Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

The first step towards the comprehension of the apparatus will be to completely take out the drawer, which, however, even when removed, does not at first sight indicate any speciality. On a closer examination, it will be found that the drawer is in reality double (see Fig. 170), consisting of two parts, a and b, the latter sliding backwards and forwards freely within the former, which is, in fact, a mere case or shell, open at one end. If any object, suppose an orange, be placed in b, and a and b together be placed in the outer case, it is obvious that, upon drawing out a, b will come with it, and the orange will be seen; but if b be held back, a will be drawn out alone, and the apparatus will be apparently empty. For the means of retaining a at pleasure, it will be necessary to examine the outer case, which will be found to have a groove or mortice cut in its under surface (see Fig. 171), along which lies a spring or tongue of wood, fixed by a screw at one end, the other, or free end, being provided with a catch or stud c, which, upon pressure, is forced through an opening in the bottom of the outer case, and made to sink into a little hole or notch in the bottom of b, being again withdrawn by the action of the spring as soon as the pressure is removed. The bottom of the outer case is covered with velvet, ostensibly as a finish, but really to conceal the wooden tongue. When it is desired to draw out a without b, the apparatus is held as shown in Fig. 171, and a gentle pressure applied by the finger through the velvet upon the free end of the wooden tongue, thus forcing the catch upwards, and keeping b back. If a be drawn out without this pressure, b will come with it. The upper edge of a is turned over all round, so that a casual observer is not likely to detect any difference in the thickness of the sides of the drawer, whether it is drawn out with or without its inner casing.