Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-04-22

TO ferret out those cases.
Sometimes, through tine aid given them
by wideawake newspaper reporters, these
older foxes were successful and then, ci
course. claimed and took all the credit
for superior skill and shrewdness. lfthey
failed-as they often did-to bag their
game they laid the fault to the papers for
making the affair public and thus giving
the rogues an opportunity to slip away
or cover up their tracks.
One day while was meditatiny il it
wouldn't pay me to 90 to England and
catch Mr.. Jack, the Ripper, l was called
into the inner Sanctum by our chief and
ordered to report for duty on the NOR
row at one of the largest aud most fash
ionablc retail dry. goods stores in the
city.
was there to see the head of the house
sud from him learn what l was to do.
Although it didn't look like Job
wherein | should run risk OF lie or
gain a great reputation, was well
pleased at the commission and resolved
that my part of it shouldn't be failure.
Accordingly the next morning found me
in the private Office of the grand store
having a strictly confidential interview
with It's senior partner.
was Informed that in their cloak de-
partmeut many thefts had recently taken
place, and that in spite Of careful watch
ing there was not the slightest clue to the
thief.
The garments stolen had been fur
trimmed c!oaks of high value, and were
ell taken from the dummies standing
about the floor, on which said articles
were hung to show them to advantage
and also beautify the salesroom.
asked the usual questions concern
ing the many and decidedly pretty young
ladies employed in the department, but
the firm secuted the thought that any of
them had anything to do with the rob-
berries and gave me to infer that the
thefts were committed by professional
shoplifters.
After a little more talk, which helped
me not at all, l was introduced to the
gentleman at the head of the cloak room
and left to follow my own way OF nab
bing the culprit.
The thefts bad all, as far as my cloak
manager knew, been done during the
busiest part of the day when the floor
was thronged with lady shoppers. The
handscmest and most expensive gar
ments were displayed on the dummies
and frequently renewed each day, for,
owing to their catching the ladies' eyes
by hanging naturally from the shapely
skeleton forms. tney sold much quicker
than If left undistinguished among the
hundreds of others.
Taking my position in the establish
oent as the new floor walker and being
so pointed out to the young lady en-
ployes, begaa my rather unexciting and
too easy task.
In nv best suit and necktie, with my
good looks enhanced by tonsorial art
ist. and all smiles and bows, made out
to be tolcrably busy at doing nothing,
and meeting and greeting the stylishly
dressed crowds OF eager shoppers and
directing them, as we'll as my short
knowledge of mercantile business let me,
to the objects of which they were in
search.
also put on airs Of authority for the
benefit of the young sslesladies so they
wouldn't by their manners cause any
su,picion to the party or parties l was
expecting to capture.
watched everybody and everything
-ro,iced that each cIoak-arrayed dummy
was generally being examined by one or
more admiriag and enthusiastic female
shoppers, who not only used their spark
ling eyes, but also their daintily gloved
fingers in obtaining knowledge OF the
garments displayei asa bait for their
husbends' hard earned money.
/ noticed, too, that probably falf ol
tbe shoppes came there without th'