Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-05-18
Question and Answer in Eyes.


to the group of friends who were
around her, ''to prove the usefulness
of my so-called fad" AS Nicotine
spoke she spread her long, white
hands open before her.
my dear Miss Sargent" drawled
out a voice from the farther corner of
the fireplace, pray elucidate your
little theory. We're dying OF ennui and
this beastly weather"
Miss Sargent smiled rather scorn-
fully and shrugged her pretty should
ers, but went on addressing her re-
marks to the company in general.
81 have one request to make" she
went on, ''and that a very simple one
that l may glance at the hand Of
every person in this ROOM
Every one smiled indulgently, and
Kate Grant, the hostess Of the country
house party, said in a mock tragic
tone: "You don't suspect us of any
thing criminal, do you, Nicotine? And
what shall you do with me if I am
found guilty?"
"Now, that's too bad" said the
drawing voice in the corner; Miss
Sargent's dead in earnest, and If she
believes in palmistry I say its cruel
to make fun of her belief. l for one,
am willing to be examined" and DR..
Denton held out a pair of firm, manly
hands.
'You may rest assure" said Nico-
line very gravely, that I shall convict
no one on my evidence. This inves-
tigation is simply for my own gratifi-
cation and to satisfy very troubled
mind"
Mrs. Grant and her guests were
very we'll accustomed to Nicoline's
moods, as they termed her sudden and
unaccountable caprices, and regarded
this as one of them, not to be taken
seriously.
81 am trying to discover" remarked
Nicotine, as she held up DR.. Denton S
hand to the light, ''the thief's cross"
ugh. How gruesome!" exclaimed
a pretty blonde, who was admiring her
dimpled fingers.
"Quite exciting murmured an in
sipid individual by the pretty blondes
side, who was admiring the same
pretty fingers. There were dozen
or more people in the room. 1t was
rainy night, and conversation and
games had tagged, while pretty Mrs.
Grant, driven to her wits end as to
some form Of entertainment for her
guests, had begged Nicoline's assist
ance. Nicotine was clever girl,
quite too clever for ordinary people,
who could never quite tell whether
she were in fun or earnest, as the in
sipid man and the pretty blonde
could testify.
Nicotine examined each hand with
grave attention, throwing out pointed
remarks suitable to the character OF
each. When she had finished she
paused moment before the fireplace
"Well, investigator of the future
which is the Judas among us?' asked
Mrs. Grant
Mr. Denton, who was sitting near
est the fire, glanced at Nicotine just
then and saw she was very white and
was trembling. ooh, I say" he ex-
claimed hurriedly. Lets have game
| Of cards in the other room. I'll ar
range the tables Miss Sargent's tired
and besides she couldn't give US
away in that shape, you know" anG
the company, ready to take up with
any new suggestion, proceeded to the
next room, amid much laughter at the
impromptu jokes which DR.. Dentor
was continuing to fashion. Nicotine
was left alone, as she thought, bu
turning away from the fire she looked
straight into the eyes of Paul Sin
clair.
Nicotine" he said, very gravely
his handsome face flushed with feel
ing, you can not imagine for a mo
ment-" He stopped and looked
searchingly into her brown eyes.
Yes was the slow reply. 81 do i'm
agine-indeed, I think I know
never saw your hand before tonight
and that horrible cross in the palm
at just the exact spot. They say it il
infallible'