New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-23

tinusI,v hut q few of tho latest Inventions, which
have not yet had time to become widely KNOWN are
recounted here for whom they may chance 70
benefit
Unlike train robbers ana bank burglars, sneak
thieves do not expect to make fortune In single
haul" but are content with comparatively small
profits. Overcoats hats umbrellas and the parlof
brc-a-brac the usual objects which come WIN
III their range. The other day man In the oress
Of decent mechanic called at an uptown fat and.
having learned the owners name from the door,
plato announced that he had come for Mr. Jones"
umbrella, which was to be mended. AS II nap
pened an old umbrella that undoubtedly oid need
repairs was standing in the hall rack and the ser
want who opened the door gave this to the ca!'es
without hesitation. He opened II Ieisure!y 'ooAso
II over critically, and then said:
"rhis amt Mr. Joness umbrella His has du.
ferent handle"
HIS tone was positive. and the servant was new
and unsuspicious. She hunted about and FOUND an
other umbrella, this time handsome one WIG"
was almost new.
"Ah that looks like It," remarked the man has
t,ly and taking 1t in his hands he appeared TO b
making desperate efforts TO open H. IL you heVo
the knack OF twisting two OF the ribs toGethes IN
the proper way, any umbrella may be made 70 LOOK
as II its machinery needed repairs ana before me
girl had collected her wits sufficiently TO object
she had wished TO do So he was out OF the house
and down the street. When Mr.. Jones cane nome
he said a few things which will probably prevent
repetition of that particular swindle.
A CLEVER GANG OF CLOSE OBSERVERS.
certain Brooklyn family has good reason 20
believe itself the victim of number OF attempted
thievlng schemes on the part or ar organized gang
OF men That the different persons who came 70
tho house from time to time confederates was
indicated by the fact that they all possessed tho
same intimate knowledge OF the names and haolss
Of the family, and 1t was only the preternaturaI
shrewdness OF the Irish maid which prevented the
neatly laid plans from becoming anything more
than attempts. The first man who came was tho
bearer OF a letter ostensiby from the master OF
the house Mr.. Smith, who requested that his heavy
overcoat should be given to the caller. In order
that he might take it away for cleaning and re-
pairs Mary IS sceptical by nature. and though 4
was her first experience of the kind she regarded
the alleged tailor with coldness and distrust
"Shure l don't know MIR. Smiths handwritin.
now" she observed, IAN If he was go!n' to send
for his coat the day. he'd be afther tellin' me In
"Oh, I don't suppose he thought anything about
t." replied the man in an offhand way. YOU'RE
perfectly safe in letting me take the coat when I
No said Mary quite mistaken, yell not get
i6n 10 r In me let 4e me know the
fore he snds people here a bs sqn ms
'', Not many DAYS later the second II an came. He
had no letter the uselessness Of that method nav
bIss s gT with Mr smiths umbrella as the leading
theme lie wa, no more successful than his prede-
Sbere was a third call by this time Mary had
grown disTust almost the entire race OF man and
So she merely looked out of a second-story window
Varied Varied She detected the old familiar ring, and
SmY nnd Ee coT oSn IT, The mam
gested that she should try the key once more from
her side. and then. if il would not work she could
throw 1t out Of the window 10 him and he would
see what he could do.
All. but | don't be let have key" returned
Mary, good-humoredIy yet smiling N sarcastic
fashion, which convinced the man or his defeat
The third attack had been successfully routed.
A TRIUMPH OF CIRCUMSPECTION.
II was on the score OF the fourth and last one.
however that Mary won her brightest laurels. II
happened on the first OF this month. when the fam
lily were moving. and at a time when Mrs. Smith
herself was the new house. several blocks away.
arranging such furniture and other effects as had
been moved. Mary was left on guard at tho old
house and she had been alone about half an hour
when there was ring 1T the doorbell On the
steps stood man who announced that Mrs Smith
had sent him from No -. mentioning the address
of the house. to get me piaho EmR ana Two
detail. 1t certainly sounded straight enough. and
under the fnr eowns the Srcs t lesy
the house. But Mary could not shake on her
eved the mans story this time, she fatty refused
to let him have the lamp or the vases When Mrs
SiHed profuseIy for not haying sent the required
articles but said thet previous experiences had
Then YOU didn't let him have them" sasped
Mrs Saith. after she had heard the story. which.
needless say. was entirely TO her
II did not. ma'am," rejoned Mary. with the trt-
umph Of another victory written on her face. How
closely the movements Of the family were watched
may be judged from the fact that the thieves knew
only the number CT the new house. but that
Mrs. Smith there at the time they sent Tor tho
lamp and vases. IL is still n mystery how the man
who called able TO describe accurately the
articles he seeking. and the only possible ex-
planat ton to be that one or the previous Wis
ltors must have caught glimpse of them through
the parlor door.
Only one more specimen OF the sneak theirs In
renuty can be quoted here II two men drive up
your door in Il wagon some day ana Try 10 de-
liver a sofa at your house. prevent them from doing
so AT all costs Their method X to express great
SURPRISE when told that no sofa has been ordered
that mousse and they politely request permission
to leave IL In your parlor little while. until they
can make Inquiries In the nelghborhood and find
out the proper destination II You oblising and
unwary YOU will allow them 10 do this. After half
an hour or so they return, sayirg that they have
found the right place. and thanking YOU for your
courtesy they remove the sofa. After they have
gone YOU find that all the valuable things which
YOU may have had In the parlor have likewise dis
appeared. Then you realize why the sofa Of
such generous dimensions and you make unpeas-
ant remarks about yourself for having allowed the
man who concealed within II such clear and
uninterrupted time In which strip your room and
pack away himself and his booty again. Truly, tho
clsverness of the sneak thief. professional In hio
Ahosa a a thing 10 h. Sarva uah