The Delta independent., 1888-10-09
fred the blood OF youth with deter.

promise, a symbol of impassioned
nature. The line oflife curved around
the mount of Venus, clear and we'll
| defined, except at its first third a
break, the end curved toward the
I mount-both fatal signs. Above
this dimple in it's course said plain
ly, death by violence. Before me lay
the prophecy; was it also a fulfill
| ment?
"The next morning the Three
Brothers, an up-bound schooner
which had stopped at anchor for sup
plies, brought up on the anchor
fiukes woman's body. visited it
at the morgue.
"Young and richly dressed, she
still bore at her waist her watch of
gold. just above the left temple a
wound, made, evidently, by a large
knife or dagger deep driven, told its
story.
"The right hand was missing!
'I felt myself in a truly awkward
and perilous position.
"No writing or other sign told who
she was; but the fashion Of her dress
and certain marks led some to think
her country-bred. No one claimed
her, and she was buried in the pot
ter's field. was at the cemetery
strolling with seeming idle curiosity.
When all were gone buried the hand
beneath the unmarked mound.
"For weeks l watched the papers,
after leaving the city. No tidings
came. 1t faded from the epublic mind,
rs an unsolved mystery.
Il took to studying the photo
graph of the stain upon the hand
under a powerful magnitier. The
slight data indicated a hand of the
muscular, sanguine type. The most
pronounced marks We're a line and
star on Mars-temper, fury, a violent
death.
II decided to enter law at last. and
the affair was dropped in practical
life; although the dead hand and the
peculiar marking of the living one
came up vividly at times.
81 soon built good criminal
practice in my native state. Four
years before was elected Judge was
called to defend a man for murder.
He had killed a rough in a brawl and
came to me, as he said, because Ihad
done well for him once before. ! re-
called the case. He was suspected
of passing counterfeit money and
afterward arrested for showing the
queer but was cleared by some
strong swearing witnesses he pro-
cured and properly selected jury.
Just before his trial for murder came
off, some near relatives invited me
out one evening to see the skill of d
materializing medium who was out
visiting one of the iaith. had often
wished to see some oftle phenomena,
and went. The usual tests in table
tipping and raps We're given. At
last materializing test was called
for. The medium said the tests were
excellent.
A few shadowy visions were seen
by the enthusiasts. had about vot-
ed it a humbug. when the medium
asked for silence. A faint, luminous
body formed above our heads, then
settled between me and the dim light
ed table. The objects opposite were
family seen through it's vapory
form.
"Silent We watched.
Suddenly with sharp definition
of outline stood out a hand, a wom-
ans hand severed at the wrist, a
right hand turned palm to me, and
from its shadowed palm glowed out
the circle of Venus, line of the heart
and life line broken and dimpled!
Standing out in bold relief, line
and cross on Mars shone red as
blood.
'sAll the past flashed out again,
and, involuntarily, l reached forth
to touch again as once before / touch
ed that hand. 1t grasped mine with
all the warmth and vigor of an old
time friend. For an instant palm
throbbed to palm, and thenI grasp
ed the nothingness Of despair. No,
not despair, for, seizing paper, the
medium wrote in the dark this mes
sage: You waited long. Both he
and destiny are here
81 was in whirl of mental effort
for days after that. But the necessi-
ties of law drove the emotions away,
and cleared the man again. He.
came to my Office again full of graft
tude.
II noted him we'll He was a short,
thick muscular fellow, red-haired,
crafty as fox, brutal as tiger.
"He held out to me his open hand,
with 10 double eagles stacked in the
palm. AS took them off, 10, there
the crimson line and star of Mars!
Quietly stepping to the door, L
locked it. Now, my boy said l,
you have been cleared by me twice
for crimes you did. There is another,
a mystery, j want cleared. Tell me
about it as your attorney, and my
professional honor will be your shield.
Conceal it, and the officers of the law
will be on your trail in five minutes,
and over you'll GO
tHe looked surprised ,and still more
SO when told of the Detroit affair.
"He pondered few minutes, took
big chew of Tobacco which, noticed.
was chewed and swallowed.
"'Well. Judge, ] know you; you are
square: ] surrender and trust you.
''From his story | gathered that
he was north on n professional tour
among "a well-organized gang ofhorse
thieves and coiIntarfeters, with head
quarters on the border OF the UIp