The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-10-29
MISS RUBY ST. GILES.

When / received q summons from the
head of the firm of Cash & Brown, dry
goods dealers, caught up my hat with
alacrity, ard FASTENED to their office, with
visions of midnight robberies and secret
places of storage, and you can imagine the
damper it was to me when, on entering
their private office, Mr.. Cash motioned
me to chair, and began in hesitating
way to tell me that there had been some
little irregularity discovered in the lace
departmt Mt, and the firm had thought il
best to consult me.
What clerks have you in that depart
ment ?" asked.
= That is point wanted to touch on,
he said. There are two girls at the coun-
ter where the loss occurred, bat we have
had them for long time, and have felt
all confidence in them. Besides, they are
the ones who have reported the losses
in fact, I've might not have called upon
you jus, at present, had not one of the
girls really made scene over il, and beg
ged US to put detective to work immedi-
ately."
Have your losses been great p | ask
/ ed. ard was informed that the amounts
taken were not large, but the loss was
considerable, as the laces were Of the
finest.
Have you any suspicious ?" l que
ried.
Mr.. Cash looked wise, very wise, in
that knowing way that man least &C
quainted with, or even adapted to detect
i've work, will look if questioned very
closely.
"N-o," he answered, slowly, fitting
! the tips Of his eight fingers carefully to-
ge'her, after having first adjusted his two
thumbs. No, l may say We have not
exactly suspicious, but we naturally feel
that those girls"
The girls have nothing to do with it, =
l declared, stoutly, with an unconscious
gesture OF impauence.
"Oh, very well, sir since you know all
about it, and are to be paid for securing
the thief perhaps you had better attend
to the case yourself"
smiled grimly to myself. The idea Of
detectives being so impulsive as to Of
fend his employer at the start But my
experience has led me to think this is
usually the case. A detective, keen for
any points that may help him solve the
mystery, is sure to put some such gener-
al question to the person interested, and
nine to ten that persons answer will be
so utterly blind and stupid as to call out
some expression of disbelief that had
much more wisely been well kept out Of
sight.
We arranged the business part of the
transaction took up my hat, and Mr..
Cash very erustily nodded me out Of his
office.
had no idea that the shop-girls had
taken the lace. There were points in the
case, as he had given them to me, that
went to prove them innocent. Had l
thought otherwise l should not have TAX
en- up the matter at all. There would
have been something out Of all keeping
something absurd in the fact that q
great, numbering fellow like me should
pry and peep into the lives and ways Of
two pale-faced, wretchec, pinch-waisted
morsels of the human family, such as l
felt sure these girls must be. But | was
sure the girls were not thieves ; still, if |
would work to advantage it was necessa-
nv for me to know their names, and, per-
haps. something Of their lives i had not
gained this information from their en-
ployer before the outburst, and, of course,
would not ask it later. Something must
be done, reflected, as passed out ofthe
private office, and, as the hour was early
and the counters not crowded, strolled
down to. the one in questions
Two pairs ofeyes were turned upon me
with sharp, distrustful gaze, and two
pairs of thin, white hands showed nerv-
ousness, as seated myself on stool and
leaned on the counter. This looked a
little bad, admitted still l had expect
ed to find the girls pale from worry. and
they certainly could not fail Of a degree
of nervousness.
a want" began, trying my best to
appear confused, want to buy a pres
ent, and don't know what to get. IL
came early TO look about Could fellow
get any little lace fixing that would be
nice for an old lady ? For a present for
one g' l stammered.
Then followed discussion-very guar
ded. at first, from the sales-woman, while
the other girls watched with sharp eyes
from the other end of the counter.
That might not overdo the confusion.
I seemed to spend good deal of time in
considering, but, at last. purchased an
exquisite bit" so the girl informed me,
and paid big price for it As far IS |
was concerned it might have been a fish
net for all was able to judge Of the val
ne of lace.
An hour later the lace had been deliy-
cred to Mr.. Cash, and the price replaced
in my pocket
The next day / bought some exquisite
lace for my young sister, AT least, so
told the girls. and they in turn posted
me on the value Of the purchase.
Moreover, in making the selection, l
examined about all OF The very high
priced laces they had, and carefully noted
the patterns. and the relative values
may not be considered a eonncisseur on
laces, but Ieertainly erammed my head
with vast amount Of facts appertsining
,, to the subject, on the morning in question
And more than this, by the meresi
slip of the tongue, / learned the girls
names
/ heard lady iust back Of me remark