Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01

wills were produced. That brings the busi-
ness into focus eh?"
Now, Laughton. will you send to the no.
tary who holds the Reconnaissance IS an or
der-our laboratory will examine them.
will communicate our results to you, captain.
Good day. Now, DR.. Locard I should like
to have your report on the wills at once
If possible. This matter is serious and ur-
gent. I shall be at my home waiting to hear
from you
AN hour later, in answer to a telephone
message. M. Duprez climbed the stairs
to the scientific department and entered the
Office of its chief. He saw that the two prin-
cipal ofhcers of the Surete were also there
waiting for him.
"These are both forgeres" said the labora-
tory chief quietly, when M. Duprez sat down.
The will of the old aunt IS authentic, but
the date 1911 has been changed into 1917 by
altering the figure one. It thus annuls the will
made in 1918 leaving all her money to the
church.
The other is in the wife's handwriting
terribly shaky but clearly recognizable. We
have some of her letters to Capt. Morain
here, but it is what We call the guided hand
trick. The poor woman's hand was held and
guided over the paper by her huSband-in
three places her strength failed her and char
acteristics of his own fist are to be seen.
Come and look at them both in the ultra
violet cabinet"
They entered a room which was only illum-
mated by a ruby lamp. DR.. Locard turned
switch: at once cracking vibration was heard
and q strange blue-green glow issued from
complicated lamp in the ceiling, Illuminating
small table beneath it,
"Look-clear, isn't it," said the chief, hold
ing the will and moving it about in this light.
Everywhere the writing appeared to be dull
gray-except at the figure seven. This glowed
with q purple tint, and in the violet rays the
addition of q curl and tail to the one, which
changed 1t into a seven stood out clearly,
as though written in q different ink. In day
light no difference could be seen.
Have you looked at the other will in your
magic rays, dOctor?"
mo, that Is a different kind of forgery"
LET me look at it, will you?"
Again the cracking. oscillating green light
glowed eerily, and M. Duprez moved the sheet
Of paper to and fro in its rays.
What Is this tracing at the bottom?" he
asked suddenly.
"Where-I have not noticed any" DIR. Lo-
card eagerly bent over the paper.
Good God!" came the sudden startled ex-
clamation. and without q word of apology
the chief dashed out. followed by the others.
They saw him hastily light a large Bunsen
flame under a dish full of fine sand. On
this he threw a handful of iodine crystals.
At once cloud of pungent purple vapor rose
and swirled in spirals and streams over the
heated sand. AS DR.. Locard moved the paper
to and fro these vapors appeared to settle in
certain spots. until line of writing became
family visible at the bottom of the will. The
red rusty color was horribly suggestive.
THE poor girl used her own blood and a
hairpin or spit match to write this. Lis
tent"
In strangled voice he read out:
I die murdered by my husband-the blue
light-blind-'
Dreadful, isn't it. A message from the
ether. Now we have the monster"
mo, we haven't, monsieur" broke in Vol
taire. "A jury would laugh at that and say