Evening journal., 1899-11-21
THE THIEF's CROSS


"Ihe time has come, said NLcolire
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.
II have one request to make" she
went on. "and that very simple one
that l may glance al the hand OF
every person in this ROOM
Every one smiled indulgently, and
Kate Grant, the hostess OF the country
house party, said in mock tragic tone
you don't suspect US of anything
criminal, do you. Nicotine? And what
shall you do with me n / am found
guiltyYp
rNow. that's too bad" said the
drawing voice Ia the corner; Miss
Sargeant's dead in, earnest, and II she
believes In palmistry say it's cruel to
make fun OF her belief. for one am
willing to be examined" and DR.. Dem
ton held out pair OF firm, manly
hands
"You may rest assured" said Nico-
line. very gravely, that / shall convict
no one on my evidence. This investi-
cation Is simply for my own gratifica-
ton and TO satisfy a very troubled
mind.
Il am trying to discover" remarked
Nicoline. as she held up DR.. Denton's
hand TO the light. "the thiefs cross"
UGH How gruesomel" exclaimed
a pretty little blonde, who was admir-
ing her dimpled fingers.
Nicoline examined each hand With
grave attention, throwing out pointed
remarks suitable to the character Of
each. When she had finished she
paused a moment before the fireplace.
well, investigator OF the future.
which is the Judas among us2' asked
Mrs. Grant.
Or. Denton. who was sitting nearest
the fire, glanced at Nicoline just then
and saw she was very white and was
trembling. "Oh, | say" he exclaimed.
hurriedly, lets have a game OF cards
In the other room. III arrange the ta-
hes. Miss Sargeant's tired, and be-
sides she couldn't give us away in that
shape, you know" and the company.
ready to take up with any new sug-
gestion. proceeded TO the next room,
amid much laughter at the imppmptu
jokes which DR.. Denton was contriying
10 fashion. Nicoline was left alone as
she thought. but turning away from
The fire she looked straight into the
eyes Of Paul Sinclair.
''Nicolne," he said. very gravely, his
handsome face flushed with feeling,
you cannot imagine for a moment
He stopped and looked searchingly into
her brown eyes.
"Yes." was the slow reply, Il do
magine-indeed, I think / know.
never saw your hand before tonight
and that horrible cross In the palm
at just the exact spot They say Il Is
infallible"
"You suspect me, then Of robbins
you Of your necklace. Nicoline2" tho
man said I'm a strained voice. why
Nicotine. you are wrOnging yourself az
well as me by such a thought. Why
we've been trusted friends for years
and lately I've thought that you
know that have cared for you in quit
a different
"Oh. stop, Paul" cried Nicoline, turn
Ing away from him. you and Kat
were the only ones Ia the house VIII
knew l had the necklace. It wa
mothers. and was very valuable.
! know it's terrible TO accuse you of
crime; but your hand, Paul, your han
and the cross" Nicotine shuddere
and hid her face IN her hands.
you foolish child" said Paul In hi
} deep tender voice. "You haven't evei
given me a fair trial. Look at both m
hands and SEQ II the cross IS M each
He held out both hands TO her in th
, till light. There in the corner Of on
: palm was a deep cross, but the othe
T was perfectly smooth. NicOline lookel
= At him incredulously, hesitating.
do you remember, little doubteI
that years ago when we we're skatin
On the ice we fell down and I cut thl
hand on a jagged bit of stone? Yo
said at that time Il would leave al
ugly mark. Have you forgotten. or ha
: your love for palmlstry oyercom
everything else in your
Nicotine was trembling more violent
ly than before. and her eyes were o
the ground.
, Il beg your pardon. Paul. Oh, I1
so sorry I've been very foolish. Ca
you forgive me?"
"On one condition." answered Pau
.al1ing her hands and drawing her 10
ward him, "that you will look into m
J eyes and tell me plainly what you rea
there"
And Nicoline's answer was write
F, in hef own also.-Chicago Journal.