Connecticut western news., 1897-08-19
4 HAIRPIN.

4 HAIRPIN.
 MT. Robert Perkins entered his pri- vate office with disagreeable frown He tossed his hat at the nearest hook and dropped himself into his swivel chair. Then he lifted his knee in the air, clasped his hands about it and gnawed at his mustache. Ordinarily MT. Robert Perkins was good looking example of manhood. He wasn't at all attractive at the present moment, how ever. That's what the fair haired girl at the typewriter in the outer office thought. She could see him when she wondered what disturbed him so.
 The fact is, he was very much dis gruntled man. He had cause to be. Somebody was spying upon his move ments. Somebody was even prying into his private affairs and stealing informa- tion that was of great value to him.
 MT. 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 singularly successful, but now some- body seemed to be blocking all his inn portant moves. Only the day before he had prepared in 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 BIO, 1000 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 ill the latter was locked the precious plat.
 MT. Perkins pulled out his desk key and thrust it into the keyhole. At least he attempteds 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.
 It was hairpin. .-. -
 A twisted hairpin of bronzed wire. Mir. 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 came some- body who had been making mischief for him right along. Could it be that innocent looking young woman? She handled his letters; she was to some extent familiar with his private busi- ness. bang. Then he struck sharply on call bell that stood at his elbow. A boy ap- peared in the doorway.
 George" said MT. 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.
 remember that I left early yesterday afternoon?'
 "Yes, sir" said George. "You went away at 3 o'clock with MT. Tompkins in carriage"
 'Did you leave the outer office before closing up time?' "Yes, sir. I went to the pcstcffice for stamps, and I came back ly the way of Lawyer Briggs office and left | that abstract"
 "How long were you gone?" "'Bout half an hour, sir "Was Miss Phillips in the office when you left?'' ''Who-Miss Alice?' | "Yes, Miss Alice.'' It was pretty name. It was the first time Mir. Perkins had spoken it, and he thought it very pretty name, and then his fingers closed on the hairpin | and his heart hardened. I "She was here when I left and here when I come back, sir. | Anybody else here?' ''Mr. Burnham was in just before 1 left. He was talking to Miss Alice, | sir.
 | Talking to Alice?' There was something in his snappy tone that carried the intimation that MT. Perkins didn't like this informa. ton.
 "Yes, sir, talking confidential like. When looked around, he stopped dowI and said something real low, and Miss Alice kind of blushed."
 ''That will do, George"
 AS the boy opened the door MT. Per. kins called him back.
 "Step across the hall to MT. Burn. hams office and tell him I want to sec him.
 Two minutes later MT. Tom Burn. ham puffed in. He was short, stout man, with double chin and a laughing face.
 "Want to see me, Bob?'' he cried al he took chair.
 "Yes, ' replied MT. Perkins. He paused moment. "I'm worried and puzzled, he added. Somebody is rob ping me of my ideas"
 "Get outr' said MT. Burnham.
 "It's true," said Mr Perkins. "A half dozen times within the last thre, weeks have found myself face to fac' with evidence that my private paper have been tempered with"
 Seems incredible" said MT. Burn ham.
 "Yes, but it's true." Suspect anybody2" 3l "Yes." a Perkins rang the bell. George. he said, "tell Miss Phillip
 that want her.''