The Monticellonian., 1916-06-01

paper Syndieate1
The girls, six of them, looked eau
tiously up and down the squalid
little street before venturing forth.
The house they were leaving bore on
a door plate the portentious words.
Mime. Ceeile. Psychologist. Your Flu
ture Foretold"
Come on, girls, it's all right,
whispered Lois NARROW I'VE don't
know anyone in this part of town.
anyway"
Wasn't it a lark" cried Catherine
Barr I'm terribly anxious to know
who the light-haired Adonis is | am
to meet this summer, and. Peggy,
wasn't it wonderful what she told you
about the pin you got for Easter, and
how you'd lose it and have it returned
by your future husband?"
Yes" shivered Peggy. Il can't
get over it. While she was describing
it l felt as though her eyes were look
ing clear through me. You see.
have it OIL pinned to my waist"
The crowd separated
Come along with me, Lois. begged
Peggy. Il have to stop in Tukif's to
see about a brass eandlestick for
mother
Il can't today. dear, I've got to
dress and go to Graystones to tea
Tukif's seemed to be deserted but
finally an old man appeared. and after
Peggy stated her errand, he retreat
ed into the mysterious region in the
rear of the store from which he had
emerged
Peggy, still feeling uneanny from
her recent experience, had sensa-
ton of unreality among the as
semblage of ancient and oriental GU
rios. She came to an old mirror and
stopped, regarding herself intently.
You big goosel" she said to the re-
Election in the glass, ito believe in
such nonsense as that old faker told
you, Take a long walk before you
go home, and get it all out of your
system"
She drew the pins out of her sailor
hat and started to gather in some of
the stray wisps of hair IF you're GO
ing to walk you need little groom
ing. milady
The street door opened and man
came in. Looking around hurriedly
for salesman, he saw nobody at first,
then, spying a girl in recess pat
ting her hair, he gave a curt order:
please tell Mr. Tukif to deliver the
lamp | ordered to this address," He
held out card and Peggy took it
impassively OF course he thought
her saleswoman, but what difference
did it make
The customer turned to leave. but
serious blue eyes. The eyes returned
the look calmly and coolly.
There was no excuse for staying.
so he went. but. passing the chair in
which Peggy had been sitting. he
stopped and picked up something.
Peggy looked at the card and read:
MIR. Cyrus Harding-Riverside drive
The old man returned Just then.
Peggy delivered the card and mes
sage. completed the business upon
which she had come and left the store.
Outside, she slipped her hand under
her jacket to reassure herself that her
new diamond pin was safe. But to
her dismay it was gone.
Then it popped into her head that
the customer who gave her the mes
sage had picked something up and
put it into his pocket
She hurried out and called taxi.
At the Riverside drive house, Jap
anese servant answered her ring. Mr..
Harding had just returned
She was ushered into a sitting room,
a wonderful combination of black, old
gold and blue. and she sat down in
one of the immense overstuffed
chairs.
And then Mr.. Harding pulled aside
portiere and stepped into the room.
He recognized her instantly, but if
he was surprised he gave no sign.
How do you do?" he said courte-
ously-interrogatively, for her visit
puzzled him.
Good afternoon choked Peggy.
Twelve come for the pin you
found" with a little deprecating ges-
ture.
"Pin?"
Yes. The pin you picked up in
the shop"
He frowned Il don't seem to un-
derstand. didn't find a pin"
But you picked up something.
Don't you emember-right in front Of
that teakwood chair" earnestly.
Right close TO where | was stand
ing
Yes, l see now. But | didn't know
you wanted it SO much or | should
have returned It, really didn't think
it so very valuable and wanted it.
No matter whyl | didn't know what
you meant when you spoke of a pin
l would have given it another name
Here it is.
His hand went into his pocket and
he held out tiny tortoise shell comb,
the mate of one in her hair.
Peggy flushed furiously.
is that what you found %
Eyes. Isn't it what you came for?"
mo! You sell lost a pin, a
diamond pin today | don't work in
the store. You made a mistake.
was in seeing about candlestick. and
l lost my pin. Then | remembered
seeing you find something, and re-