Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-08-06
UNDER A DUMMY. !"

60 lar GuuKlCS nel lOb 4dtOtSO AAS
with frst-class mur6er or robbery,
because the older and more expert
euced officers were always detailed TO
ferret out those cases.
One day while / was meditating if
it wouldn't pay me 10 go to England
and catch Mr. Jack the Ripper | was
called into the inner sanetum by our
chief and ordered TO report for duty
on the morrow at one Of the largest
and most fashionable retail dry
goods stores in the city.
was there to see the head OF the
house and from him learned what |
was to do.
Although 1t didn't look like a Job
wherein should run a risk of life or
gain great reputation l was well
pleased at the commission and re-
solved that my part of it shouldn't be
a failure. Accordingly the next morn
ing found me in the private Office OF
tae grand store having 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 nigh 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
saiesroom.
! asked the usual questions concern
ing the many and decidedly pretty
young ladies employed in the depart
ment but the firm secuted the thought
that any of them had anything to do
with the robberies and gave me to in
fer that the thefts were committed by
professional shoplifters.
After a little more talk. which
helped me not at all Twas introduced
10 the gentleman at the head of the
cloak room and left to follow my own
way of nabbing the culprit
The thefts had all as far as my
cloak manager knew. been done dur
ing the busiest part of the day when
the floor was thronged with lady shop
pers. The handsomest and most eN-
pensive garments 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 thesJJ
sold much quicker than if left undis
tinguished among the hundreds O.
others.
Taking my position in the estab
tishment as the new floor walker anC
being SO pointed out to the young lady
employees l began my rather unexcit
ing and too easy task.
watched everybody and every
thing-nottced that each cloak ar
rayed dummy was generally being ex
amined by one or more admiring ant
enthusiastic female shoppers. who no
only used their sparkling eyes blu
also their daintily- gloved fingers il
obtaining knowledge of the carmen
displayed as bait for their husband
hard earned money.
| saw many things which arouset
M suspicious and curiosity during
ahe day. and never for moment lief
my station-not even for lunch-til
the place was closed for the night am
al the hands had gone.
Then, to my surprise and chagrin
was informed by the manager tina
two valuable cloaks had been stole
right under my nose.
The job of catching the thief WASH
as easy as ] supposed, and 1 began t
think | wasn't much of a detective
after all-at least when there was
woman in the case.
But dared not show any signs {
not knowing my business, and assum
ing an albright manner l told m
cloak man that on the next day tn
BIRD would be trapped as it Away
look while to make observations an
form theories. and then l arranged t
meet him on the floor early in tn
coming morning before any OF tn
employees arrived.
Before ! went to sleep that night
laid my plans.
In the morning bright and early
was around and with the manage
alone went to the cloak floor to max
the needful preparations to di5tiuguis
or extinguish myself
Selecting one OF the largest dummit
and seeing that the brown muslin Dire!
over its skeleton frame was in goC
order and reached to the floor, l tol
my astonished dry goods man that
intended TO hide under it and thei
lie in wait for the thief who | meal
10 nab When the Cloak over me W;
removed being of course, able
know that By the light OF the sale
room shining through the thin musl
covering
He smiled at the queerness OF Il
proceedings. but told me to go ahei
and promised to be on hand in case
wanted assistance
Eutting on the dummy an eiega
cloak for bait he helped me TO hi
securely under it. and wishing u
success he left me with laug
which. must say didn't feel ii
,sch ing
Soon Tneard the $ ore people tram