Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1890-12-04
A BALANCED ACCOUNT.
The Thief's Bill Was Settled with
a Neat Check.

iomanla came under my observation
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.
shrewd and thrifty young client of
mine, who kept a fino establishment
upon one of the principal dry-goods
thoroughfares of the town, retailed
laces and similar ladies' furnishing ma
terials, and had well-selected stock,
which attracted continual run of good
ly customers.
From time to time he missed trifling
articles from the counters, but could
not account for their mysterious disap-
pearance.
He directed his book-keeper to open
actitious account in his ledger to which
he gave the title of "Thiefs Accom- -
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 ''Thief's Account" was regular.
~ kept up for nearly u year, and very
considerable number of items found
their way to the debtor side of it., the
aggregate 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 a long time-despite the most
careful watching of strangers-the &C
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 ne
was greatly astonished and could
scarcely credit it, yet he was satisfied
that this lady had drawn that collar in
to her capacious mutf!
1t had disappeared, at all events. It
might have been accidental-it acas 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-morey by
her highly respected and liberal hus-
hand-could not be a 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
asses.
And three days subsequently, having
thought the matter over, quietly, and
called to mind some cases of so called
kleptomania, 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
i'll afford to thus lose his goods or per-
NIT this style of genteel robbery to go
on unchecked. So he said to his book
keeper:
"Mr. Quill, draw off the 'Thief's Ac-
count and give me a fair copy of it,
"What part sir?"
1.-THE whole
When the clerk handed it to him, he
asked:
How much does it figure up?''
'Rising two hundred dollars, SIR
Tc ha To, H., l..
collar?"
Eyes, sir; ten dollars"
"All right. l 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 overcoat,
he disappeared.
My client had never called at the
house to which he was now destined.
but he had a slight acquaintanc with
the gentleman who resided there.
Mounting the stone steps, he rang
gently, and was admitted.
sis Mr.. O. at home?''
Eyes, SIR" said the servant, showing
the merchant at 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 collar!
11ifo OF ~
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, madam?"
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 a new pattern, but it
is very pretty. have few more like
it, and that is the first one that left my
store, out of late New York invoice. .
"Your store, sir?" she asked.
>s'Yes, madam. That collar was upon
my counter three days ago, am GER
tain"
II think not, sir!"
II am sure Of it, madam. It was
taken away and without being paid for,
too"
What do you mean, sir?' said the
lady, heightsning little in color, and
growing not a little indignant at nv
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
we're in my store, on Tuesday last. I
repeat that it has not been paid for; and
it's not the first article have missed,
in similar way. in the past year. l
know of what speak. / can prove in
court. of justice what have now al
legeda here. And have brought my
bill here for settlement" concluded