“Yes, I have read of that in some books treating of magic,” said Joe.
“The books don’t tell you everything,” said the professor with a smile, “but of course they are valuable. I want to tell you that nowadays we have two wands, instead of one. One is an ordinary piece of ebony, solid, and not prepared in any way. Then we have a combined hollow wand, in one end of which is concealed a small pistol, so that by a mere pressure on a spring, which is all but invisible, we can produce a shot. On the other end of the wand is a concealed claw and spring, so that I can draw into the hollow a silk handkerchief or light piece of cloth, making it disappear before the very eyes of the audience. Of course the substitution of the trick wand for the solid one must be made unseen by the audience.”
“Yes, I should think so,” commented Joe.
“The tall hat is another great aid to us who work in magic,” went on the professor. “But of late years it is hard to borrow one in an ordinary audience, so I don’t often use it. Years ago, when more men wore tall, silk hats, it was easy to borrow one from somebody in the audience, and do all sorts of tricks with it—or, rather, with one of my own which I substituted unseen. My hat, of course, was made for my purpose. It had secret compartments in it and the lining being black, they did not show when I held it up to show that, apparently, it was empty.
“I might state, Joe, that of course nothing ever comes out of a tall hat, or any other kind of a hat, my own, or that of any one else, unless it has first been put there. ‘Loaded’ is the term we use. That is to say, I must first put into the hat a live rabbit, a cannon ball, a piece of cheese, an egg—anything, in fact, that I wish to produce I must first put in the prepared hat. Then I can bring it out.
“So much for the hat. Only, as I said, tall hats are rather hard to borrow, so I often work with an ordinary derby, having one of my own made with a secret compartment. Only it has to be small, as derbies haven’t much spare space.”
“It would be great if we could work with a straw hat—especially if we gave a show in summer!” exclaimed Joe.
“Why, it would, yes. I never thought of that!” exclaimed Professor Rosello. “I believe we could have a trick straw hat made. Say, Joe, I’m glad to see you taking an interest this way.”
“Oh, I’m going to be a magician!” cried the youth. “I want to find out all I can about it.”
“It’s too bad your father didn’t live to tell you about his tricks,” said the magician. “He was a real artist, while the most of us are but imitators. However, it can’t be helped. I will teach you all I know if you want to learn.”