Operator Calling

When one can do a trick with the assistance of a telephone operator, he is quite a person, and that is just what seems to happen in the case of this excellent home, office or press stunt. It is short, simple and sweet, depending upon dial telephones and a bit of timing. Most cities of any size have dial phones now, so the inclusion of this feat is warranted.

Effect

Ask for the use of a phone and dial the operator. When she answers, say, “Ring back in a few minutes, operator, as soon as you get my friend's thought impression, and tell him the card by the number of rings. Use the usual suit order... I'll call you back.” Then hang up.

Now explain that the operator is concentrating, and that you would like to have someone select a card. The puzzled spectator takes a card which you do not see. Tell him that the suits are in a certain order, as Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades, and are thought of as 1, 2, 3 and 4. Thus a suit can be told by the number of rings on the phone. The spectator concentrates, and in a minute or so the phone rings once, twice, three or four times and then stops. You say,

“That's... rings. The card must be a......... Is that correct? Thank you. Now think of the value please, and listen.”

The phone starts ringing again and stops when it has rung the correct number of times!