The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-10-03

book back to him, as he said this, but {
thought suddenly struck me and 1 opened
it again.
MIR. Campbell" said carelcssly, 'dc
you remember whether the note was filled
out on a blank. form or not ?"
at was not, sir; he wrote it out in full
himself, on the top of piece of foolscap
and cut it off with pair of scissors. re
member everything about it clearly, for ii
was about all I had in the world, and to
me it was very essential affair.
[ examined the strip of white paper, for
startling idea had already taken shape in
my mind, and I perceived that it had been
cut from the top of foolscap, evidently with
pair of scissors.
"Do you know how you happened to
place this strip of white paper in here p
''No, l don't remember placing it there;
[ might have done so, thinking it might
come handy to figure on
''Will you let me have it ?"
Certainly" he replied, somewhat sur
prised at my modest request.
"Well, I said, as | laid the paper on
the table, and set the inkstand on it, II
am going to make an effort to recover your
money for you; I shall bring suit against
Bolton at once, and have him summoned
to appear before Judge B. You can,
of course, swear that you have lent him
the money, and that the note he gave to
you is missing"
ayes, with a clear conscience; l could
not be mistaken about it.
''Then call on me tomorrow morning at
9 O'Clock"
II will"
He left me and I took the slip of paper
and examined it closely. 1t seemed to be
nothing but stray scrap of foolscap, but
it occurred to me that it might have his
tory it was here that my chemical knowl-
edge came into play.
| remembered that Alexander Bolton
was a chemist; and [ also remembered
that an ink could be made with analine,
iodide of ammonia and chloride of zinc, in
certain proportions, which had fresh,
reddish tinge, and that it would fade out
entirely in four days, leaving no mark on
the paper. Bolton, no doubt, knew this
secret, and used it to swindle the mechanic
out of his earnings.
The more | considered this subject, the
more become convinced that such was
the case. The note had been written with
fading ink.
But there was another chemical secret
which probably Bolton did not know, as [
had discovered it myself by accident. This
treacherous ink, on fading out, leaves zinc
in invisible atoms in the paper, so that
every line traced may be restored by the
application of certain solution of sulphate
of iron and hydrate of calcium,
So, no sooner had Mr.. Campbell left my
office than | hurried to drug store, where
| obtained the solution.
Returning to my Office, l saturated a
piece of blotting paper with drop of it,
and applied it to corner of the blank
paper The result made me jump up, clap
my hands and yell with delight, for fresh
and clear the dollar mark came out,
| knew not what hidden words the paper
contained, and placed it in my pocket
book, corked up the phial-which was DIES.
tined to prove phial of wrath to Mr., Boil
ton-and went immediately and brought
suit against him for the recovery of the
amount of the note, with interest and costs.
A few days later Alexander Bolton stood
at the bar of justice, to answer in his own
behalf. 1t seemed so easy to him that he
did not deem it necessary to employ any
counsel
Mr.. Campbell swore to the facts he had
related to me concerning the loan. Mr.
Bolton answered, on oath, that he had nc
recollection of ever borrowing any money
of the plaintiff. IF he did, where was the
note? He woald thank anybody to produce
it.
"Your honor" said /, addressing the
Judge, II think l can produce the note in
question"
II understand you said that it was moi
to be found, said Judge B, somewhat
surprised.
DIT has never been lost, l said, as l took
from my pocket the blank slip of paper
and passed it to him.
"This is il"
II hope you are not trifing with the
court, he said, as he glanced at both sides
and perceived that it was blank.
II am not, your honor" said |, as pro-
ceeded at once to explain to him the chem,
ical fact l have already described.
[ watched Alexander Bolton as | did so
and noticed he turned pale. When had
concluded, took from my pocket the phial
containing the solution, saturated piece OF
blotting paper with it, and pressed it upon
the blank piece of paper that lay upon the
judges table.
A few seconds [ left it so, then lifted ii
up, confident of the result, and was not
disappointed,
The blank slip of paper was suddenly
transformed into promissory note, every
word, letter and figure as clear as sunshine
1t was note for six thousand dollars
with years interest just due, drawn in
favor of William Campbell, and the sigma
ture of Alexander Bolton was at the bottom
of it.
The Judge gazed with amazement from
the note to Bolton, just in time to discover
that that tricky gentleman was skulkine
away toward the door.
At the judges order he was brought
back by an officer, and informed that he
would have something more to answer
for than the amount of the loan, interest
and costs.
And so he had Abashed and terrified
at the discovery of his unsuccessful swindle
and in hopes of propitiating the court he
at once gave his check for the amount due
Mr.. Campbell, and paid the costs.
In view of his confession, he was let of
with two years Imprisonment, and dom
suppose he will ever dabble with invisible
ink again.
This, my first case, attracted considerable
notice, and have never since had to lounge
in my Office and yearn for clients.
An immense chart showing the areas Of
improved, forest and unimproyed (includ.
ing waste) land in the United States, has
been prepared in the Agricultural Depart
ment for the Forestry Congress, soon to
meet in Boston. The data were carefully
gathered by correspondents in every county
in the Union, and verified by correspon-
dence with State authorities. 1t is found
tbo+ tbara ORC 225 000 600 acres of imnrov-