The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1892-06-17
UNDER A dummy"

because the older and more expert
enccd officers were always detailed TO
ferret out those cases
Cne day, while l was meditating II
1t wouldn't pay mo TO 60 to England
and catch MIR Jnck the Ripper was
called into the inner sanctum by our
chief and ordered TO report for duty
on the morrow ut one OF the largest
and most fashionable retail dry
goods stores in the city.
l was there TO see the head OF the
house and from him learned what
was to do.
Although 1t didn't look like job
wherein should run risk OF life or
gaina great reputation. was we'll
| pleased Mt the commission and re-
solved that my part of 1T shouldn't be
failure. Accordingly tho noxt morn
ing found mo in the private Office of
tho grand store having u strictly con-
iidential interview with its senior
partner
/ was informed that in their cloak
department many thefts had recently
taken place and that in spite OF care
full watching there was not the slight
est clue to the thief,
The garments stolen had been fur
trimmed cloaks OF high value and
were all 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 tho many and decidedly pretty
young ladies employed In the depart
mcnt but the firm secuted the thought
that any OF them had anything TO do
with the robberies and gave me to in
fer that tho tho'ts were committed by
professional shoplifters.
| After little moro talk. which
helped mo not at all | was introduced
to tho gentleman Mt tho head OF the
cloak room and left to follow my own
way OF nabbing the culprit
The theits had all. as far rs my
cloak manager knew. been done dur
ing tho busiest part OF the day when
the floor was throngcd with lady shop
pcrs. The handsomcst and most ex-
pcnslve garments were displayed on
the dummies and frequently renewed
each day. for. owing TO their catching
the ladies' eyes by hanging naturally
from the shapcly skeleton forms they
sold much quicker than II left undis.
| tingu;shed among the hundreds OF
others.
Taking my position in the estab-
lishmcnt MS the new floor walker and
being so pointed out 70 the young lady
employees began my rather nncxcit-
ing and too easy task.
watched everybody and every.
thing -noticed that each cloak-ar-
raycd dummy was generally being ex-
nmined by one or moro ndmiring and
enthusiastic female shoppers who not
only used their sparkling eyes but
also their daintily- glosed fingers In
obtaining knowledge OF tho garment
displayed rs n bait for their husbands
hard earned money.
saw many things which aroused
my suspicious and curiosity during
tho dag. and never for moment left
my station-not even for lunch-till
the place was closed for tho night and
all the hands had gone
Then, 10 my surprise and chngrin.
l was informed by tho managor tina,
two valuable cloaks had been stolen
right under my nose.
The Job OF catching the thief wasn't
ms easy ms ] supposed. and | began TO
think / wasn't much of n dc,octIve
after all-at least when there was n
woman In tho ease.
gu. dared not show any signs OF
no, knowing my business and a,sum-
ing mn .all.righr' manner, | told my
cloak man that on tho next day tho
BIRD would DO trapped ms Il always
took n while 10 make observations and
form theories and then 1 ARRANGED IN