St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-09-12

SAID:
Mr.. Campbell, 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 pocketbook with the money you
lent himq
No. that is out of the question.
examined the note again after reacheu
home, and before put my. pocket6ook
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 1t had been
Yesterday; / even remember noticing
how clear and bright the ink was; 1t
had kind of reddish tinge.
l was in the act OF handing the
pocketbook back to him as he said this,
but thought suddenly struck me and
1 opened it again.
Mr.. Campbell, said, carelessly, do
you remember whether the note was
filled out on blank form or not
1t was not; he wrote it out in full
himself, on the top of a sheet of FOOLS
cap, and cut it off with a pair of scissors.
1 remember everything about it very
clearly, for it was about all l had in the
world and to me it was a very essential
affair.
examined the slip of white paper
for a startling idea was already taking
shape in my mind, and perceived that
it had been cut from the top of page
of foOlscap, evidently with pair of
scissors.
Do you know how you happened to
place this slip of white paper in here 7
I asked.
No, don't remember of placing it
there; l might have done so, thinking
it would come handy to figure on.
Will you let me have it.
Certainly, he replied somewhat sur
prised at my modest request.
Well, l said, as laid the slip on my
table, and set my inkstand on it; l am
going to make an effort to recover your
money for you; l 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 that the
note he gave you is missing?
Yes, with a clear conscience; could
not be mistaken about it.
Then call on me tomorrow morning
at nine o'clock.
1 will.
He left me, and 1 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 re.
membered a certain chemical trick with
which had often amused myself;
remembered that an ink could be made
of analine, iodine of ammonia, anG
chloride of zinc, in certain proportions
which had a fresh, reddish tinge, and
that would fade entirely out within
four days, leaving no mark on the pa
per. BrOntOn no doubt knew this Sc
cret, and he had used it to swindle the
mechanic out of his earnings. The more
| considered this subject, the more
became convinced that such was tn,
case. The note had been written witt
fading ink.
But there was another chemical Sc
cret which probably BrontOn did no
know, as I had once discovered it my
eeif ny accident. This treacherous ink
on fading out, leaves tho zinc in inViSi
BILE atoms in the paper, so that every
line traced with it may be restored by
an application of a certain solution Of
iron and DyuTdto Of calcium So nc
sooner had Mr.. Campbell left my office
than l hurried out to a drug store
where l obtained the solution.
Returning to my Office, l saturated a
piece of blOtting paper with a 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 cleal
the sign of the dollar came out.
; knew now what hidden words the paper
contained, and placed it in my pocket
book, cOrked up my vial-a vial o
wrath it was destined to prove to the
worthy Mr.. Bronton and went immedi
ately and brought suit against him TO
the recovery of the note with interes
and costs.
A few days later Alexander Brontol
stood at the bar of justice to answer il
his own behalf. 1t seemed so easy !
case to him that he did not deem i
necessary to employ any counsel.
Mr.. Campell swore to the facts h,
had related to me concerning the loan
Mr.. BrontOn answered, on oath, tina
he had no recollection of ever borrow
ing any money from the plaintiff. I
he did, where was the note He wOul,
thank anybody to produce it.
, Your honor, said l, addressing tn
, judge, [ think l can produce the not
in question.
l understood you that it was not t,
be found, said Judge D., somewha
surprised.
1t has never been lost, I said, as
took from my pocketbook the blanI
? slip of paper and handed it to him
This is it.
t L hope you are not trifiing with tn
I court, he said, as he glanced at boil
sides, and perceived that it was blank
am not, your honor, said | as
proceeded at once to explain to hin
the chemical fact l have already de
scribed.
| watched Alexander Bronten as
did so, and noticed that he turned yer,
7 pale. When | had concluded, tool
+ from my pocket the vial containing tin
p solution, saturated the blotting pape
I with it and pressed it upon the blanl
slip of paper which lay upon the judge
7 desk.
I A few seconds left it so, then l lift
I ed it up, confident Of the result; and
1 was not disappointed. The blank sill
. of paper was suddenly transformed int
prOmissOry note, every word, lette
and figure as clear as sunshine.
+ 1t was a note of six thousand dollars
with years interest just due, draw
4 in favor of VIM. Campbell, and the sig
7 nature of Alexander BrontOn was a
the bottom of it.
The Judge gazed in amazement fro1
a the note toward Alexander Bronto1