The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-29
THE OPAL PIN.
By CLARIssA MAcKIE.


4
/
By CLARISsA MACKIE.
tcorgrisht. IslLl
Roger Willard met his mothers private
secretary on the marble steps OF the
stately mansion that he called home.
Alice Wilson was carrying a small
leather grip, and a manservant was
bringing trunk from the basement door
to taxicab the curb.
"Ah, Miss Wilson! Your are not going
sway?" he asked IN startled tone
Behind the vel the girls face looked
white. Yes she said in a stified
voice. "Good-by, Mr. Millard''
Before he could do more than muir
muir farewell she had glided past
him and entered the taxi. He ran down
the steps to intercept her, but the ma
chine rolled away before he reached the
curb.
He returned to the house, let himself
in with a latchkey and went up to his
mothers boudoir.
Mrs. Willard was seated in large chair
near the open fire while q maid served
tea from a wicker table near by.
Good evening. Roger" smiled his
mother fondly. Let Marie give you a
cup of tea and some OF these little cakes
no? Then, you may go, Marie"
When they were alone her large, forid
face took on an air of watchful anxiety.
81 have had such a shocking surprise,
Roger. am a nervous wreck this after
noon" She sighed heavily.
What has happened, mother?" he
asked dutifully, although he could guess
that It had to do with Miss Wilson's
departure. His mother had had seven
private secretaries in the past year.
1T is Miss Wilson; I have been COM
PEELED to dismiss her"
she did not leave Of her own accord"
he asked keenly.
never have left II she had had her way"
Rogers face burned redly.
Just what do you mean. MOTHER
81 mean that Alice Wilson Is q thief"
she said bluntly.
Roger jumped to his feet.
"A thief? You are Joking; though II is
a sorry joke"
'T mean it, son. Just because a girl
is pretty is no sign that she is honor
able" said Mrs. Willard in a vixenish
tone.
81 believe Miss Wilson to be both pretty
and honorable" said Roger, evenly.
please tell me about this horrible mis-
take you have made, mother"
Horrible mistake, Roger Millard!' Mrs
Willard burst into tears There you go.
always blaming met
But remember the time you thought
Miss Dix had made misuse of your
checkbook and you dismissed her in dis
grace A few weeks later the bank sent
you a statement showing that the mis-
take was your own personal error. Are
you sure about this affair with Miss
Wilson,
Yes" returned Mrs. Willard. sullenly.
IT am quite sure, Roger. A week ago
I sent her to Wilson's with my opal
pin to have the diamond setting cleaned.
She brought me the repair check, which
they had given her as receipt, and this
morning I sent her down in the motor
TO get the pin. 1 had mislaid the repair
check She came back without the pin. !
bearing a verbal message from Whit ]
sons that the pin had been called for |
'I telephoned Wilson's and they in |
formed me- quite confidentally, of course |
that Miss Wilson called for the pin in |
person yesterday, presented the check !
and received the pin.
Il confronted her with the facts in the |
rase, and she brazenly denied it So I
dismissed her without any credentials, |
a letter from me would have |
been a valuable asset to her in seeking |
4 new position"
Mother. how could you act 50 precipi- |
lately without being sure that Miss Will
son really was guilty.? asked Roger. an |
yrily. Perhaps Wilson's made the mis-
take"
"Impossible," declared Mrs. Willard, |
arrogantly. Il have dealt with Whit
sons for thirty years and never knew
them to make an error of any kind"
L am sorry you acted so hastily. I
should tell you. mother" he said firmly.
that love Alice Wilson. and it has
been my intention to ask her to be my
wife. 1 shall do so now, anyway"
Mrs Willard screamed and grew hys-
tericaL Roger. who had been accus-
toned from childhood TO his selfish moth
er's outbursts Of ungovernable temper,
hathed her forehead with cologne. ad-
ninistered spirits of ammonia, and left
her in charge of Marie.
AS he left the room Roger glanced
back. Something in the French girls
Dhlique glance at him had set him think
ng. He had never liked Marie-she was
impairment, but Mrs. Willard declared
she was a perfect treasure of a maid.
The housekeeper. Mrs. Pearson, was
busy over her accounts in her snug sit
:ing-room in the basement. She bade
Roger welcome and would have brought