.
Twist the fabric round the duplicate watch; and in so doing squeeze the borrowed watch out of the pocket into your right hand and palm it.
The disposal of the duplicate then depends upon the requirements of the trick in hand. If the watch is to be smashed (apparently) then, in handing the handkerchief to a volunteer assistant you let all the corners go, except the one with the button sewn to it, just as he is about to take the bag. The duplicate watch drops, and as this is merely an old case filled with loose parts you have a very satisfactory accidental smash.
Another useful accessory for getting possession of a borrowed watch, while apparently smashing it effectively, is a prepared stocking. It has a small pocket at the opening. To use it, place the duplicate watch at the top—inside the stocking but not in the pocket. Roll it into a compact parcel. Produce this from a spectator’s pocket, keeping the duplicate watch at the top. Borrow a watch and openly drop it into the pocket, at the same moment releasing the dummy watch; the passage of this can be seen as it slides down to the toe, and this will naturally be taken for the borrowed article. It is then a simple matter to squeeze the borrowed watch into the palm of the hand. A favorite method of procedure, then, is to remark that the watch is a little slow and swing the stocking round rapidly, sling fashion, to make it go faster. Unfortunately you have unwittingly come near your table, and the watch strikes it with the usual untoward result.
One more method of using a handkerchief should be mentioned. In one corner sew a little pocket and secure in it a filbert nut. Fold the borrowed watch in the handkerchief as explained in the first method, palm the watch, and place the folded handkerchief on the floor. A moment or two later you step on it by accident, bringing your heel on it with a “scrunch” which simulates very satisfactorily the crushing of the watch. However, when you shake out the handkerchief the watch has vanished.
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