Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-23

A young woman with a pretty face
pressed into crowd of bargain hunters
| gathered about the silver counter of a
| Sixth avenue dry goods store on a recent
| afternoon. She elbowed her way into the
| middle Of the throng, but got no further.
Perhaps the lines in front of her sycre too
! compact, or she was tired from tho cycr-
| ton Of getting so far At all events she
remained stationary.
A deinurc faced young woman who
walked about the outside Of the circle of
| shoppers, apparently aimlessly and with
| her eyes fixed on the floor q good part of
the time seemed to take an interest in
| the other after several chances in her direc-
! ton. The dcmure woman kept her eyes
| on the pretty woman, and after awhile
she elbowed her way into the crowd, so
| that presently sho was right behind the
| object Of her attentions. When the pretty
woman moved, the demure woman kept
step with her and showed the utmost Gu
riosity about her actions, peering over her
shoulder when she could do SO unobservcd
and at other times watching her arms and
hands as closely as possible.
Suddenly shopper directly in front of
the pretty woman screamed and showed
an inclination to faint.
Somebody hos stolen my pursep she
cried
The shoppers and clerks crowded around.
The former made examinations to deter
mine whether their OVID purses were safe,
and several declared Historically that
they, too, had been robbed. Some frighten-
cd women forgot all about the bargains
and hurried away. The others, in whom
curiosity was stronger than fear, piled the
victims with questions. Only two in the
crowd did not seem greatly interested
They were the pretty woman and the de-
| mure woman. The former was q little
pale, but otherwise she appeared calm.
She moved slowly and deliberately toward
tho edge Of the crowd, but as she got free
she stepped moro quickly. Just then she
felt hand upon her shoulder, and turn
| ing quickly locked into tho face Of her fol-
| lower
"I'll trouble you for those pocketbooks,
said the demure woman quietly.
"What do you mean?" demanded the
pretty one, not Indignantly, but in appar-
ent surprise.
"Ill trouble you to step into the Office,
said tho demure woman. II will explain
there"
The pretty woman said nothing, but as
Su1neu ID puZZleu eSprcSSlOn.
Come. I'm the store detective" insist
ed the demure woman.
II am sure l have done nothing, but
will go with you," was the reply.
This conversation had been carried on
so quietly that none Of the excited shop
pers around them heard it, and when the
two walked away they were not noticed.
They went straight to one of the executive
IN 81, a Il.
Now, there's no use Of your playing it
any longer. l saw you take one purse
anyhow, and you've got them all If you
put me to tho trouble of finding them, I'll
make it hot for you"
Il really think you must be crazy" re,
turned the accused woman calmly. 81
know nothing about anybody's pocket
book but my own"
Tho detective started in methodcally to
search her. She began by feeling the big,
pulled sleeves and worked down. She
found nothing She stood back and look
ed sharply at the suspect. The latter re-
turned her gaze in the frankest fashion,
and, except that she seemed annoyed, there
was nothing to arouse suspicion about her
The detective began her search all over
again. Again she was foiled, and her SEN
for damages filled her brain At that mo-
ment the accused moved uneasily, and that
directed the detectives eyes to her feet
There lay a well filled purse, and the wom-
ans feet were making futile efforts to poke
it under her skirts.
The detective caught her by the arm
and gave her quick shove. Then two
more pockctbooks were exposed Evident
lv hn h,1 eli
down her dress and trusted to luck to re-
cover them later
In the meantime the victims had been
making complaints to the superintendent,
and the latter understood the situation
when the detective, flushed with triumph,
marched in with the thief and the pocket
books. Briefly tho detective related her
experience, while the owners of the proper
ty INDUCED in EXPLANATIONS of wonder and
praise.
properly punished, said one to the super
intendent.
"Of course" chorused the other two.
Nothing would please me better" said
the superintendent graycly. "Of course
you ladies will appear to testify against
herr"
Then one said:
My husband would never allow me to
enter police court.
Certainly not" said another. "Why,
the reporters would write horrid stories
about us.
II wouldn't have my name connected
with such an affair for a dozen purses,
said the third.
The thief smiled, the detective groaned
and the superintendent looked sarcastic.
But think of your duty to the public"
he siad. "You don't want this woman to
be let loose in the community, do your"
Your detective can prosecute her, " re-
piled one of the women.
"Wc have tried it over and over again."
replied the superintendent, but it is inn
possible 10 get jury to convict woman,
especially if she is pretty, upon the uncor-
roborated evidence of paid detective"
The women shrugged their shoulders,
but no amount of argument could induce |
them to change their minds. They walked |
out sheepishly, while the thief grinned.
You're dead right" she said, as they |
disappeared, dropping all further attempt |
at Disgusting her character. MY face is