Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-10-17

held through the window curious sight
An elegantly dressed lady was seated at
the counter examining pieces of Brussels
lace. The shopman averted his head for
an instant and she deftly whipped up a
yard of the costly texture and transferred
it to her pocket. The shopman spread
over the counter number of square fiat
boxes containing cambria handkerchiefs,
and once more turned away. Again the
lady's deft hand went to work and couple
of handkerchiefs found their way under
her cloak. s.Now that woman must have
capacious pockets" soliIoquized the aston
ished Mr.. Pottridge, ''She's cunning
thief. anyhow, and I'll just step in and
warn the frm.'
He hesitated moment and whilst he
lowered about the doorway the lady came
| out escorted by an obsequious commits
lsiOnaire with medals on his breast. A
footman, one of a row bask ing on bench
like oysters, rose and signalled to the
coachman of handsomely appointed
brougham, who at once drove forward.
Evidently this lady was not an ordinary
thief. She was a tall, dark person OF
about thirty, superbly dressed and very
handsome. Perceiving Mr.. Pottridge and
seeing his glance fixed on her as she waited
for her carriage she eyed him with aristo-
cratic superciliousness and thereby settled
her fate, for Smallborough's alderman.
who could not brook the disdain of shop
planned what had happened, speaking in
so excited voice that number Of custo-
merS heard him.
Great connection was caused by his an
nouncement, and the shopman who had
served her was quickly fired by the idea
that he had let himself be outwitted. Dart
ing out of the shop he accosted the thief
as she was stepping into her carriage and
said: "Will you come back if you please?
There is some mistake.''
"What mistake?'' asked she, turning
round with flash in her eyes. But she
grew ashy pale. .
sCome back, Please" repeated the shop
man, pushing young man, whose voice
broke from emotion.
| A small crowd had already collected and
the lady was obliged to retrace her steps;
but as she was about to enter the shop she
slipped her hand into her pocket and let a
piece of lace fall on to the pavement. ''No
ma am that won It do,' cried Mr.. Pottrldge
aching the thief's wrist. "YQu're going
to pretend those things fell by accident
into the folds of your dress; we know that
trick And oficiously acting as searcher
he plunged his hand into the pocket de-
spite the lady's struggles and drew out a
second piece of lace, three cambria hand
kerchiefs, two pairs of new gloves, one
pair of silk stockings and a lady's silk era
vat. 'sWell, I never!' exclaimed the
pushing shopman, and there was a MUIR
muir among the bystanders, including the
lady's own footman, who looked like
powdered figure of CONSERVATION.
"How dare you!'' screamed the lady,
purple with rage and modification as she
glared at Mr.. Pottridge; 'I1l prosecute
you for assault. told the shopman b are
that meant to buy these things. Let the
bill be sent to my address; I'm Mrs.
Pounceforth-K eane."
''Ah, dessay," responded the shopman-
shut Pm just going to give you into GUS
tody;" and running to the door, he beck
oned to blue-coated member of the force.
One of the partners of the firm, gray,
civil spoken man, who had been summon
ed from his study, now came forward; and
he was at first disposed to rebuke the haste
of the shopman, but it was too late. The
policeman had already entered, and all the
shopmen and shopgirls, the customers,
and the desultory people crowding around
the door, we're instant in chorussing that
the thief should be made an example Of.
Mrs. Pounceforth-Keane seeing public
opinion so dead against her, uttered
howl, and fell swooning to the floor.
"Never mind that. we'll soon rouse
her," said the policeman facetiously, for
he did not yet know that he had to deal
with a lady who kept brougham. "The
Magistrate is now sitting at Marlborough
street; we'll just go there at once and
have her charged
The arrangement was acceded to, and
in few moments the lady and the police
man (who had got abashed by this time
from finding himself seated on the silk
cushions of carrlage) we're riding to the
police court in Mrs. Pounceforth-K ean's
own vehicle, while Mr.. Pottridge, the
shopman, and the mercer followed on foot
to give evidence.
One would think that in a case where
the offense was fragrant and the testimony
so clear, the magistrate might have SEN
fenced her straight off to six month IS impris-
onment, and, indeed, had the thief been a
person of the lower orders, 1t would prOba-
bly, have been her fate to be convicted
summarily. But it turned out that
Pounceforth-Keane was the real name
of the elegant shop lifJer, whose hus-
band was a person moving, as repor-
tiers say, Tin tie best ranks Of society,"
Mr.. Pounceforth-Kea was sent for, and
arrived breathless in hanson from one
of the best clubs in Pail Mall. At the sight
OF him, his wife, who had been locked up
for an hour in police cell, wept profuse-
ly, and Mr.. p. K. was himself much agita-
tated. He asked for remand, and ten
dered bail, saying he could produce
medical evidence to the effect that his
wife had lately suffered severely in health.