St. Paul daily globe., 1890-11-10

and Mr.. Hunter, EXPIRE sSing himself as
highly delighted, requested me to paint
the portrait of his daughter, Miss Alice.
q lovely young lady who was then Just
twenty years of age. To say that was
pleased with the task set me would but
family express my feelings, for since l.
had been at the Hunter mansion | had.
confess, grown to regard the beautiful
girl with feeling much stronger than
that OF admiration.
In painting the picture, L had so ar
ranged it that | could reproduce one of
Miss Alice's hands, which were of re-
markable beauty.
AS the picture neared completion and
l was putting the last finishing touches
to that graceful member of the young
lady'S anatomy, she asked:
istry?
"Well,"l answered, II have hardly
given the matter much thought. Why
do you aSk?'
"Because-because l am to be mar
rled, and have been trying to study
my fiance's character through his
hand"
Had bomb exploded it would not
nave shocked me greater than to learn
that the charming Alice was to be mar
rled. Then, continuing, my subject
said:
HE will be here tomorrow, and as
you are an artist, you must study his
hands and tell me what you thinH."
Wore a False Hand.
Promising to do as she desired, fin
1shed with Miss Alice for the day and
went to my room to mediate over
the shape affairs had taken, and to
thoroughly hate the coming lover, who.
as believed, had interfered with NV
own progress toward gaining the hand
of Mr.. Hunters daughter.
Toward afternoon of the next day my
mated rival, as L now came to regard
him. arrived. L was introduced to the
newcomer, John Landers by name.
He was tall. lank, ungainly looking
parsonage, with small, gray, restless
eyes. Altogether.h his appearance was not
prepnssesSing; but as his wealth, which
he, inherited from his uncle, was very
great, his appearance did not matter
much. That Miss Alice did not love
him l was certain.
When Mr.. Landers had seated him.
self, in obedience to Miss Alice's re-
quest to closely scan his hand and let
her know what thought of his charac-
ter as Indicated thereby, looked close
ly in that direction. My discovery
almost caused me to spring from my
seat.
His left hand was false.
That is, the left hand was covered
with delicate silk glove and thinly
coated with a feshlike preparation of
wax.
The deception was so perfect that but
for the fact that was conversant with
the manufacture of such articles, also
should have been deceived.
IDStantanROnStV with fbn dicoovarx,
there flashed across my mind the story
OF Jim. the f1agman. The more l
looked at the wax hand the more be-
came satisfied that the owner of it was
the ma that the t1agman had chased
and through whom he had lost his arm.
Tore Off His Hand.
The afternoon and evening passed off
pleasantly enough, and when it came
time for Mr. LanderS to take his leave
MIR. Hunter requested me to see his
guest to the train that would take him
to the city. Iwas glad of tins, as it
might offer an opportunity for me to
discover something about what to me
was matter OF the greatest interets.
Together we started from the Hunter
mansion, and as we walked along, be-
ing on my companions left side, the
side on which the false hand was. I de-
III.
came to a deserted place in the road |
suddenly stumbled and in my efforts to
save myself from falling 1 clutched at
my companiOn'S hand. Horror! it came
Off, and | fell to the ground still hold
ing the wax hand.
. MIR. LanderS seemed rooted to- the
spot where he stood. and as rose saw
that one finger of the left hand was
missing. 1t was my opportunity and
seized it. I6W ; s.-.1.},a 0iss =. 49,
$50, Mr.. Landers." 1 began, "you
lost your finger in railroad accident at
the New York depot nineteen years
ago?"
What do you know about it,'' he
hissed as he grasped my throat.
With quick movement tore myself
free from my assailant's grasp. and in a
hoarse voice he demanded: "Speak,
young man; what do you want?''
You are goidg to marry Miss Alice
--Pn
You are mistaken there, my friend.
l determined to-day when found that
she did not love me to free her from her
engagement. Now, about this railroad
accident?"
Out of the Tolls.
Like flash it passed through nv
mind that, although l was thoroughly
convinced that Mr.. Landers was the
man who had carried the bag of money,
and who had nearly killed Jim, the flag
man, could prove nothing in the mat
ter, and slnce he was willing to give up
Miss Alice | thought l had better get
out of the affair as quietly as possible.
Then addressing him, said:
II am sorry, Mr.. Landers, that 1
should have been SO hasty tonight
Don't mention it, my boy, and then
as we reached the station he added:
las leave for Europe tomorrow, |
hope that we part as friends and that
no mention OF my Disagreement be
made by you.''
l assured him that everything would
be as he wished, and thus we parted.
Exactly one year from that day
wedding took place in Hastings, in
which Miss Alice Hunter and myself
played the leading roles.
AS time wore on, the memory of the
queer experiences that had had were
gradually fading from my memory,
when / received letter from q New
York law firm which threw such strong
light on the affair of the severed finger
that all my past doubts and suspicious
were set at sest.
1t was letter from Mr.. Lapders.
which he had forwarded to the law
yerS with the instructions that it should
be delivered to me on his death. Its
contents were as follows:
Beyond Belief.
'I was picked up in the streets of
New York by a minister of the gospel
and adopted by him. Having sent me
TO school and instructed me evenings
himself, he, as soon as I was old
enough, placed me at college, intending
to have me educated for the ministry.
My friend died during my last year at
college, and, being poor man and leav-
ing no estate upon which l could fall
ba ck, | was compelled to work the re-
mainder of my term at coaching duller
students in order to pay my way. When
my course ended l cast about for an oc-
cupatiOn. l was given by friend
letter OF introduction to a retired law
yer. who lived up at Stamford, Conn.,
Armed with this epistle. repaired to