The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-01-29

Hb lOllOWlHB NcTlbdUlc@CdS6 Oh 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
Week.
A shrewd and thrifty young client of
mine, who kept fino establishment
upon one Of the principal dry-goods
thoroughfares Of the town. retailed
aces and similar ladies' furnishing ma
terials, and had well-selected stock,
-whfch attracted a 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.
lie directed his book keeper to open
fictitious account in his ledger, to which
he gave the title OF ssThief's Accoun =
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 'sFhiefs Account was regular
kept up for nearly y Year, and a 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 thisunprofitable leak,
and for a long time despite the most
careful watching of strangers-the ac-
count remained open, and increasing,
upon the young merchants books &c.
One day there entered the store a
well-dressed, lady-like person, whom
the store-keeper knew by name, for she
had been there before-who bought
some trifling articles-and while
waiting for the parcel to be made up.
the merchant-who stood short dis
lance from her-observed. small but
valuable lace cellar 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 accidentally soas 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 Thief's 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
lkleptomania, 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 BIO "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-
init this style of genteel robbery to go
on unchecked. So he said to his book
keepers:
''Mr. Quill, draw off the sThief's Ac-
count and give me a fair, copy Of it"
What part sir?"
"The whole"
When the clerk handed it to him, he
asked:
'How much does 1t figure up%'
Rising two hundred dollars, SIR
rs the last item charged-the lace
collar?"
Yes, sir; ten dollars"
.s'All right / am going uptown,
Quill II any one calls for me, person
ally, say | shall be back in an hour.p
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 acquain lance with
the gentleman who resided there.
Mounting the stone steps. he rang
gently, and was admitted.
rs Mr.. O. at home?'
"Yes, SIR" said the servant, showing
the merchant at once into the parlor,
where, after shaking hands with the
VI buc HouScs n0 Wdo Juou
about to open up his business with him,
when he heard light football, and inn
mediately his vito entered the apart
ment to, accompany her husband down
70 dinner-where she was evidently as
tonished to meet the dry-goods dealeg,
who as quickly observed that the lady
he remembered had upon her neck his
missing ten-dollar lace collar!
- My wife, SIR said the gentleman,
presenting her to my client, who said;
Yes, sir--I have met the lady be-
lore Then to her he added: "How do
you like your new collar, madam"
The what, STRIP she replied, coolly.
Your new lace collar, madarfE 1t is
very becoming, certainly"
fhis?" she said.
.Yes, madam
oh, it'ssnot very new, though.
No? 1t is not anew pattern, but 1t
'isvery pretty. have a Few more like
~, and that is the first one that left my
#. STORE out Of late New York invoice.
Your Store, sir?" she asked.
Yes, madam. That collar was upon
tain
u think not, sirl"
= am sure q II madam. y Wa