The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-02-17
THAT SCARFPIN.

It was the third week of my first visit
to- Paris. The days had been passed
most pleasantly among the masters in
painting and sculpture in the Louvre,
among the modern paintings in the gal
leries Of the Luxembourg, and in wan
dering about the parks and libraries.
When l had first gone to the Hotel Nor
mandie, I had found there my classmate
and close friend, Melville, and we had
whiled away several days most pleas
antly in talking owe u college joys
and comparing u experiences since we
had parted on the university campus the
day Of our graduation.
When I first met him in the corridor
of the hotel I noticed on his cravat a
curious pin which at once attracted my
attention In form it was oval, about a
quarter Of an inch in length, chocolate
in color, and in the dim light of the hall
seemed highly polished. It being so diff
ferent from the usual scarfpin, I asked
him where he got it. He did not reply
to my question, but taking the pin from
his tie handed it to me-. Upon examin-
ing it I found its surface covered with
what I took to be Egyptian hieroglyph-
les. Having given no little attention to
the study of these curious signs, my in
terest was at once aroused, and I ex-
pressed a desire to keep it for a few
days in order to examine it with a glass.
But Melville, with a strange smile, took
it without a word and put it back in his
cravat, and I of course did not insist on
examining it.
A few days later Melville met me in
the corridor, stopped me and said that
by the morning paper he had noticed
that the day before an acquaintance of
his, having lost his last napoleon in the
Casino, had committed suicide at Monte
Carlo; that he believed he was the only
person in Europe who knew the unfor-
tunate gambler, and he had decided to
go to Monte Carlo and care for the body.
While we were talking we had walked
to the front of the hotel, and Melville
had called a cab. Just before he got in
he handed me his cravat pin, and with a
smile said I could examine it while he
was gone, and as he drove off he called
back that he would be back in a few
days and cautioned me to be careful of
his pin.
Two weeks from that day l received a
telegram fr.in Melville saying he would
be back hat evening and asking me to
procure seats for Faust" at the Grand
Opera. In the meantime I had given
considerable attention to the pin and had
concluded that it was without doubt a
genuine Egyptian charm or fetch not
less than 5000 years old. Such stones
being very rare and valuable, l was sur
prised that my friend had intrusted it to
me at all, and I was anxious to learn
where he had obtained so great a curl
osity.
That afternoon I determined to take
a walk in the garden Of the Tuilleries,
which is not far from the Normandie.
After an celebrating walk I had taken
a seat and drawn a book from my pock-
ct, intending to read an hour before re-
turning for dinner, but my attention was
soon drawn from my book by a young
lady sitting diagonally across the prom
enade from me. She had taken the seat
soon after I sat down, and was looking
in such a direction that I could get only
a profile view of her face, which seemed
strangely familiar to me. After reading
and watching alternately for half an
hour I determined to get a better view
of her face in order to decide whether I
was mistaken in my idea that I had seen
ner.
As I started toward her she rose and
walked in the same direction. I had fol-
lowed her perhaps 80 yards when she
stumbled, and the next instant with a
groan fell to the ground. As quickly as
possible I had lifted her up and helped
her to a seat near by. I then asked her
il I should call assistance, but she said it
would not be necessary as she would be
all right in a moment, although she
would be glad if I would remain with
her. Such a request I could not refuse,
nor did I care to, as I had discovered she
was quite pretty, and from her accent I
knew she was an American.
Wien in a few minutes I asked her if
I should call a cab, she thanked me and
asked if I would not be kind enough to
drive with her to "A Rue de Blanc, a
street not far away on which I knew
were situated a large number of fashion
able pensions or boarding houses. On
the way she told me that her home was
in Massachusetts,, and with her father
and brother she was making a long stay
in Paris. When we reached her number,
she insisted that l go in and meet her ia
Their, and I of course agreed.
AS soon as I had paid the cabman and
given him three times the usual gratu-
ity I followed my fair and new found
friend into the parlor, where I remained
while she went to find her father. She
quickly returned, saying that he was
out, but would return in a short time,
and that if I would wait she would try
to entertain me. MISUNDERSTANDING the
old gentleman for being so considerate,
I was much pleased to wait.
The time passed pleasantly and rapid
~, and I thought nothing of the fathers
prolonged absence, but suddenly + re-
membered Melville and the opera, looked
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