Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-11
le gertleman who resided there.

gently, and was admitted.
SIS Mr.. O. at homer
Eyes, SIR" said the servant, showing
the merchantat once into the parlor,
where, after shaking hands with the
gentleman of the house, he was just
about to open up his business with him,
when he heard light football, and i'm
mediately his wife entered the apart
ment, to accompany her husband down
to dinner-where she was evidently as
tonished to meet the dry-goods dealer,
who as quickly observed that the lady
he remembered had upon her neck his
missing ten-dollar lace collarI
"My wife, sir,' said the gentleman,
presenting her to my client, who said:
Eyes, sir-I have met the lady be-
FORE" Then to her he added: "How do
you like your new collar. MADAME"
THE what, sir?" she replied, coolly.
"Your new lace collar, madam. 1t IS
very becoming, certainly"
"This?" she said
:'Yes, madam"
"Oh, it's not very new, though"
mo? 1t Is not new pattern, but it
is very pretty. have a few more like
it, and that is the first one that left my
store. out of late New York invoice"
your store, sirP" she asked.
"Yes, madam. That collar was upon
my counter three days ago, am GER
tain"
''I think not, sir!"
81 am sure of it. madam. It was
taken away and without being paid for,
too"
"What do you mean, sir?" said the
lady, frightening little in color, and
growing not a little indignant at my
clients GOODNESS and seeming effrontery.
Just what have said, madam. That
lace collar on your neck was taken from
my counter on the day and hour you
were in my store, on Tuesday last.
repeat that it has not been paid for; and
it is not the first article have missed,
in a similar way, in the past year. l
know of what 1 speak. 1 can prove in 4
court of justice what 1 have now al
legged here. And I have brought my
bill here for settlement" concluded
the merchant. handing the ''Thief's Ac-
count" that Quill had prepared, to her
astounded husband.
This seems to me to be most extra
judicial proceeding, sir" began the hus-
band. what are all these items
here@'
"Your lady, possibly, can explain
them. sir. can't"
hat-how-when," muttered
the man, confusedly.
81 can't answer that, SIR" continued
my client noticing the sudden disap-
pearance of the lady from the unpleas-
ant scene. "All I know is that these
articles have mysteriously disappeared
from time to time from my counters,
and that I have found the thief who
stole the ten-dollar lace collar; who was
seen to take it by myself and another
from my store. This party must pay
my bill, here, or 1 shall Immediately
take legal measures to collect all can
of this amount"
But this bill amounts to two hum
dred and eight dollars, SIR"
docs it? l did not notice the sum
total precisely" said the merchant, in
differently looking it over. "Yes,
you're correct sir; it is two hundred
and eight"
"You don't want me to pay--that is.
you don't expect me to pay for other
peoples"
DO you know these other people
you speak of, sir9"
mo. But"
Neither do l. do not know one of
the offenders. Will you give me your
check, sir, for this bill? 1t is your mis-
fortune to have such wife; but can
not suffer for it"
'You don't pretend that one person
took all these goods, do you?"
81 pretend nothing; only have sim
ply endeavored to state the matter IS
clearly and politely as the circu.a-
stances of the case will warrant You
do not care to have any publicity given
to this affair, and am quite willing TO
avoid it, 1 assure you. Now, sir, VIII
you accommodate me with your chec.l2
And will receipt the BILL" concluded
my client, rising.
"How much did you say?"
Two hundred and eight dollars"
The man went to his desk, wrote hur-
riedly for moment, and said:
Here it is. Let this be the last of it,
sir"
with all my heart" said my client.
"Good-day, SIR"
The lace merchant returned to his
store within the hour.
Has any one called to see me, Mr..
Quill?" he asked.
mo, sir"
Then handing him the check, ne
said, pleasantly:
Here, Quill; take this, and balar ce
the 'Thiefs Account Is the amount
correctP"
Exactly, sir-to dollar"
Cali right We shall not be troubled
with one Of our old customers any more,
think"
And the fictitious account in the
ledger was forthwith closed, satisfac-
torily to the merchant who gave nae
the above facts afterwards, but without
mentioning the name of the unfortunate
kleptomaniac-
AFFECTING INCIDENT.