The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-05-28
PETTY TH|EV|Nc
LIGHT CUSTOMERS AN
NoY GROCERY MEN.
IT'S EASY PICKING IN BUTTE
etorekeeper Spins a Yarn About His
Troubles-Free Lunch Fiends Hold
High Carnival and Even the Kids
Take Hand in the Game Of Getting
Something tor Nothing.

zone of the funniest things that ever
came under my personal notice as a store
keeper happened right here in Butte"
said one of the best known grocery men
of the city, to an Inter Mountain report
er. There was an old lady, fat. good
natured, and with money to pay her way,
who used to call into the store almost
every day for a small bill of goods We
had missed many small articles from the
shelves, but for long time we had not
located the thief.
Finally. when 'Auntie' was in on one
of her periodical visits. one Of the clerks
happened to notice her standing near a
basket Of eggs, and transferring the eggs
t. little belt or pouch she wore un-
der her apron. She was industriously
doing nothing else, and appeared as cool
and unconcerned as a glacier. The clerk
waited until she had the pocket Allied
with Decent eggs, and then with we'll
simulated rush to fill another order,
stumbled against her and broke the eggs
with thrilling crash. He apologized,
Of course, even while he was choking
with laughter.
Caught in the Act.
"The old lady's face was q sight. She
turned all colors of the rainbow, and
made Decline for the door. But before
she reached safety, the crushed eggs
had begun to leave tell tale trail behind
her, and one could have followed her
to her home by the eggs on the walk.
Whether she ever suspected the ruse
that led to her detection. I do not know.
AT any rate. she was back the next day.
and has been a regular patron Of the
store ever since. though I believe she
has given up her old habits. We never
even called her attention to having
caught her in her arts. Perhaps she was
like some others-counting on her sex
protect her.
"What have said may be taken as a
fair sample of the way people have
of getting things for nothing. If one
could see the inside of the pockets Of
some of the habitual visitors at the fruit
and grocery stores. they would be a
veritable revelation as to the amount of
such petty thievery.
1T is not confined to those who have
not the money to pay for their goods. In
'fact, 1t is the testimony of merchants
that it is those who have money enough
to supposedly place them above the sus-
picion Of stealing, that make the great
est trouble. And 1t Is the grown peo-
pie rather than the children. who lead
in the art Of getting something for MOTH
ing.
| Most of the stores that make street
displays have some interesting tales OF
the wiles of their thievins visitors. One
of the merchants told Of two clever
youngsters who got into riotous dispute
in front of his store, the row ending
On one of the boys selling the others
cap and throwing it over on the pile of
displayed goods. In we'll simulated an
ger the injured party rescued his prop
erty. and somehow can Of fine pre-
serves managed to stick to his fingers
lMnder the cap as he darted away. A
convenient alley and nimble heels saved
him from successful pursuit.
An Old Confidence Game.
"a favorite way is to select place
with two doors. and then the thief can
pass from one to the other, without run
ming the gauntlet of the watchers, who
IRE usually near one of the doors. Dur
Ding the past winter. there was one little
girl who did quite thriving business