Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-14
THE EVENING STORY.
Copyright. 1918, by W. wernee.)
A Pearl Pin.

SOpyrlSht, 1870 " W. Wefu0.D
It was almost the very minute Of clos
ing time and Hilda was fiurried by the
two insistent customers who demanded
attention at the same time. For an hour
stout. important woman In green
broadcloth and sealskin had wayered be-
tween two expensive pearl brooches. Then
q thin young fellow in low-visored cap
had rushed up for collar buttons. He
didn't care what kind nor price 50 long
as he got them quickly. The other sales
girls already had tossed black sateen
aprons to the shelves behind the. coun-
ter and were fling TO the time clock.
The cashier in the booth above was anx-
ious to get away. She hastily wrapped
up the two small articles, tossed them
and the change to Hilda and scooted.
Hilda passed them over to the impatient
customers, who hurried out.
Two minutes later. when she was hur-
ry1ng out herself, she had q sudden fear
that the package handed to the man had
not been fiat, as though It held q card
Of collar buttons. She shivered. but II
was too late then to make sure And
she tried to persuade herself that she
merely was imagining trouble. a habit
that she had acquired lately. She ate
dinner In the small cafe near her ROOM
ing house without much appetite. It was
not pleasant cafe. but It Was nearby
and cheap, two items that counted heav-
lily when a girl was tired out at night
and only able to spend certain sum
for a meal, no matter what her appetite
or fancy.
Afterward she mended stockings and
waists in the small room that she shared
with girl who worked at a telephone
exchange. Edith worked nights and
slept days. 80 the arrangement was con-
venient for both.
But this night Edith was not working.
She had a day shift for a while. She
was a tall. rather fashy girl. IIilda, of
q demurrer type. liked her and disap-
proved Of her.
II was going to a dance tonight" Edith
yawned. But Alf-hes a ninth cousin
was called out Of town. You could have
gone along
Hilda shook her head. She liked Edith.
but she didn't like the style Of young
men whom Edith affected. Mostly loud,
with free and easy address that made
her uncomfortable. Besides, she had no
clothes that by any ingenuity could be
made suitable for a dance. Black serge
skirts and plain shirt waists were all
that her salary yielded, and even those
took careful planning.
In the morning she awoko with q
vague sense Of something uncomfortable
hanging over her, but she did not re-
member until she had punched the time
clock and picked up the chockbook. And
then she was too busy arranging stock
and busting the counters for an hour to
worry.
But at 10 o'clock she looked up to see
an angry woman in green broadcloth
hurrying toward her and her heart near
ly stopped beating. The brooch. was
worth S1S.
The woman flung q card Of collar but
tons at her. Such carelessness!" she
stormed. "And I particularly wanted
ing! Give me my money back"
Hldas eyes widened with apprehen-
sion, but there was nothing to do but call
q floor manager and report 1t. Herrmon
was not a good-natured man. and this
morning he happened to be in q worse
humor than usual. His heavy eyebrows
drew together till they were q ridge Of
wrath. His full lips pursed together un-
pleasantly. ''Give her another brooch
Of the same kind" he coldly ordered
Hilda.