Can you guess what was secretly written on a piece of paper?

In the center of the paper, draw a circle not more than one and a half inches across. Hand this to someone in your audience, and tell him to write a short question inside the circle.
 
He may write something like this:

Of course you aren't allowed to look at what he has written, but he may pass it around for others to see.

Then tell him to fold the paper twice down the middle—that is, once in each direction as shown.

Pick up this folded paper and tear it in half, placing the half with the center corner underneath the other half.

Materials: Piece of paper about three by four inches, pencil, a large ash tray, and a match.

Then tear these two pieces in half again, placing the center corner piece again underneath all the other pieces. Slide the corner piece, which is on the bottom, into the palm of your right hand and hold it there with your little finger while you continue tearing up the other pieces.

 Then drop these pieces into a large ash tray, and light them with a match.

While they are burning, walk around the room and pretend to be concentrating. When your back is turned, open the piece of paper in your right hand and read the message. You must do this quickly, afterwards slipping the paper into your pocket or shirt front.

The message on the paper will look like this:

Now stand again by the ash tray; concentrate over the dying flames and reveal the message or answer the question. You can do some hocus-pocus with your hands over the ash tray to make the trick seem difficult and more magical.

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