The Word on the Page

I've used the novel principle employed in this trick many times for an impromptu book or magazine test. With but a minute's access to a book and a few minutes to set your cards, you have as clean a test as you'll find anywhere.

Effect

You ask two spectators to step forward. To one of them you hand a book, while the other one selects four cards from the deck which you have ribbon spread across the table top. He gives two of these cards to the man with the book and retains the other two for himself.

One man totals the values of his cards and the book is opened at that page. The other man totals his cards and counts down to the word on the page at that number. You have moved away from the table while the selection of a page and a word has been going on, but once they decide on the word you are able to reveal it.