Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-07-24

one could touch it but myself"
"Are you sure that it has ever since
been impossible for anyone to find it to
purloin the note?"
II am perfectly sure of that. The
lock of my desk, in which I have kept
it, is one that made myself. There is
but one key in the world that will open
it, and here it isl he said, producing
from his pocket bright steel key of
very odd outline. mot thing has
ever been disturbed in that desk"
| unused minutes as | again casually
overhauled the papers, then said:
"Mr. Campbell, l don't mean to say
that Bronton is dishonest, but might he
not have handed you this blank piece
of paper and slipped the note in his
pocket-book with the money you lent
him?"
mo, that is out Of the question. l ex-
amined the note again after I reached
home. before l put my pocketbook
away to see that no mistake had been
made; found it all right, plain as day,
in every letter and figure, and l remem-
Der it as well as though it had been yes
terday; [ even remember noticing how
clear and bright the ink was; it had a
kind ofreddish tinge."
Twas in the act of handing the Dock-
etbOok back to him az he said this, but
a thought suddenly struck me and |
opened it again.
sc Mr.. Campbell" l said, earelessly,
"do you remember whether the note
was filled out on a blank form or not?"
g 1t was not; he wrote i. out in full
himself, on the top Of sheet of fools
cap, and cut it off with a pair of scis-
sors. 1 remember everything about it
very clearly, for it was about all L had
In the world, and to me it was very
essential affair.""
| examined the strip of white paper,
for startling idea was already taking
shape in my mind, and | perceived that
1t had been cut from the top Off page Of
foolscap, evidently with a pair of scis-
sOrs.
DO you know how you happened to
place this slip of white paper in here ?"
mo, don't remember of placing it
there; | might have done SO, thinking
it would come handy to figure on"
Will you let me have it?"
Certainly" he replied, somewhat
surprised at my modest request.
Well,'' / said, as [ laid the slip on
the table, and set my inkstand on it,
" | am going to make an effort to re-
cover your money for you; | shall
bring suit against Bronton at once, and
have him summoned to appear before
Judge D.. You can, of course,
swear that you lent him the money,
and the note he gave you is missing?"
eyes. with clear conscience; I
could not be mistaken about it,"
Then call on me tomorrow morning
at nine o'clock"
81 WILL"
He left me, and L took up the slip of
paper and examined it closely. 1t
seemed to be nothing but stray frag-
ment of foolscap. but it occurred to
me that it might have a history; it was
here that my chemical knowledge
came in play. [ remembered that
Alexander Bronton was a chemist; and
[ also remembered a certain chemical
trick with which [ had often amused
myself; / remembered that an ink
could be made with anytime, iodine OF
ammonia, and chloride of zinc, in GER
tain proportions which had fresh,
reddish tinge, and that it would fade
entirely out within four days, leaving
no mark. on the paper. Bronton no
doubt knew this secret. that he used to
to swlndle the mechanic out Of his
earnings. The more [ considered this
subject the more [ became convinced
that such was the case. The note had
beer written with fading ink.
But there was another chemical secret
which probably Bronton did not know,
as | had discovere it myself by acct
dent. This treacherous ink, on fading
out, leaves the zinc in invisible atoms,
in the paper, SO that every line traced
with it may be restored by an applica-
ton of certain solution Of sulphate of
iron and hydrate of calcium. So, no
sooner had Mr.. Campbell left my office
that [ hurried out to a drug store, where
[ obtained the solution.
Returning to my Office | saturated a
piece of blotting paper with drop of
it, and applied it to a corner of the
blank slip of paper. The result made
me jump up, clap my hands, and nearly
yell with delight, for fresh and clear the
! sign of the dollar came out. | knew
not what hidden words the paper con-
tanned, and l placed it in nay pocket
book, corked up my vial-a vial of
wrath which it was destined to prove to
the worthy Mr.. Bronton-and went i'm
mediately and brought suit against him
for the recovery of the amount of the
note, with interest and cost.
A few days later Alexander Bronton
stood at the bar of justice to answer in
his own behalf. 1t seemed so easy a
case to him that he did not deem it nee
esssry to employ any counsel.
Mr.. Campbell swore to the facts be
had related to me concerning the loan.
Mr.. Bronton answered, on oath, that he
had no recollection of ever borrowing
any money of the plaintiff If he did,
where was the note? He would thank
any body to produce it.
Your honor" said |, addressing the
Judge, 81 think can produce the note
in question"
II understood you that it was not to
be found" said Judge D., some
what surprised.
sit has never been lost" | said, as I
took from my pocket the blank slip of
paper and handed it to him. "This
is it."
81 hope you are not trihing with the
court" he said, as he glanced at
both sides, and perceived that it was
! blank.
Il am not your honor" said I, as l
proceeded at once to explain to him
3, af + =, ", Il