The Pharaoh’s Curse by Alan Warner

Three solid wooden tablets (each approx. 0.6 cm thick) are tipped out of a box and freely displayed by the performer. Two of the tablets are plain on both sides, but the third bears the symbol of the sacred Egyptian scarab. The empty box is then given to a spectator from the audience and once again, the performer draws attention to the scarab on the tablet. BUT SUDDENLY, ON SEPARATING THE TABLETS, IT IS SEEN THAT THE SCARAB HAS DISAPPEARED, LEAVING AN OBLONG HOLE RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLET. The spectator, on being invited to open the box, finds that the mixing oblong piece of wood with the scarab symbol on it has returned to the box.