Joe held them out. Firm, muscular hands they were, well formed, and giving an idea of great strength.
“Good!” murmured the magician. “Here, let me see you palm this,” and from an unseen portion of his clothing he produced a billiard ball.
Joe, nothing abashed, at once proceeded to manipulate the ball. He first exhibited it in one hand, and then in the other. Finally, showing both hands empty, he reached over and seemingly took the ball from off Tom’s head!
“Bravo! Very good! Much better than I expected!” cried the professor. “You have a natural ability to palm articles. I presume you must have practiced, also.”
“A little,” admitted Joe. He did not state that many and many a night, in his room, he had gone through this and other necessary fundamentals in the magical art, getting ready for the time when he hoped his ambition should be realized. Now he was reaping the fruits of his secret practice.
“Yes, you are a better palmer than many who are on the stage to-day,” said the professor. “It would not be fair to you, though, to say that you have not yet something to learn. But I can see you have great promise. I sincerely hope I can assist you. I will now write out my different addresses for you. It may be that, some day, I can help you.”
The professor sat down at a table, and began making out a list of towns where he would play in rotation.
Just here it may be stated for the benefit of readers unacquainted with the prestidigitator’s art, that “palming,” as it is known in the profession, is the act of holding an egg, billiard ball, lemon, coin, or some similar object, in the palm of the hand, by a slight contraction of the ball of the thumb, in such a manner that the hand, when the back of it is held out in front of an audience, appears perfectly empty. Passing of articles from one hand to another, involves palming, as does causing to “disappear” certain articles apparently taken from a person’s hat, clothes and so on.
Palming is the basis of many tricks. The explanation of these tricks is very simple, involving in most cases the exercise of but three principles—palming, the use of special and secret apparatus, and the old trick of deceiving the eye by making certain motions with the hands.
The professor talked for some little time longer with Joe and Tom, and did some tricks there, in the hotel room, with simple articles, that even Joe admitted afterward he could not explain.