Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-06-29

Just what | expected" commented
| Kennedy with a nod, as he examined
the clever workmanship of the bomb.
One thing that interested him was
that part of the contents had been
wrapped in paper to keep them in
| place. This paper he was now care
fully examining with microscope.
AS nearly as could make it out. the
paper contained part of typewrit-
| ten cremical formula, whlcS read:
TINcTURE OF IODINE
THREE PARTS Of
He looked up from his study of the
| microscope to Long SIM.
"Tell me just how it happened that
you got this bomb" he asked.
Without hesitation the Chinaman re-
cited the circumstances. beginning
with the note by which he bad been
summoned.
"A note?" repeated Kennedy, ca
gerly. WAS it typewriter
Long Sin reached into his pocket
and produced the note itself, which he
had not burned.
AS Craig studied the typewriter
message from the Clutching Hand l
could see that he was growing more
and more excited.
"At last he has given us something
| typewriter" he exclaimed. ITO most
people, suppose. it seems that type
| writing is the best way to conceal
| identity. But there are a thousand
and one ways of identifying typewrit-
| ing.
Look, Walter" he remarked at
length, taking fine tipped pencil and
| pointing at the distinguishing marks
as he talked "You will notice that
| all the IT'S in this note are bat
tered and faint as well as just trifie
out of alignment. Now / will place the
paper from the bomb under the micro
scope and you will see that the rs
in the scrap of formula have exactly
the same appearance"
/ strained my eyes to look. Sure
enough, Kennedy was right. There
was that unmistakable identity be-
tween the Us in the formula and the
note
Kennedy had been gazing at the
floor, his face puckered in thought as
l looked Suddenly he clapped his
hands together, as If he had made a
great discovery.
1--WE struck it," he exclaimed, Jump
ing up. 81 was wondering where 1
had seen typewriting that reminds me
of this. Walter. get on your coat
and hat We are on the right trail at
last"
With Long Sin we hurried out of
the laboratory, leaving him at the
nearest taxicab stand, where we
jumped into waiting car.
ut is the clue of the battered IT'S,
Craig muttered.
Aunt Josephine was in the library
knitting when the butler, Jennings. an
nounced us.
''Where is-Miss Dodge?" inquired
Kennedy, with suppressed excitement
as we entered.
81 think she's out shopping, and l
don't know just when she will be
back" answered Aunt Josephine. with
some surprise. why? Is 1t anything
important-any news?"
Every important" returned Kennedy
excitedly. 81 think l have the best
clue yet. Only-it will be necessary
to look through some of the household
correspondence Immediately to see
whether there are certain letters.
wouldn't be surprised If she had some
perhaps not very personal-but
must see them"
Kennedy lost no time. He went to
a desk where Elaine generally sat.
and quickly took out several type
written letters. One after another he
examined them closely, rejecting one
after another, until finally he came
to one that seemed to interest him.
He separated it from the rest and
fell to studying 1t, comparing It with
the paper from the bomb and the
note which Long Sin had received
from the Clutching Hand. Then he
folded the letter SO that the sigma.
ture and the address could not be
read by US.
A portion Of the letter l recall read
something like this;
"ThIs Is his contention: Whereas,
TRUTH is the only goal and MATTER
Is non-existent-"
Look at this, Walter" remarked
Craig, with difficulty restraining him
self. What do you make Of it?"
A glance at the typewriting was suf-
ficient to show me that Kennedy had,
indeed. made an important discovery.
We stared at each other almost too
| daZed to sneak.