The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-05
GENTEEL THIEVES.
Their Depredations Upon a News
Stand in Chicago.

genial proprietor Of a downtown news
store, who had an unaccountable mania
Tor stealing copies of the Detroit Free Press.
L never could understand it, He was Young
and well-to-do, being employed as treas
urer with big firm in the city. He came
In often, and bought books and periodicals,
but once week, regularly, he would man
age to slide a copy of that Detroit paper
into his pocket, and slip out without paving
Tor it, Finally, told him one day that his
trick was getting to be painfully monoto-
nous. and that he had better take a tumble
to himself as the newsboys say. He was
very indignant, of course, but | quietly adj
vised him not to discuss the matter, but let
II drop without any trouble, and he took
my advice.
81 had lady customer who noticed in
variably carried a small square parcel when
she called. For long time | attached no
significance whatever to that little circum-
stance. but it had a wonderful meaning
when L came to fathom it. You see, she
would manage to lay this parcel on top of
some coveted volume, then 90 on searching
for another, for which she would pay /
would wrap up her purchase and hand it
over the counter to her. She would chat
awhile, then take up her parcels. neatly
causing the under book to stick to her
fingers, put the whole lot under her arm.
and walk nonchalantly out. Other women
and men have practiced the same trick, and
IN this way have lost 500 worth of fine
books.
Suppose l had said to the lady, Excuse
me, madam, you have one book too many
there She would have been ready with
this, oh, beg pardon; did not notice that
L caught up the book with the rest
Then l would have been floored, and
accused of insulting a customer.
MANY men and woman Gonna in apd fool
around, looking over books and magazines
and periodicals, and always try TO make
them feel at home. They usually go around
without EXPERIMENTATION to anybody. But
II l once notice that a person keeps glanc-
ing at me furtively from time to time, at
once suspect that he is up to some dishonest
trick and watch him out Of the corner of
my eye.
"A certain man used to come here regu-
larry for copy of the Irish World and one
or two other papers. One day he practic ID
a little slight-of-hand and put a London
Times into his pocket with the rest. Now. I
have become so familiar with the peculiar
tint Of the different papers that can name
them almost by seeing the margin and
nothing else. In this way l saw that my
customer had quickly helped himself to a
London Times. When he handed me the
money for the other papers, | coolly took
out the pay for the extra one.
He grew as red in the face as beef
steak.
You've charged me too much; there's
some mistake here he stammered.
No mistake at all, SIR said T. You
have London Times in your pocket there,
and simply included that in your BILL
lie insisted that it was all a mistake.
and went away looking very sheepish.
lost him for customer, as you may i'm
agine.
lone day a handsomely dressed chap
sauntered in, and rummaged among the
books long time. l became suspicious of
his actions, and eyed him closely He at
length got paper-bound novel into his
overcoat pocket and started out
'Good-day,' said he, in friendly tone.
Just moment said l. Before you
go be kind enough to take that book out of
your pocket and leave it behind
The fellow fired up with show of in
dignation, but soon disgorged and sneaked
sadly out. He was most disgusting look
ing spectacle"
A young man ct one of the hotel news
stands related similar experiences.
There was well-dressed man" said he.
who frequented the bucket-shops, and for
long time managed to get his morning
papers and his cigars from me without pay
ing for them. His plan for stealing papers
was simple one. He would step up like
any passing caller and pick up a paper.
glance over it, and lay it down again with
out purchasing. He became so regular in
this proceeding that began to watch him
| discovered that instead of one he always
picked up two papers, and while pretending
to read, slyly folded the copy nearest him
self, using the second as a SHIELD against de-
lection, and slipped it into his pocket Then
he would walk unconcernedly away On
the top OF the cigar case | keep a tiny pair
OF scales for weighing letters and papers of
guests and customers who buy postage
stamps. Near the scales l keep several
open boxes of cigars displayed Mr.. Bucket
Shop made it practice to toy with the
scales almost daily until at length l found
out he was 'collaring' my cigars two or
three at time.
"One day I said to the bucket-shop man:
You come to the private office with me for
minute He did 50. | told him what |
knew, and that he must settle or | would
send for the police. He stormed around.
but finally acknowledged t. the papers, but
held to his denial as TO the cigars. The big
hotel porter went to the central station and
brought a col0red detective. This made
Mr.. Bucket-Shop more furious than ever.
He said he would not be arrested by n
'nigger,' and that the whole thing was
put up job and an outrage. But when he
saw that bluff wouldn't win, and to avoid
scandal, he settled on the basis of 81 for
his morning papers and S. for his cigars
Another man who worked the news
stand was a prominent guest of the hotel.
His scheme was holder one He considered
himself of sufficient Importance to pass
along. grab a Harper'S, a Puck and a
Popular Monthly and carry them off to
the dining-room, invariably forgetting to
pay. l kept tab on him and put the bill in
at the hotel office. When he came to settle
and saw that / had beat him at his own
game, he felt like tearing the roof off the
house. He said he would stop there no
more and would coax away trade. But in
due time he returned smiling and pleasant
and ran up S25 cigar bill with me. He
cautioned me particularly not to send the
cigar bill to the hotel Office, as he would
settle with ME personally. Do you catch on
to his subtle schemel He was determined
to do me- One day he waited round till [
went off watch, and then went to the hotel
cashier to pay his bill and leave before |
could get back. But was ahead of him
again. l had quietly left my bill at the
office, and he had it to pay as before. But
sayl If he didn't kick up fuss that time,
you never heard one! He has not been
back to the house since"
Where Shall We Summer 1t?
This is an important question, both to the in
valid and pleasure seeker.
RoWden Iithia C1eor1ia'S JyonderfiI1 ATinara1