Meade County news., 1914-12-03
HER TELLTALE HANDS
BY MARAH J. LOCKE.


ing three years and small inheri-
tance prospecting, speculating and
trading. l had studied medicine and
when found myself with only few
hundreds of my former thousands left,
/ bought out an obscure pharmacy in
Balleran.
One chill October evening l sat in
my little Office back of the store apart
ment when heard the front door open
sharply and close as abruptly. A yelled
woman, young could guess from the
rare grace of her movements, brushed
hastily past the counter.
Listen and act quick" she directed.
There is your fee"
stared hard My strange client
had placed hundred dollar bill on
the table.
Il wish you to procure and bring
to me In a saucer or some hollow
dish," went on the young woman,
some corrosive fluid that will-will
remove blemish from the skin"
There are a number of such acids"
/ said.I
Bring me the strongest, the surest,"
she said, and arose, went out into
the pharmacy and returned with a
saucer one-half filled with the dead
liest abrasive chemical | had in my
stock.
IF l place finger in that, it will
do-what?"
IF briefly" l answered, 1T will re-
move the outer cuticle."
Leaving no discolorations?"
None"
And the pain?"
rs inconsequential"
l started forward, for just then, COM
pressing her lips sturdily, she placed
the tips of her fingers first of one
hand and then Of the other fiat deep
into the acid. She held them up be-
fore her for inspection. The strange
act accomplished, her hands, which
had been delicately white before, we're
white still, but my professional eye
traced the unnatural smoothness on
thumb and fingers where the corrod-
ing fluid had removed the heavy outer
cuticle, as where one would peel q
plum or pear.
There was an expression Of salts
faction, Of puzzling triumph In the
face of my handsome client. She
drew pair Of gloves from the pocket
of her dress. She fixed her eyes
steadily upon me.
Il can trust you to forget this
circumstance" she spoke. "Yes, l
see the gentleman in your face. There
is further to do. Fill bottle with
some harmless liquid and follow me
to the door, When 1t Is open warn
me to be very cautious in using It..
The fee will be doubled II you help me-
to act out my part successfully"
Blindly, know not why, followed
her instructions. went to the door
with her. voiced the warning she
had directed. Distinctly was aware
that she meant the words for the
hearing Of two men lurking IN the
next doorway.
Il will be very careful OF the acid"
she spoke in clear loud voice. II
wish to use 1t in some wood burning
ornamental work. OH"
With a scream she stumbled. She
fell, or rather pretended to fall fiat
upon the pavement. The bottle cracked
to splinters. Wringing her hands as
she regained her feet, she ran towards
me crying distractedly.
"Oh, my handsl my hands!-I have
burned all the flesh off my fingers!"
read her purpose. / made great
ado Of escorting her back into the
pharmacy, Of examining her hands, Of
treating them with curatives. Then
she went away for the second time.
At the end OF two weeks there came
to me letter enclosing second one
hundred dollar bill. 1t was pinned to
sheet Of paper bearing the words:
"As a gentleman and true friend al
ways-silence."
hesitated about using the money,
but bad business necessltated 1t. A
business rival took away half of my
trade. Then had fire-uninsured. l
went from bad to worse and the sher-
III sold out my few poor property ef-
fects
wandered away from the city along
country road. must have tainted
from illness and hunger in its center.
Then was conscious Of being lifted
into an automobile.
When l came back to myself again
! occupied bed in cozily furnished
room. Outside there was bird song.
The clear sweet scented air suggested
some sumptuous garden. Then my
client of that eventful evening in the
past entered the room.
She 1t was who had found me in
the road and was her guest at q
beautiful villa many leagues from city
proximity.
She was nurse, sister, friend-ah,
within my heart of hearts far more
than that before that delightful week
ended
She had been companion to wealthy
woman in far distant country.
In that household terrible murder
had been committed. She had been In
that room just before the crime was