photographed from the autograph letter. I wish the Judge and Jury
to notice two things in this signature--the cleanly-cut edges of the
letters, and the two lines of indentation produced by the two prongs of
the pen, in its down-stroke. They will also notice that, in the
up-stroke of the pen, there is no evidence of indentation whatever. At
the point where the up-stroke begins, and the down-stroke ends, the
lines of indentation will come together and cease."

As he spoke the last word, the name swept through the darkness over an
unseen track, and appeared upon the wall, within a halo of amber light.
All eyes saw it, and all found the characteristics that had been
predicted. The professor said not a word. There was not a whisper in the
room. When a long minute had passed, the light was shut off.

"Now," said the professor, "I will show you in the same place, the name
of Nicholas Johnson, as it has been photographed from the signatures to
the assignment. What I wish you to notice particularly in this signature
is, first, the rough and irregular edges of the lines which constitute
the letters. They will be so much magnified as to present very much the
appearance of a Virginia fence. Second, another peculiarity which ought
to be shown in the experiment--one which has a decided bearing upon the
character of the signature. If the light continues strong, you will be
able to detect it. The lines of indentation made by the two prongs of
the pen will be evident, as in the real signature. I shall be
disappointed if there do not also appear a third line, formed by the
pencil which originally traced the letters, and this line will not only
accompany, in an irregular way, crossing from side to side, the two
indentations of the down-strokes of the pen, but it will accompany
irregularly the hair-lines. I speak of this latter peculiarity with some
doubt, as the instrument I use is not the best which science now has at
its command for this purpose, though competent under perfect
conditions."

He paused, and then the forged signatures appeared upon the wall. There
was a universal burst of admiration, and then all grew still--as if
those who had given way to their feelings were suddenly stricken with
the consciousness that they were witnessing a drama in which divine
forces were playing a part. There were the ragged, jagged edges of the
letters; there was the supplementary line, traceable in every part of
them. There was man's lie--revea