Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-11
A BALANCED ACCOUNT.
The Thiefs Bill Was Settled with
a Neat Check.

The following veritable case of KEEP
tomania came under my observation a
few years since, the principal actor in
which was the wife of respectable cit
izen, who resided in fashionable
quarter Of one of our Atlantic cities,
says an ex-attorney in the New York
Weekly.
A shrewd and thrifty young client of
mine, who kept fine establishment
upon one Of the principal dry-goods
thoroughfares of the town, retailed
laces and similar ladies' furnishing ma
terials, and had a well-selected stock,
which attracted continual run of good
ly customers.
From time to time he missed trihing
articles from the counters, but could
not account for their mysterious disap-
pearance.
He directed his book keeper to open a
fictitious account in his ledger, to which
he gave the title of "Thiet's Accom- 4"
to the debit side of which were charged
all articles that were missed-and
which were invariably stolen by some
person or persons who visited the store.
So the 'gnief's Account" was regular
~ kept Rp for nearly ysar, and very
considerable number of items found
their way to the debtor side Of it, the
agG regate value of which had reached
Upwards of two hundred dollars, at the
close Of the first twelve months Of my
clients business.
But, as yet, no clew had been had to
the actual cause of this improbable leak,
and for long time-despite the most
careful watching of strangers-the ac-
count remained open, and increasing,
upon the young merchants books.
One day there entered the store
well-dressed, lady-like person, whom
the store-keeper knew by name, for she
had been there before-who bought
some trihing articles-and while
waiting for the parcel to be made up,
the merchant-who stood a short dis
lance from her-observed a small but
valuable lace collar slipped from the
counter, where there were several paper
boxes of goods open; and though he
was greatly astonished and could
scarcely credit it, yet he was satisfied
that this lady had drawn that collar in
to her capacious muff!
1t had disappeared, at all events. 1t
might have been accidental-it uas SO.
he at first believed; for surely. that
nicely-attired lady, whom he knew
moved in good society, and who was
supplied generously with pin-money by
her highly respected and liberal hus-
band-could not be thief
At night he said to the clerk at the
desk: Charge 'Thiefs Account with one
lace collar-ten dollars" for it had gone,
and this was always the rule in such
cases.
And three days. subsequently, having
thought the matter over, quietly, and
called to mind some cases of so called
kleptomanis, of which he had read and
heard, he concluded that this must be
an instance akin to that disease, which
certain persons are afflicted with, and
which Webster defines to be "a morbid
and irresistible impulse or desire to
steal"
But my client was himself an indus
trious, honest young man, who was not
overburdened with capital; and he could
III afford to thus lose his goods, or per-
NIT this style ofgenteel robbery to 60
on unchecked. So he said to his book
keeper:
''Mr. Quill, draw of the 'Thiers Ac-
count and give me fair copy of it"
What part, sir?"
THE whole"
When the clerk handed it to him, he
asked:
"How much does it figure up9'
Rising two hundred dollars, sir"
us the last item charged-the lace
oollarp"
Eyes, sir; ten dollars"
All right am going uptown,
Quill If any one calls for me, person
ally, say shall be back In an hour"
and, putting on his hat and overcost,
he disappeared
My client had never called at the
house to which he was now destined,
hnA he had q sltxht. ac1nAinAaacs- with.