The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-07-08
A HAIRPIN.

Mr.. Robert Perkins entered his pr.
Eate Office with disagreeable frown.
+ He tossed his hat at the nearest hook
sand dropped himself into his swivel
Schair> Then he lifted his knee in the
air, clasped his hands about it and
zgnawed at his mustache. Ordinarily
Mr.. Robert Perkins was a good looking
example of manhood. He wasn't at all
attractive at the present moment, how
lever. That's what the fair haired girl
at the typewriter in the outer office
thought. She could see him when she
raised her eyes above her copy, and she
wondered what disturbed him SO.
The fact is, he was very much dis
sgruntled man. He had cause to be-
Somebody was spying upon his move
ments. Somebody was even pryiEg into
his private affairs and stealing informa-
qtion that was of great value to him.
Mr.. Robert Perkins was real estate
operator, a man of big deals, whose
name. in spite Of his two and thirty
years, was already power in the street.
Up to within a few weeks he had been
ssingularly successful, but nov some
body seemed to be blocking all his i'm
-portant moves. Only the day before he
had prepared in a sketchy way the plat
~of an extensive tract he had meant to
secure. and now he had just discovered
that the price had been jumped ON him
to an extent that meant an outlay of
$1,000 more than he had counted on.
He knew that his breast was the only
guardian of this proposed deal-his
breast and his desk, for in the latter
was locked the precious plat.
Mr.. Perkins pulled out his desk key
land thrust it into the keyhole. AT least
he attempted to do SO, but something
interfered, something which stubborn
ly resisted the most violent effort. He
drew out the key and brought forth his
knife. A few minutes of energetic pry-
ing and twisting dislodged the obstacle.
1t was hairpin.
A twisted hairpin Of bronzed wire.
Mr.. Perkins instinctively turned in his
chair and looked toward the fair haired
girl at the typewriter. She was bend
ing over her work and did not see him.
Mr.. Perkins knew that the fair haired
girl used hairpins of bronzed wire.
Somebody had tried to pick his desk
lock with a hairpin, the same some
body who had been making mischief
fer him right along. Gould it be that
innocent looking young woman? She
handled his letters; she was 10 some
extent familiar with his private bust
ness.
Mr.. Perkins opened his desk with a
n 1, oh
bell that stood at his elbow. A boy ap-
peared in the doorway.
George" said Mr.. Perkins, shut
the door,.
When the lads back was turned, he
looked at the hairpin again and sighed.
Then he thrust it carefully into his vest
pocket. When the boy approached him,
he was gazing intently at the plat
where it lay, apparently undisturbed,
in the desk.
George" said Mr.. Perkins, ''do you
remember that 1 left early yesterday
afternoon"
eyes, sir, said George "You went
away at o'clock with Mr.. Tompkins
in carriage
ibid you leave the outer Office before
closing up timer
Eyes, sir. I went to the postoffice
for stamps, and I came back by the
way of Lawyer Briggs office and left
that abstract. -
tHow long were you gomez"
Bout half an hour. sir"
.'Was Miss Phillips in the office
when you left?''
''Who-Miss Alice?"
eyes, Miss Alice.
1t was pretty name. 1t was the first
time Mr.. Perkins had spoken it, and he
thought it very pretty name, and
then his fingers closed on the halrpIn
and his heart hardened.
''She was here when I left and here
when come back, sir. !"
Anybody else here?''
''Mr. Burnham was in just before ]
left. He was talking to Miss Alice,
sir
Talking to Alice?''
There was something in his snappy
tone that carried the intimation that
Mr.. Perkins didn't like this informal
tion.
Eyes, sir, talking confidential like.
When looked around, he stopped down
aud said something real low, and Miss
Alice kind of blushed.
.'That will do, George"
AS the boy opened the door Mr.. Per-
kins called him back.
Step across the hall to Mr.. Burn
3 hams Office and tell him I want to see
him.
Two minutes later Mr.. Tom Burn
ham pulled in. He was a short, stout
man, with double chin and Laughing
face.
WANT 10 see me, Bob?' he cried as
he took chair. 81
Yes, Z replied Nh. Perkins. he
PAUSED q moment. tim worried and