Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-06

WIleu d WOIIdhS uPuu Ii ldlu uuOu HeI
'arm-a small hand in an unobtrusive tan
colored glove touching her velvet sleeve
lightly: .r .-
You have goods belonging to the house
that you have neglected to pay for. Come
back with me a moment says the wo-
man detective (for such she prove to be).
Instantly the luxurious customer has
summoned her best brow-beating
to put down interference.
81 do. you know who l amp she said
loftily. q have an account at this store
and am often given first views of their
newest importations. This is nonsense
and she made as though to enter the car
riage, -. .
Il must insist that you come back"
was the quiet rejoinder, but this time the
tan-gloved fingers were laid on the lady's
slender wrist with something of warning
and authority.
Well! It's a bother; but certainly I'll
go back said the lady with abrupt
change of mien. I'm only sorry for o
that you should make such a mistake.
You work here for your living, I suppose
and the house will not be likely to over
look an insult to me-
walk ahead of me please. I don't care
to haye people notice u.s." was the pro-
fessional woman's only reply, and they
made their way through the busy store to
the private apartment on the second floor.
where business of this nature was habit
ually transacted.
Ssh declared to the last that she had
nothing, that the house would have to pay
for my blunder, and that l would rue the
day when l selected her for a VICTIM
the detective told the manager afterward
in making her report Of this important
customers case. 'She was so Stiffnecked
and persistent, and took SO long to weak
| en-, that, if l had not had my eye on her
every minute from the instant she took
| the goods l would almost have believed
she had thrown them away and really did
not have them on her person. But l stood
by my guns and finally convinced her
that | had seen her put two lace handker-
chiefs in her bodice and tuck the gloves
in her muff. We never search any one
without their consent, or without wit
nesses I told her, and it is the wish OF
the house that matters Of this sort pc
conducted as secretly as possible-simply
give back the goods and you &c scot free,
on condition that your account here is
closed at once and you never enter the
door again. Persist in refusing and the
courts and publicity will be the result.
Then she handed out the stuff. said she
wanted the gloves (three pairs) for a
present for her maid, who was a great
comfort to her, and intended making
gifts of the handkerchief. h didn't
know why she took the things except that
it was easy to take them, and that she
had taken several articles before-Wh1ch
fact I knew or suspected without being
absolutely certain.
we have papers in that desk there that
the parties concerned would give thous-
ands of dollars to get hold Of" said the
confidential employee of this exclusive
shop when asked as to her experiences:
1.-The papers are all dated and classified.
and contain the addresses and signed
confessions of the shOplifters whose tran
oont;oru with this articu1ar hOllSp Are
closed forever, but who are swimming
along in undisturbed serenity SO far as
the public is concerned. Because of the
social standing of some, the integrity of
their relatives, and the money they are
supposed to nave at command, their slips
were as a great a surprise to us as they
would be to their personal friends were
the facts made public. A high-class store
would rather lose hundreds of dollars
than become associated in the public mind
with police court trials and sensational
arrests, and the detective, to serve them
efficiently, must not only be cautious and
discreet. but must never make an accusa-
ton unless so absolutely sure of her
ground that the goods can be secured
quietly on the spot.
Il seldom arrest anybody in the store,
but wait until they are clear of the doors,
so that if they offer resistance or make a
scene, it won't attract attention, and !
never bother with any theft whatever
that does not amount in value to 50 or "a.
1t does not pay, and besides the person
who will take these small matters like
that n is not interfered with will be
certain to come in another line and take
something more valuable. 1t is the thieves
who operate on a large scale that l have
especially to watch for. Jewish and 1tal-
ian women particularly are adopts at the
trade. and a number who have become toe
I we'll known in London or Paris or other
foreign centers come here to pursue the
game. These work regularly on commits
sion and some are VIGOROUSLY success
full. l have known them to take whole
pieces of silk, worth IS, IS, or $40 a yard,
in quantity so heavy that a strong mar
could scarcely carry it without effort, and
vet they would walk along as naturally
as possible. Strong, plant women they
are and with wonderful nerve.
Some of them wear long capes, falling
to the hip, and the only way l can tell
they are working is by the movement OF
their arms, which shows from the back
Their outer skirts are made with lone
| Sits down either side, which Sits are con-
cealed by the gathers but admit to the
pockets in the kick or working skirt
worn beneath. Oftentimes this kick is
lmade of the thinnest openwork material
SO as to secure lightness in weight. 1t
can hold nearly a dozen pieces of silk and
the shoplifter always has a cab in wait
ing.
"Other professional shoplifters, and the
ordinary shoppers who steal so frequent
ly that they become adopts, carry off val
Vi bles under their arms. By holding the
arm in a certain position really import
ant theft can be made. Handsome rem
nants of costly silk; folded pieces of sash
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