Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-19
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE JEwELED HAIRPIN.
[Original.l

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IOriginaLl
We We're a happy family, two boys
and three girls from sixteen to twenty
six years Of age. Our summer cottage
was large enough TO accommodate the
chums of all. and in July and August
we usually kept it full.
One night, returning la1e from the
city and being tired, l Went TO my room
and threw myself on Il divan. The
boys and girls We're skyluTking in the
hall, and some one put outIthe light.
dropped asleep and when awoke all
was still save the scratch of Il match
which failed 10 ignite in my room. BY
its flash l caught sight Of theIdim fig
ure of a girl near the gas bracket,
though l could not see who she was.
Then there was a,suppreSSed;Shriek, as
though she had discovered that she
was in the wrOng'rOOm, andtShe made
for the door.
l jumped and caught her, about the
waist. There was Il struggle, during
which l kissed her and Din order to
identify her scratched her cheek with
a rough edge on my sealEring; then l
let her go.
What was my surprisetat going into
the breakfast room the next morning
TO see every iSirl in the house-there
were six, besides my sistcrs-each with
a piece of courtplaster on her cheek.
HIM l muttered to myself a pref
ty conspiracy TO conceal the culprit,'
However. keeIEng my countenance, l
sat down. pretending not TO notice the
beauty spots. ISt just before rising l
put my hand inImy pocket. graspcd an
imaginary something. placed my closed
fist or the table and said:
(Which OF you girls lost hairpin
last night:"
Up flew half Il dozen hands TO as
many heads. then were quickly low
cred. none of THE girls admitting Il loss.
But red ,fushnn the cheeks of Jennie
Sayer told that my ruse had been sue
ceSsful.
why do you ask" inquired one of
the gi4s. "HaveEOu found Oncf'
NO. l replied tcarclessly and open
ed my hand, showing nothing in it.
Then l arose and strolled out of the
| dining room. There was silence till
had got away from hearing, then. /
learned afterward, "A babel in which |
| was mercilessly handled by the girls
and defended by the boys. However
| the secret was out and that was all
| there was about it.
was uncertain as to the value Of my
victory. / was half in love with Jennie
| Sayer, who had encouraged me, but
| from this time she showed Il decided
70 of ri
vcering taught me that l loved her
| frantically. Indeed so infatuated was
l that despite the change in her l told
my story" She listened to me calmly
until | had finished, then said:
~ will give YOU my answer after
| you have returned 4 hairpin set with
pearls l have lost during my stay
! here"
looked at her puzzled. could only
| infer that this was a way she had
| chosen to refuse me. But when l told
! her so she said:
Not necessarily. Find my hairpin
and come for your answer"
But l may be a long time finding it.
l may never find it,"
That's your affair. not mine"
| 1t was plain that she was intending
! to punish me for my kiss in the dark
! and what had come of it. But there
was hope She had really lost q hair
! pin. and I might possibly find il. 1t
| occurred to me that she might have
! lost it on the night l kissed and
scratched-her. so 1 searched my room
and the hall, INDEED everywhere that l
could learn she had been during the
day and evening. But, though I lifted
| rugs. moved furniture turned my room
topsy turvy, met with no success.
| went TO Miss Sayer and pleaded for
| n release from the condition. She had
no more mercy on me than she would
! have had on a trout with her hook in
/ it's gillS. Indeed. being sure that l
! could not find hoy hairpin. to add to
my sufferings she declared that on the
| day I brought II to her l might consd-
or her reply as given favorably. After
| this she barely noticed me.
| The day before the party broke up
was called to the city. l kept an es-
| pecial suit for travelling and. as usual,
| put IT on. On my return to my room
that evening I missed my pocketbook
and ransacked my pockets for it. In
IN outside breast pocket of the coat 1
found-a hairpin set with pearls.
It must have fallen there while !
was struggling with Miss Sayer.
! If ever a man was inspired with the
/ arrogance of triumph, was that man.
| Slipping into dinner dress, l went
! down to the dining room. where all
We're at table. l was so exhilarated
all through dinner that l saw Miss
! Sayer look uneasy. When the fruit
came on I laid my fist on the table and
! said:
(Which of you girls has lost a hair
pin:"
! Miss Sayer looked at me with horror
| stricken eyes. 1 opened my hand and
| displayed her pin.
II am overjoyed." I added, ito an