The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-05
The Other Ha1f.

don't want that l said and l looked at
her for a moment. and then moved away.
She followed me cher face crimson) and
thanked me effusively. L don't know who
you are she said, but you have saved me
from becoming a thief. l was crazy for that
pin, but had not the money to get it, and 1
should not have fingered around and looked
at it l did
Every detective has to be especially care
ful about guarding her identity, because once
her face and figure become familiar to the
clan her usefulness is gone. My name Is
never called in the store. and If a friend of
mine should come and ask for me. they
are careful to make sure that she is really
friend before she is granted an interview.
All sorts of preteXts are resorted to by those
who wish to discover the detectives iden-
tity. One of a clan of deceiyers will pre-
tend to have lost her purse. and ask to con-
suit with the detective about it. Another
Will come with some cock-and- bull story
about some relative being i'll and having sen,
for me in a hurry.
One day, when 1 was working in a store
where arrests were frequent a woman sent
In an urgent request that l would see her
upon important business. l found her close
ly valed, and, although neatly dressed.
could see enough of her face to feel a sort Of
and stated that she had reason to suspect a
person living in the same apartment house
WIN her or having designs on some yaIu-
aoIes that she had in her fiat She was
anxious TO get woman detective TO stay a
night or two with her, and offered good nav
for the service. She was afraid to stay alone
L not only refused the offer then, but re-
lused on Two subsequent occasions to go to
this same address on the same errand. Some
no 10 OF Fl
the matter. and the address proved to be the
RENDEZVOUS OF gang of notorious outlaws
river thieves, shoplifters etc. The plan was
never revealed; but there is no telling what
would have happened If l had gone there 7
was causing the arrest Of too manv crooked
dealers to suit this gang, and SO was to nav
the penalty"
We have papers in that desk there that
the parties concerned would give thousands
OF dollars to get hold Of" said the confiden
tial employe of an exclusive shop when asked
as to her experiences. 1.-THE papers are all
dated and classified and contain. the ad
dresses and signed confessions of the shoD-
filters whose transactions with this particu
lar house are closed forever but who ara
swimming along in undisturbed serenity so
lar as the pubic Is concerned. Because NJ
the social standing Of some, the integrity of
posed to have at command, their Sins vera
as great surprise to Us as they would ha
to their personal friends were the facts made
public. A high-elass store had rather lose
hundreds of dollars than become associated
In the public mind with police court trials and
sensational arrests. and the detective tn
serve them efficiently must not only be cau-
tious and discreet but must never make an
accusation unless so absolutely sure of her
ground that the goods can be secured quietly
on the spot.
Some of the shoplifters wear long capes.
falling to the hip, and the only way I can
tell they are working is by the movement of
their arms. which shows from the back.
ihelr outer skirts are made with long Sits
down either side, which slits are concealed
by the gathers, but admit to the pockets In
the kick or working skirt worn beneath
oftentimes this kick is made of the thinneyt
openwork material, so as to secure lightness
IN weight. 1t can hold nearly a dozen pieces
of silk, and the shoplifter nearly always has
a cab in waiting"
Ihe profession Of a detective is an odd
one for woman, and only an extraordi-
nary woman could follow it successfully ;"
said the manager of a large department store
The woman who can succeed at it, who
makes few blunders and has tact as well as
the rugged strength to hold out under the
strain. Is valued and we'll paid, for there