The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-15
The Euening Story
The Lost Pin.
(By Shirley Morris.)


Cecile, Psychologist. Your Future
Foretold."
Come on, girls, it's all right" whis-
pered Lois NARROW. I'VE don't know
anyone in this part of town anyway"
So with much giggling and subdued
joking over the wonderful things they
had just heard they made their way to
Forty-second street. Then they
breathed more freely.
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 1t returned
by your future husband?"
YES" shivered Peggy. 'T can't get
over it. While she was describing it
felt as though her eyes were looking
clear though me. You see, 1 have it
on, pinned to my waist. Girls, do you
think she did see it through my coat 90
Lets see!" in chorus. But the plain
little blue jacket revealed nothing and
the mystery remained.
well, may as well meet him that
way as any other, I suppose" sighed
Peggy, resignedly. zone thing-it's
more romantic than just to be intro
duced."
The crowd separated.
Come along with me, Lois begged
Peggy IT have to stop in Tukif's to
see about a brass candlestick for
mother"
IT can't today, dear! I've got to
dress and go to Graystone's to tea"
Goodbye, them
Goodbye, dear"
Tukif's seemed to be deserted, but
finally an old man appeared, and after
Peggy stated her errand, he retreated
into the mysterious region in the rear
of the store from which he had
emerged.
Peggy, still feeling uncanny from
her recent experience, had a sensation
of unreality among the assemblage of
ancient and Oriental curios. Gods
grinned at her, dragons threatened
and silent old clocks with their eternal
secrets, Knocked.
She wandered up and down the
dim aisles, wishing something, any
thing, would happen to break that dis
quieting silence. She came to an old
mirror and stopped, regarding herself
intently. She saw a very pretty, fluff
fy-haired girl with rather serious eyes
and a mouth impressionable and ten
der, with an upward curve at the cor
ners. you big goosen' she said to the
reflection in the glass, "to believe in
such nonsense as that old faker told
you, Take long walk before you go
home and get it all out of your sys-
tenn
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 a little groom
ing, milady. Better stop in shop and
buy a VEIL too. It's windy
The street door opened and a man
came in. Looking around hurriedly
for salesman, he saw nobody at first,
then, spying a girl in recess patting
her hair, he gave a curt order:
please tell Mr.. Tukif to deliver the
lamp 1 ordered to this address" He
held out card and Peggy took it i'm
passively. Of course he thought her a
saleswoman, but what difference did
it make. She didn't object to giving
the card and message to the old man!
So she said simply, certainly"
The customer turned to leave, but
whether his eyes were accustoming
themselves to the store twilight or
whether the mirror showed a profile
that caught the unwary he hesitated
and looked deep into the serious blue
eyes The eyes returned the look
calmly and coolly, but all the while
the impressionab1e little brain behind
them was wondering. what re-
markedly fine-looking man! I wish
he'd go so I can look at his card and
find out who he isl
There was no excuse for staying, so
he went, but, passing, the chair in
which Peggy had been sitting. he stop
ped and picked up something Again
he stopped, hesitated and looked back,
then put whatever it was into his
pocket and continued on his way.
Peggy looked at the card and read:
Mr.. Cyrus Harding, Riverside Drive"
The old man returned just then.
Peggy delivered the card and message.
completed the business upon which
she had come and left the store. Out
side, she slipped her hand under her
Jacket to reassure herself that her new
diamond pin was safe. But to her dis
may it was gone, She stopped and
searched. 1t was not there She
went back into the store and looked
into every corner. The pin was no
where to be found.
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 recalled
his hesitation, his backward glance at
her. The pin was very valuable and
temptation to any one. Besides. he
would not associate the loss with a
shopkeeper's assistant. for which he
had evidently mistaken her.
well, I don't dare tell daddy I've
lost it, I've a notion to try to get it
back myself. Cyrus Harding, River
side Drive"
She hurried out and called a taxi.
At the Riverside Drive house, JAP
anese servant answered her ring. Mr..
Harding had just returned.
She was usbered into a sitting ROOM
a wonderful combination of black, old
gold and blue, and she sat down in
one of the immense over-stuffed
chairs. This is bizarre enough to suit
Leon Bakst himself I think by-and-
by I'll waken to find Mime. Ceci1e, the
old curiosity shop and Mr.. Harding a
very entertaining dream, and my dia-
mond pin safe under my pillow"
And then Mr.. Harding pulled aside
a 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-
sly-interrogatiyely, for her visit
puzzled him.
Good afternooni'' choked Peggy.
Then, with a feeling that The huge
chair was smotherirg her, she sprang