The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1911-01-20
IheMicroscopist
BY ELIZABETH WEED
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
By ELIZABETH WEED

"Mr. Renwfck. said Miss hersnaW.
II have received an anonymous nots
warning me against Ed Alsop. to
whom | have just become engaged.
Since received a proposal from you
before becoming engaged to Mr.. Alsop
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 II waiting for
thr gentleman to make denial.
Have you anything to say?" she
added.
"You have stated the charge" he
said, land have given reason why ]
Rm suspected of this underhanded act
Have you other reasons?"
mo. 1t seems that this. unless 1t
can be explained. is sufficient"
please let me see the note"
Miss Kershaw had it in her hnnd
sn,l offered it to him.
Zone moment" he said.
lie had removed his gloves on enter
ms the house and before Mking the en-
vrsope in which the note was inclosed
pus them on: then he held out his hand
for it. Miss Kershaw drew back.
.,Will you please explain why you
put ON your gloves?'' she asked.
HE who touches pitch will be de-
6lrd." he replied.
What do you mean by that?"
81 mean that there is SOMETHING
no yious about an anonymous letter.
anil don't want to touch it."
She looked at him with puzzled ex'
pr ession. then handed him the note.
Removing 1t from the envelope. ne
scanned 1t. put it back and handed 1t
to Miss Kershaw. Then he removed
his gloves and put them in his pocket.
'Well?' said the girl.
II know who wrote the note"
How? Who"
IL know it by reference 1t contains
TO something of which only one person
except myself knows. AS to who wrote
1t. if / were to tell you you would not
believe me-"
Il have never doubted your word"
Not in anything pertaining to my
SELF or you. ! have never accused any
onn to you. If l were to do so now
you would be confirmed In your opin-
ion that wrote the note"
He arose as If 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 worse one"
"Please cease these enignas: speak
plainly"
lie Thought moment. then said:
.}f were not confident that the per-
sou j suspect wrote that note you
would have to remain in ignorance.
AS 1t is / will try to prove the writer.
Tomorrow morning | will call again.
Meanwhile please collect samples OF
tue handwriting-not those with
whom you have recently correspond
ed"
Miss Kershaw promised to do as he
asked Her curiosity was excited to-
know Its plan Of procedure. There
we're only. few persons from whom
ktie had recently receiyed missives. but
what letters she got she put In
pigeonhole in her escritoire.
Renwick was young man OF
scientific turn of mind. his hobby be-
ing microscopy. The next evening he
made bis call with box under his
arm. Miss Ke-shaw looked at it anG
wondered what it might be. When he
had removed bis overcoat he opened
the box and brought out his micro
scope Placing It on table. be lighted
Che lamp connected with it; then. TAX
iHx a minute pair Of tongs used for
handling objects intended for examina-
zion. he picked up the envelope contain
fng t1e anonymous note and fixed it un'
der the glasses of his instrument. When
f1e had adjusted the focus he invited
Miss Kershau to have peep. She
saw certain curved lines ip the field
Of view.
AThese are the thumb Marks" ne
said. 1.-THE person who wrote the note
left on che envelope"
Miss Kepshaw was interested.
Yenwick tben removed the note tiM
substituted one he had written h,m-
self Again he invited Miss ke'shaw
10 look. She saw different curves
She say at once that they we're not
the marks of the person who had writ
aen the anonymous note. She gave
Aeep drawn sigh of relkf.
swhoerer wrote that note.' said
Renwick. did a very good. job. He
has initiated my syiting just enough
to make it appear that the cltrogra-
Dbv is mine with an attempt at dis
guise."
.Who DID write it?"
There were notes before Renwick
written by Eve other persons besides
himself. He successfully substituted
four Of these notes. and showed Miss
Eersnaw that none 81 the four had
handled the anony nous note. The
fifth note on the table was from MI
Edward Alsop.
III ron are content" said Renwick-
an knowing that neither J nor any
rrfe Of these otsaeY four correspondents
wrote that scurrilsHs aote we will go
no further The reaaainasg note Is
from your betrothed."
She looked at him. a palenrss grad
salty coming over her face. With a
trembling hand she picked up Alsops