The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-11-25
IheMicroscopiist
By ELIZABETH WEED
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

and since the writing looks very ike
yours disguised you are naturally I'M
der suspicion Of having written the
note"
The lady paused as IL waiting for
the gentleman to make denial.
Have you anything to sayp she
added.
You have stated the charge" he
said, land have given a reason why |
am suspected of this undetermined act
Have you other reasons?"
"No. 1t seems that this, unless 1t
| can be explained, is sufficient"
"Please les me see the note"
Miss Kershaw had it In her hand
and offered 1t to him.
Zone moment" he said.
He had removed his gloves on enter
Ing the house and before taking the en-
velope in which the note was inclosed
put them on; then he held out his hand
for it. Miss Kershaw drew back.
"Wlll you please explain why you
put on your glovesT she asked.
"He who touches pitch will be de-
6led" he replied.
"What do you mean by that?"
81 mean that there is something
noxious about an anonymous letter,
and | don't want to touch It."
She looked at him with a puzzled ex-
preston. then handed him the note.
Removing it from the envelope, he
scanned It. put 1t back and handed 1t
to Miss Kershaw. Then he removed
his gloves and put them in his pocket.
'eWellT said the girl.
81 know who wrote the note"
"How7 Who?
II know IT by a reference 1t contains
to something of which only one person
except myself knows. As to who wrote
It. If / we're to tell you you would not
believe me-"
II have never doubted your word"
"Not in anything pertaining to my
self or you. have never accused any
one TO you If | were to do so now
you would be confirmed in your opin-
ion that | wrote the note"
He arose as II to take leave.
you're surely not going to leave
the matter in this unsatisfactory posi-
ton, are your"
"In trying to get out Of it might
get into a worse one"
please cease these enigmas; speak
plainly"
He thought a moment, then said:
IF I we're not confident that the per-
son suspect wrote that note You
would have to remain in ignorance.
AS it is win try to prove the writer.
Tomorrow morning ! viii cali again
Meanwhile please collect samples of
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES those with
whom you have recently correspond
ed"
Miss Kershaw promised TO do as he
asked. Her curiosity was excited to
know his plan of procedure. There
were only few persons from whom
she had recently received missives. but
what letters she got she put in a
pigeonhole In her escritoire.
Renwick was a young man Of a
scientific turn of mind. his hobby be
ing microscopy. The next evening he
made his call with a box under his
arm Miss Kershaw looked at it and
wondered what 1t might be. When he
had removed his overcoat he opened
the box and brought out his micro
scope. Placing it on a table. be lighted
the lamp connected with it; then, TAX
ing a minute pair Of tongs used for
handling objects intended for examina-
ton, be picked up the envelope contain
Ing the anonymous note and fixed 1t un-
der the glasses Of his instrument. When
he had adjusted the focus he invited
Miss Kershaw to have peep. She
saw certain curved lines in the field
Of view.
"Those are the thumb marks" he
said. "the person who wrote the note
left on the envelope"
Miss Kershaw was interested.
Renwick then removed the note and
substituted one he had written him
self. Again he invited Miss Kershaw
TO look. She saw different curves.
She saw at once that they were not
the marks Of the person who had writ.
ten the anonymous note. She gave a
deep drawn sigh Of relief.
Whoever wrote that note.' said
Renwick, did very good job. He
has initiated my writing Just enough
to make It appear that the chirogra-
ply Is mine with an attempt at dis
guise."
"Who did write it,"
There were notes before Renwick
written by fve other persons besides
himself. He successfully substituted /
four Of these notes and showed Miss
Kershaw that none of the four had /
handled the anonymous note. The
fifth note on the table was from Mr.
Edward Alsop.
IF you are content" said Renwick,
"in knowing that neither | nor any /
one Of these other four correspondents
wrote that scurrilous note we will go 4
no further The remaining note IS
from your betrothed."
She looked ut him. n paleness grad 4
ually coming over her face. With a (
trembling hand she picked up Alsops
letter and inserted IL In the place for
the slide. The curves corresponded
with those she had seen on the anony.
nous note
The next morning Mr.. Alsop received
a note from Miss Kershaw breaking