St. Landry democrat., 1885-07-18
SOCIETY DETECTIVES.
Their Duties as Custodians OF
Wedding Presents.
Where Fashionable Pilferers Look for
Spoils-The Modus Operandi of Skill
full Oficers-The Odd Mistake
of Society Lady

During the past couple of years,-in
TACT, ever since Inspector Byrnes' ac-
eession to office-several nice society
people have suffered strange kind of
shock. Some believed it a hallucina-
ton. it seemed so unreal. Others
guessed atsomething akin to the truth.
This was their experience:
At the marriage of Mrs. Van This
pretty daughter to the distinguished
Mr.. De That they distinctly remembered
meeting aquiet and very prepossessing
gentleman in full evening costume, who
paid attention to little that was going
on in any set, but circulated freely
about, smiling and courteous When
their minds required to the event they
did recall that he had not been present.
ed to them. If they thought of it fur
ther they might remember that he
seemed to be an enthusiastic admirer of
jewelry and bric-a-brac, and spent most
of his time lounging about the wedding
presents. But there was always def
mite recollection of his presence at that
and kindred events.
It was only natural for them to no
tice him when they met again, even if
good breeding prohibited a formal salu-
tation. But none of them ever found
fault with good breeding on that ac-
count For it was always in court or
peared, and nearly all the time he was
an actor in one or the other.
More than one eminent member of
the Bar has fixed his glasses couple Of
times to make sure that he was not
mistaken in the personality of the man
who came in with some notorious pris-
oner. And various ladies of fashion
marveled greatly at the ill-taste of the
nice young man they remembered when
they saw him lounging about theater
doors and public places. Even dudes
of distinction who rather affected q
familiarity with the doings Of the city
were profoundly astonished to stumble
upon him at race-course or athletic ex-
hibitions, and could never make him
out.
That was precisely what he wanted.
For the mysterious unknown was neither
a society man nor a member of the
je2t91esse doree-he was simply a de-
tective.
Some of those who remembered him
where the lamps shone, where soft mu-
sic foated and wealth and beauty cir
culated, would be startled by the in
formation. But probably they would
be still more moved by the knowledge
that he was one of the most needful
and important of the guests.
The mind of sentimental miss could
scent a romance in such an attendant
at a reception or ''kettledrum. The
blunt intelligence of mankind might
wonder who was wanted" or who
was to be watched under such circum-
stances. But there was not scintilla
of sentiment in the detectives duty.
He was there simply to keep a lookout
for thieves. Not for bold burglars or
cunning sneaks, or any outsider, either.
He was looking for thieves among the
guests.
Gentiity would hold up its hands in
horror at the thought. But experience
has only too well attested that the So
called kleptomaniac generally wears
diamonds and satin slippers. and that
clever knack for approprlaEng otner
peoples effects can Turk beneath a
dress-suit and an immaculate bosom as
readily as under a blouse or velveteen
frock. Inspector Byrnes knew as much,
too. He remembered that the disap-
pearance of wedding presents was
Something strangely frequent, and that
the contents of clothing in bathrooms
and dress ng-rooms had often fitted I'M
expectedly and to unlikely quarters.
Of course the servants were blamed for
it. They always are when no explaua-
ton occurs. But series of discoveries
that created hushed-up scandals ana
private examinations in the police courts
let the cat out of the bag.
1t was guests and they were OF both
sexes who had done the appropria-
ton. More,etoo, it was not in many