Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-03-25
General Literature.
n DBTECTEy.E STORI..

Not very long ago lady, in widows
weeds, accompanied by a gentleman said
to be her brother, came to New York, and
engaged house in Fourth street. Her
rich dress and refinement of manner, COM
bined with great personal attractions, rem
dere d her neighbors most dosirous of OBJ
tanning an introduction to her, and curios-
ity was rife as TO where she came from and
who she was. Her brother, for he really
stood in that relationship TO her, was a
young man enjoying the command of ready
money to a considerable amount, who easi-
ly made acquaintance among others of his
own age. His manners were very pleas
ing, and his domeanor was polished, while
his attire, though extremely quiet and un-
pretending, was always in the best posi-
BILE taste. So favorable was the impression
which he created in the minds of his new
friends, that several of them invited him
to their own homes, and in a short time
his circle of intimates increased TO such a
degree that he, in his turn, was enabled to
give receptions in Fourth street.
His name was Vaughan, and his sister
had been married to a colonel in the con-
federate army, who had been killed in ac-
tion during the war. Young Vaughan sue
ceeded to a handsome competence on the
death of his father; and Col. Wilson, who
had also been a man of property, had left
su fficient behind to support his widow in a
manner becoming his position. This tale
was supported by the evidence of two or
three other young men, frequently to be
-. .ls
also from the south, and was so fully borne
out by all the circumstances Of the period
and their mode of life, that the brother and
sister were tacitly permitted TO take their
place in society as fashionable people.
Among many others who visited Mrs.
Wilson was Mr.. johnson and his family,
who possessed large store on Broadway.
To this gentleman the widow was espec-
tally attentive, and vowed that her pur-
chases for the future should be made from
no other person than himself. Day after
day she visited his store and bought large
ly, invariably paying ready money, until
his confidence in her was fully established
and he told her that he should be most hap
py to give her credit, if at any time il
might be more agreeable to her. She re-
piled that she was only woman, and con-
sequently knew nothing of business, Sc
she preferred to pay at once, that she might
* now exactly how she was situated, but
promised to avail herself of this kind offer
should she ever feel the need of it. One
benefit there was, however, which he could
| confer on her. Would ne DC so Kind as Ia
show her over his store? She had never
ha an opportunity before Of becoming ac-
quainted with the resources of so large an
establishment. Mr.. Johnson, only too
willing to be polite to 20 excellent a GUS
toner, Immediately acceded to her request,
and laid his treasures bare before her, and
exhibited some of his most costly goods.
1t was not long before the worthy mer-
chant had cause to regret this moment OF
weakness, and subsequent events proved
to him how easy 1t is for a good looking
woman to oajole man. however wide
awake he may be.
N ew York at this time was infested by a
gang of rogues who had introduced new
system of shoplilting, and had successfully
victimized many of the larger storekeep-
ers in the city. As their course of action
was entirely fresh, a new name had to be
invented for them, and they were chrsten-
ed 'sneak' thieves by the police, from the
cunning way in which they effected their
depredations and the difficulty experience
ed in detecting them. Mr.. johnson, who
but few days before had been boasting OF
his immunity from lhen, was much annoy
ed when on arriving one morning at his
store he was informed by his managing
man that some very valuable articles had
been abstracted during the night or early
in the morning. The goods were safe
enough when the store was closed on the
preceding evening, as he had himself seen
them, but were missing when the clerks
arrived in the morning. Mr.. johnson al
once called in the police, and an experienc,
ed detective was sent to gather all the in,
formation on the subject he could. On