Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-04-30

'AOai, as wen as my AnOrt
knowledge of mercantile business let me.
to the objects of which they were in
search
l also put on airs Of authority for the
benefit Of the young salesladies so they
Nou!dn' t By their manners cause anv
-uspicion to the party or parties l was
expecting TO capture.
| watched everybody aud everything
noticed that each cloak -arraved dummy
vas generally being examined by one or
more admiring and enthusiastic female
>hoppers, who not only used their spark
ing eyes, but also their daintily gloved
fingers IN obtaining knowledge of the
garments displayed as bait fer. their
husbands hard earned money.
noticed, too, that probably talf of
The shoppers came there without the
(aintest idea of buying-merely to enjoy
the intoxlcation of hunting for bargains
and giving the polite and attentive sales
i'llcs as much trouble as possible.
saw many more things which arou sed
my suspicious and curiosity during the
lay and | never for a moment left my
tation-not even for lunch-till the
,lace was closed for the night and all
The hands had gone.
Then, to my surprise and chag,in,
was informed by the manager that two
valuable cloaks had been stolen right
under my nose.
The job OF catching the thief wasn't
as easy as ! supposed and l began TO
thin> ] wasn't much Of detective, after
all-at least, when there was a womaK
in the case.
But dared not show any signs of not
knowing my business, and assuming al
''hl right manner, l told my cloak
man that on the next day the bird would
be trapped, as it always took while to
make observations and form theories, and
then arranged to meet HIM on the floor
early in the coming morning before any
of the employees arrived.
Before went to sleep that night
laid my plans.
In the morning bright and early | was
around and with the manager alone went
on the cloak floor to make the needful pre-
parations to distinguish or extinguish
myself
Selecting one Of the largest dummies
and seeing that the brown muslin dress
over its skeleton frame was in good or
der an reached to the floor, l told my
astonishcd dry goods man that intended
to hide under it and there lie in wait for
the thief, whom l meant to nab when the
cloak over me was removed, being, OF
course, able to know that by the light OF
the salesroom shining through the thin
muslin covering.
He smiled at the queesness of the pro-
ceeding, but told me to go< ehead and
promised to be on haud 10 case wanted
assistance.
Putting on the dummy IAN elegant
cloak for bait, he helped meeo hide Sc.
curely under it, and, wishing me success
he left me with laugh which, must
say, didn't eellike echoing.
Soon l heard the store people tramp
ing in and the young salesladies trip
ping by me and chatting gaily as they laie
aside their wraps and hats preparatory
to commencing the labors OF the day.
They seemed immensely merry ove1
something very funny, aud their peals O.
musical laughter sounded sweet to m,
eager ears until, alas, sadly discovered
that I, the new floor walker, was the sub
iect of their witticisms and ridicue.
How wanted to suddenly pop on
from my ignoble hiding place an
squclch them rs they deserved, but th
certainty of only making myself NOR
ridiculous and being met with redouble'
laughter kept me in my mean and un
happy position-under female skirt.
By and by, and greatly to my mind
relief, the smart remarks followed b
Ieals Of merriment gave way TO the sobe
hum and hustle Of business.
For hours | sat II my cramped and ur
comfortable hiding place, feeling like (
fool. and, no doubt, looking like one
Crafty excited shoppers brushed agains
the dummy, beneath which bigge
dummy squat.ed aud several times nearl
knocked 1t over, so had plenty of OF
| cupation in holding i. down. Once tn
cold sweat cane on. all over me and II
hair stood up straight when some or
tried 10 lift my strange tent from Il
floor and expose the "handsome ne