[Illustration:  Details of the Swing]

Small miniature electric lights are fastened to the overhead braces and supplied with electric current carried through wires to the swing by an ingenious device attached to the under side of the cast-iron ring or hub of the wheel.  A ring of fiber on which two brass rings are attached is fastened to the hub and connections are made to the two rings through two brushes fastened to the post with a bracket.  The wires run under the surface of the ground outside and connected to the source of electricity.  The wires from the brass rings run through the center pipe to the top and are connected to the lamp sockets.

** Old-Time Magic-Part V [193]

** The Disappearing Coin [193]

This is an uncommon trick, entirely home-made and yet the results are as startling as in many of the professional tricks.  A small baking-powder can is employed to vanish the coin, which should be marked by one of the audience for identification.  Cut a slot in the bottom on the side of the can, as shown in Fig. 1.  This slot should be just large enough for the coin that is used to pass through freely, and to have its lower edge on a level with the bottom of the can.

The nest or series of boxes in which the coin is afterwards found should consist of four small sized flat pasteboard boxes square or rectangular shaped and furnished with hinged covers.  The smallest need be no larger than necessary to hold the coin and each succeeding box should be just large enough to hold the next smaller one which in turn contains the others.

A strip of tin about 1 by 1-3/4 in. is bent in the shape as shown in Fig. 2 to serve as a guide for the coin through the various boxes.  This guide is inserted about 1/8 in. in the smallest box between the cover and the box and three rubber bands wrapped around the box as indicated.  This box is then enclosed in the next larger box, the guide being allowed to project between the box and the cover, and the necessary tension is secured by three rubber bands around the box as before.  In like manner the remaining boxes are

[Illustration:  Appliances for the Disappearing Coin]

adjusted so that finally the prepared nest of boxes appears as in Fig. 3.

The coin can easily be passed into the inner box through the tin guide, then the guide can be withdrawn which permits the respective boxes to close and the rubber bands hold each one in a closed position.

The performer comes forward with the tin can in his right hand, the bottom of the can in his palm with the slot at the right side.  He removes the cover with the left hand and passes his wand around the inner part of the can which is then turned upside down to prove that it contains nothing.  The marked coin is dropped into the can by some one in the audience.  The cover is replaced and the can shaken so the coin will rattle within.  The shaking of the can is