inkling of
lime, well ploughed in, has a good effect. Marble dust,
where easily obtainable, serves as well.

MISS PETUNIA:--

Swedish iron is largely used in the manufacture of
upholstery tacks because of its peculiar ductile qualities.

"I don't see nothing much into them," said Mr. Gubb, when he had read
them all. "I don't see much of a deteckative case into them. If I was
to get letters like these I wouldn't worry much about them. I'd let
them come."

"You may say that," said Miss Petunia, "because you are a man, and big
and strong and brave-like. But when a person is a woman, and lives
alone, and has some money laid by that some folks would be glad enough
to get, letters coming right along from she don't know who, scare her.
Every time I get another of those Anonymous Wiggle letters I get more
and more nervous. If they said, 'Give me five thousand dollars or I
will kill you,' I would know what to do, but when a letter comes that
says, like that one does, 'Swedish iron is largely used in the
manufacture of upholstery tacks,' I don't know what to think or what
to do."

"I can see to understand that it might worry you some," said Mr. Gubb
sympathetically. "What do you want I should do?"

"I want you should find out who wrote the letters," said Miss Scroggs.

Mr. Gubb looked at the pile of letters.

"It's going to be a hard job," he said. "I've got to try to guess out
a cryptogram in these letters. I ought to have a hundred dollars."

"It's a good deal, but I'll pay it," said Miss Petunia. "I ain't rich,
but I've got quite a little money in the bank, and I own the house I
live in and a farm I rent. Pa left me money and property worth about
ten thousand dollars, and I haven't wasted it. So go ahead."

[Illustration: "YOU ARE A MAN, AND BIG AND STRONG AND BRAVE-LIKE"]

"I'll so do," said Philo Gubb; "and first off I'll ask you who your
neighbors are."

"My neighbors!" exclaimed Miss Petunia.

"On both sides," said Mr. Gubb, "and who comes to your house most?"

"Well, I declare!" said Miss Petunia. "I don't know what you are
getting at, but on one side I have no neighbors at all, and on the
other side is Mrs. Canterby. I guess she comes to my house oftener
than anybody else."

"I am acquainted with Mrs. Canterby," said Mr. Gubb. "I did a job of
paper-hanging there only last week."

"Did you, indeed?" said Miss Scroggs politely. "She's a real nice
lady."

"I don't give opinion