The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1870-04-09
SATURDAY MORNING. psAA sAAPR1Igs," 1870

L a.. .#. s
durable--almost imperishable. Matters
of little moment are rarely consigned to
parchment; since, for the mere ordinary
purposes Of drawing or writing, it is not
nearly, SO well adapted as paper. / his
reflection suggested some meaning
some relevapcy--in the death 's-head. l
did not fail to observe, also, the form Of
the parchment. Although one of it's
corners had been, by some accident, de-
stroyed, it could be seen that the origi-
nal form was oblong. It was just such
a slip, indeed, as might have been chosen
for memorandum-for record of some
thing to be long remembered ard care
fully preserved"
"But, l intcrposcd, "you say that
the skull was not upon the parchment
when you made the drawing Of the bee
Gle. How then do you trace any
conncxion between the boat and the skull
| since this latter, according to your
own admission, must have been designed
God only knows how or by whom) at
some period subsequent to your sketch
ing the scarabeus ?"
F" All: hereupon turns the whole mys-
terry although the secret, at this point,
had comparatively little difficulty in
solving. My steps were sure, and could
afford but single result 1 reasoned,
for example, thus: When l drew the
scardbous, there was no skull apparent
upon the parchment When l had
completed the drawing gave it to you,
and obre: we'd you narrowly until you
returned it. hen it was not done by
human agency Aud neverless it was
done.
g At this stage of my reflections I eu-
dcavored to remember, and dill remem-
ber, with entire distinctness, every incl
dent which occurred about the period in
question. The weather was chilly Ooh
rare and happy accident y and fire
was blazng upon the hearth 1 was
heated with exercise aud sat near the
table You, however, had drawn chair
close to the chimney. pst as I placed
'fthc pareh:neat ia youA hand, aud: as you
were in the act of inspecting it, Wolf,
the Newfoundland, entered and leaped
upon your sholders. With your left
hand you caressed him and kept him off
while your right, holding the parchment
was permitted to fall listlessly between
your knees, and in close proximity to
the fire. AT one moment l thought the
blaze had caught it, aud was about t.
caution you, but, before could speak
you had withdrawn it, and were engaged
in its examination. When l considered
all these particulars, l doubted not fol-
a momeut that heat had been the agent
in bringing to light, upon the parct ment
the skull which saw designed upon it
You are we'll aware that chemical prepa
rations exist, aud have existed time ou
mind, by means of which it is impossible
to write upon either paper or vellum, Sc
that the characters shall become visible
only when subjected to the action of fire
Iaifre, digcsted in ddud rcy'd. and di
luted with four times its weight of water
is sometimes employed u grecu tint re
suits. The regulus OF cobalt, dissolved
10 spirit, Of nitre, gives red. These
colors disappear at longer or shorter in
tervals alter the material written upor
cools, but again become apparent upon
the re-apblication of heat
F." now scrutinized the death s-head
with care. Its outer edges-the edge.
OF the drawing nearest the edge of the
vellum-were far more distinct than tn,
others. 1t was clear that the action o
calorlc had been imperfect or unequal
| immediately kiudled fire, and sub
Jected every portion of the parchment tc
glowing heat. At first, the only effect
was the Strengthening of the faint line,
in the skull but, upon persever
ing 10 tie experiment, there became Wis
ible, at the corner ofthe slip, diagonally
opposite to the spot in which the death S
head was dclineatcd, the figure of what
at first supposed to be goat A
closer scrutiny, however, satisfied me
that it was intended for n kid"
Ha ha y said |, to be sure ]
have no right to laugh ut you-a million
aud halt of money is too serious mat.
ter for mirth hut you are not about Ia
establish third LUX in your chain
you will not find any especial counexiou