The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-04-14

THAT STRANGE PIN
ev n. CLYDE BUCKINGHAM.

BY H. CLYDE BUCKINGHAM.
(Copyright)
Mrs Theodore Bradley Trenholn
moved uneasily in her seat, looxef
sidewise at her husband. found NJ
vas interested in watching the var1
GUS people being seated; then deliber
atsfy put the pin in her hat. and Las
tened 1t to the back Of the seat u
front Of her.
After the performance. In the hurry
Of getting out Of the theater, sht
quite forgot about the strange pin she
had found tn the rack In front Of her
and 20 appropriated It. In fact, 4
vas not until she was dressing to &c
out the following morning that sh<
ssain thought Of Il
Mrs. Trenholm took the pin from
he ptncushion and walked to the win
dow With It.
In the sunlight 1t was remarkable
the top being a curiously wrought al
fAir, somewhat resembling an Egyp
tan mosaic. II was round, and per
haps two inches In diameter; In the
center was square amethyst, Of q
deep, rich color; surrounding the gem
were ten cat's-eyes Of various shapes
each weighing about carat. The
back was OF gold, on which four let
ters we're engraved, IN. Y. M. c" The
pin was longer than generally used
IN hats, and very substantial
Although Mrs. Trenholm realized
the rare beauty OF the pin and that
she had practically stolen 1t, she put
1t IN her hat and wore 1t downtown.
The stores were unusually crowded.
20 It was quite late before she finished
her shopping. Feeling hungry, she
went into a small tea-room for some
light refreshment before going home.
The place was deserted. save for
two young women in the far corner.
Mrs. Trenholm took a seat near them
and gave her order. Presently part
OF the conversation drifted over to
her. They were discussing fascinat-
ing PIN At once she became con-
scious, and fearing her pin might
belong to one Of them she turned her
head the other way. In short time
they left. On the way out. the girl
who seemed to be doing most Of the
talking. deliberately stopped In front
OF her ana smiled cordially.
7 hope you have luck!" abe said,
then she followed her companion.
Mrs. Trenholm gasped.
Have luck! wonder who she
thought ! was? declare. don't
know what she could have meant"
She was so preoccupied going up in
the subway that she failed to observe
me young man who sat opposite As
she was ascending the steps at Sew
enty-second street, some one grabbed
her by the arm Thoroughly fright
eled, she turned hurriedly and looked
Into a pair of very honest eyes, brim-
ful OF fun.
"I've tried all the way IN to at
tract your attention" he said but you
simply wouldn't look.
Look should say not" she re-
piled Indignantly. Let go Of my arm
at once. How dare you touch me? I
don't know you, never saw you be-
fore" ~
OF course you dont-exactly know
me-" he answered quietly. And |
don't believe ever had the pleasure
Of seeing you before. But you want to
know me, don't you?"
BY this time they had reached the
street. and were standing gazing IN
tently at each other.
II think never heard Of such ef.
frontery!" she said. 81 want to know
you! Well don't. Young man, you
hsve certainly made a distressing mis-.
take. have a husband"
And with her head higher than
usual Mrs. Trenholm hurried away
from thoroughly astonished man.
He looked after her for a second,
hen rapidly followed. At the corner
he rejoined her. He raised his hat
and looked at her sGuarely
II want to apologize, he said II
have indeed made mistake. am
not In the habit Of doing such things:
but ! saw the emblem. and supposed
had the right"
Before Mrs. Trenholm could reply,
he had left her and was walking rap
My on in the direction Of the subway
station. Though trifle put out by the
whole occurrence she had to laugh.
That evening she told her husband
about It.
What did he mean by the emblem.
Aifred."
Il don't know" her husband replied.
Unless he could have referred to the
pin you found last night Let's exam
me It carefully"
The examination revealed nothing.
Even the letters we're Of no signifl-
cance.
Not to be daunted by one experience,
Mrs Trenholm continued to wear the
pin. FW two weeks nothing happened,
and she began to feel quite secure
again and proud Of her possession.
She was coming home rather late
one afternoon-it was quite dark, so
she was hurrying-when she heard a