Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-07-28

seaaees that
has DO value.
AS DE spoke he tore the wrapping
from the package and disclosed num-
her at ordinary school states tied to-
rather with string. When he had
r,t tie string and placed the states
on the table before him, he added:
"You might claim that these states
already have a message written on
them. so | will wash the surface of
each with water. If there was any
writing on them, it will be wiped out"
With our eyes following every move
mert. be took a piece of cloth, dipped
It into the glass of water, and care
fully washed one side Of slate. AS
he was beginning to wash the other
side. he paused and said to Currie,
"You may think l have not washed
the slate thoroughly enough; suppose,
Currie, you take 1t and wash the
other side yourself. Make a good job
Of IT,"
Curres earnestness was almost
laughable as he took the slate and
turned 1t over and over, examining
both surfaces. When he had finished
be whispered to me, There was not
a 5arnel thing on that slate"
Tie same method was employed
with the other states. First, BARLEY
would wash one side, then would call
upon one Of US to examine the slate
and wash off the other side. | was
left until the last, and l examined
ny slate very carefully before /
touched 1t With the cloth. On the side
which Barley had washed little drops
Of water still chung. The unwashed
Sle was dirty but showed no traces
Of having been written on.
When [ had finished my task, Bart
leg took one Of the states and said:
4 You have seen there was no writing
4 q any Eind on these states. ] am go
Ing to give one to each of you. Miss
Potter should place hers under her
feet; Cgrrie might sit on his; the rest
Of you can place them under your
coats"
He gave US each a slate. and we
did as he suggested. l wondered, as
a ] placed mine under my coat, just
Il what hartley expected to discover.
Someaow the whole thing seemed so
n absurd. He was so serious about It,
however, that l began to believe that
he must expect to receive a message
q u some sort We sat silent and ex-
e'ianl /, for one, feeling a little
foolish.
bariey, who had glanced at his
"a.aa several times, waited for FIVE
4Aates 70 pass before he said. Sup
tYse' Clrrie, you look at your slate"
Il elFT.e grinned, as If to say he con-
~aeFed 1t all foolshness, but did as
requested As he glanced at his slate,
We smile left his face, his jaw
~oppea and his eyes grew big with
S9laeE. lie looked at ii several seq
'1s as Il he could not believe his
w 1Aen slowly passed 1t to me.
VA y eagerly, glanced at It, and In
turn vas startled. There, how
.s'' IN a sprawling hand, running
'~9ss Tie slate that had been blank
~" moments before, was written,
.-'Sie. people who steal whisky out
Fau.t at midnight will come TO
bad end 0 y
Almost unable to credit my eyes.
sasea At the slate. Both sides had
n 50 thoroughly washed that when
me mad taken it they we're still
-" the writing had gotten
s safe, l could not imagine.
mss fotter gave a sudden cry. she
Y 4's7l to her feet with shining
a2.alng her slate in one trem-
laAa, she tried to speak, failed.
- cried triumphantly: TITS a mes
message from Mr.. Slykel I
M. would come" and sank back
I, chair. adding, as If unable
the evidence Of her own
Is in his own handwriting
49,. own, and he tells me what
Icy took the slate from her
fingers, a curious express
"a face He placed 1t on the
So crowded round to exam
= time the entire surface
#aa covered with writing
sprawling hand that had
s-. garrie's and mine. The
8arge and looked as If
#ao had written the me
very weak. Too aston
We bent and read:
VET with me If ron aid
trying TO discover who
a-- For my peace, do this:
4. nedlum-" and the mes
's- "a IN a large 8