"That's it; that's good grit ! I like it I've notion to throw all my business your way My business and your law practice ought pretty gay team, Dave," young fellow laughed again

" throw--" Wilson had thought girl in Tom's bedroom, and was going , " throw the surreptitious and disreputable part of your business my way, it may amount to something," but thought better of it and said,

"However, doesn't fit well in general conversation "

"All right, we'll change the subject; I guess you were about another dig, anyway, so I'm willing How's the Awful Mystery flourishing these days ? Wilson's got scheme for driving plain window glass panes market by decorating it with greasy finger marks, and getting rich by selling it at famine prices crowned heads over in Europe to outfit their palaces with Fetch it out, Dave "

Wilson brought three glass strips, and said:

"I get the subject the fingers right through his hair, so as little coating natural oil on them, and then press the balls glass fine an delicate print lines skin results, permanent, doesn't come in contact with something able to rub it off You begin, Tom "

"Why, you took my finger marks before "

"Yes, but you were little boy the last time, only about twelve years old "

"That's so , I've changed entirely since then, and variety is what the crowned heads want, I guess "

He passed his fingers through his crop of short hair, and pressed them one glass Angelo made print fingers on another glass, and Luigi followed with third Wilson marked the glasses with names and dates, and put them away Tom gave one little laughs, and said:

" I wouldn't say anything, but if variety is what after, wasted piece of glass The hand print of one twin same hand print fellow twin "

"Well, it's done now, and I like them both, anyway," said Wilson, returned place

"But look here, Dave," said Tom, you used people's fortunes, too, took their finger marks Dave's just an all-round genius-- genius first water, gentlemen; great scientist running to seed here village, prophet kind of honor that prophets generally get at home--for here they don't give shucks scientifics, call his skull notion factory--hey, Dave, ain't it so ? But never mind, he'll make his mark someday--finger mark, , he-he ! But really, to let him take shy at your palms once; it's worth twice the price of admission or your money's returned door Why, he'll read your wrinkles as easy as book, and tell you fifty or sixty things that's going to happen , but fifty or sixty thousand that ain't Come, Dave, show the gentlemen what an inspired jack-at-all-science we've got town, and don't know it "

Wilson winced under this nagging and not very courteous chaff, twins suffered and for him They rightly judged, now, best way was to relieve him to thing in earnest and treat it with respect, ignoring Tom's rather overdone raillery; so Luigi said:

" seen something of palmistry wanderings, and know what astonishing things it can do isn't science, and greatest too, I don't know what its other name Orient--"

Tom looked surprised and incredulous :

"That juggling science ? But really, you ain't serious, ? "

"Yes, entirely so Four we had our hands read out our plans covered with print "

"Well, actually anything ? " asked Tom, his incredulity beginning to weaken little

" this much ," said Angelo: " told us characters was minutely exact-- not have bettered it ourselves Next, memorable things happened were laid bare--things which no one present but ourselves known about "

"Why, it's rank sorcery ! " exclaimed Tom, who was now becoming interested "And how did they make out with going to happen ? "

" whole, quite fairly," said Luigi " most striking things foretold have happened since; much the most striking one of all happened within that same year minor prophesies have come true; minor and major ones fulfilled yet, and may never be: still, more surprised failed to arrive than didn't "

Tom was entirely sobered, and profoundly impressed , apologetically:

"Dave, I wasn't meaning to belittle that science; only chaffing-- chattering, I reckon I'd better say look at their palms Come, won't you ? "

"Why certainly, me to; but I've had no chance an expert, and don't claim one When past event is somewhat prominently recorded palm, generally detect that, but minor ones often escape me--not always, , but often-- but I haven't much confidence in myself when it comes to reading the future talking palmistry was daily study with me, but so I haven't examined half dozen hands last half dozen years; , the people got to joking , and I stopped to let the talk die down I'll tell you what we'll do, Count Luigi: I'll make try at your past, and if any success there--no, whole, I'll let the future alone; that's really the affair of an expert "

Luigi's hand Tom said:

"Wait--don't look yet, Dave ! Count Luigi, here's paper and pencil Set down that thing that you said most striking one that was foretold , and happened year afterward, and give it so if Dave finds it in your hand "

Luigi wrote line privately, and folded up the piece of paper, and handed it to Tom, saying:

"I'll tell you when to look at it, if he finds it "

Wilson began to study Luigi's palm, tracing life lines, heart lines, head lines, and so on, and noting carefully their relations cobweb of finer and more delicate marks and lines that enmeshed them on all sides; fleshy cushion base thumb and noted its shape; fleshy side hand wrist base little finger and noted its shape also; he painstakingly examined the fingers, observing their form, proportions, and natural manner of disposing themselves when in repose All this process was watched three spectators with absorbing interest, their heads bent together over Luigi's palm, and nobody disturbing the stillness with word Wilson now entered upon close survey palm again, revelations began

He mapped out Luigi's character and disposition, his tastes, aversions, proclivities, ambitions, and eccentricities in way which sometimes made Luigi wince others laugh, but both twins declared chart was artistically drawn and was correct

Next, Wilson took up Luigi' history He proceeded cautiously and with hesitation now, moving his finger slowly along the great lines palm, and halting it at "star" or some such landmark, and examining that neighborhood minutely He proclaimed past events, Luigi confirmed his correctness, search went on Presently Wilson glanced up suddenly with surprised expression

" record of an incident which perhaps not wish me to--"

"Bring it out," said Luigi, good-naturedly "I promise you sha'n't embarrass me "

But Wilson still hesitated, and seem quite what Then :

" too delicate matter to--to--I believe rather write it or whisper it , and let you decide whether it talked out or not "

" answer," said Luigi "Write it "

Wilson wrote something on slip of paper and handed it to Luigi, who read it to himself and said to Tom:

"Unfold your slip and read it, Mr Driscoll "

Tom said:

"' PROPHESIED THAT KILL MAN IT CAME TRUE YEAR WAS OUT '"

Tom added, "Great Scott ! "

Luigi handed Wilson's paper to Tom, and said:

"Now read "

Tom read:

"' KILLED SOMEONE, BUT WHETHER MAN, WOMAN, OR CHILD, MAKE OUT '"

"Caesar's ghost ! " commented Tom, with astonishment "It beats anything that was ever heard of ! Why, man's own hand is his deadliest enemy ! Just think --a man's own hand keeps record deepest and fatalest secrets life, treacherously ready to expose himself to any black-magic stranger that comes along But what let person look at your hand for, awful thing printed ? "

"Oh," said Luigi, reposefully, "I don't mind it I killed the man for good reasons, and I don't regret it "

"What were the reasons ? "

"Well, killing "

"I'll tell you why it, since he won't say himself," said Angelo, warmly " it to save my life, that's what it for So noble act, and not thing hid dark "

"So , so ," said Wilson " such thing to save brother's life is great and fine action "