The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-29
The Euenine Story
Tho Opal Pin.
(By Clarissa Mackie. }


Roger Willard met his mothers
private secretary on the marble steps
of the stately mansion that he called
home
Alice Wilson was carrying q small
leather grip. and a man servant was
bringing trunk from the basement
door to a taxicab at the curb.
''Ah, Miss Wilson! You are not 20
ing away?" he asked in q startled
Behind her veil the girls face
looked white. YES" she said in q
stifled voice. Goodbye, Mr.. Willard"
Before he could do more than MUIR
muir q farewell. she had glided past
him and entered the taxi. He ran
the machine rolled away before he
reached the curb.
He returned to the house. let him.
self in. with a latchkey and went up
to his mothers boudoir.
Mrs. Willard was seated in q 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.
f1orfd face took on an air Of watch
full anxiety.
Il have had such a shocking sur
prise, Roger. 1 am a nervous wreck
this afternoon" She sighed heavily.
What has happened. mother?" he
asked dutifully. although he could
guess that it had to do with Miss Will
sons departure. His mother had had
seven private secretaries in the past
year.
1t is Miss Wilson; 1 have been COM
PEELED to dismiss her.
She did not leave Of her own ac-
cord?" he asked keenly.
mo. indeed. the pert creature would
never have left If she had her way"
Rogers face burned redly.
Just what do you mean. mother?"
Il mean that Alice Wilson Is a thief.' -
she said bluntly.
Roger jumped to his feet.
"A thief? You are joking; though it
is a sorry joke"
Il mean it. son. Just because a girl
able" said Mrs. Willard in a vixenish
tone.
Il believe Miss Wilson to be both
pretty and honorable" said Roger
evenly. Please tell me about this hor-
rible mistake you have made, mother
Horrible mistake. Roger Millardr'
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 disgrace. A few days later
the bank sent you a statement show
ing that the mistake was your own
personal error. Are you sure about
this affair with Miss Wilson,"
Yes" returned Mrs. Willard. sui
lenly. II am quite sure, Roger. A
week ego I sent her to Whitson's
mond setting cleaned. She brought
me the repair check, which they had
given her as receipt, a.ld this morn
ing I sent her down in the motor to
get the pin. I had mislaid the repair
check. She came back without the
pin. bearing a verbal message from
Wilson's that the pin had been
called for yesterday.
81 telephoned Wilson's and they
informed me. quiz, confidentially,
OF course, that Miss Wilson called
for the pin in person yesterday, pre-
scented the check ard received the
pin.
st confronted her y. tn the facts
in the case. and she brazenly denied
it. So / dismissed her without any
credentials, althougt a letter from
me would have been valuable as
set to her in seeking a new po-
sition."
Mother, how could you act SO
precipitately without being sure
that Miss Wilson really was guilty?"
asked Roger, angrily. Perhaps