Chicago eagle., 1902-03-15
HER FIRST CLUE
0HOU. a detective!"

w The superintendent of large
- department store scanned close.
~ the dainty little woman before him.
do you doubt the chiefs state
mentr she asked.
mo, not that; but I was expecting
a large. strong and serious woman"
II am neither weak nor frivolous"
came the answer, rs the petite figure
Strengthened to Its fullest height, while
fire flashed from the large brown eyes
that O moment before had smiled o
friendly greeting.
Mr.. Hale laughed heartily. exclaim.
ing: II see my error and ! beg your
pardon. Let us get to work. You un-
derstand the matter, I presume--O Sc.
ries Of thefts In our cloak department;
our own men being bafiled, l privately
asked Chief Morse to aid me. In what
capacity do you Gomez"
''As salcswoman. Is anyone suspect
ed!"
II am sorry to say yes" replied MIR.
Hale, taking letter from bis desk.
"Some time ago received this anony.
nous letter which tells me the tl0Or
walker will bear watching. Mr.. Bruce
IL q fine fellow. He came to US. high
school graduate. fourteen years ago.
lie was ambitious. and soon jumped
over the counter. a floor walker. and at
times we have sent him abroad as buy
cr. Indeed, we were considering max.
ing this position permanent one when
this trouble developed; but 1t IL certain
Mr.. Bruce In action, looks and talk Is
Of late u wonderfully changed man, We
were compelled to prefer another"
II see. am ready now to be enroll
ed as an employe, but l want this let
ter. l shall return It, Of course"
Her appearance us salcswOman In
the clOak department was a surprise,
for her personality astounded her assO-
ciatcs, us with even Il first critical
glance came an Impression OF her eX.
Qulsltc dalntincss ana true refinement
Her 30 years We're to her youth. SO
lightly they told on her.
She was clad In black, from which
all Inferred the recent death Of u rela.
tiOn had forced her to become bread
winner.
But the sprightly little body did no,
long leave them to surmises. for be.
tween sales and efforts to sell. she
found many a chance for chats. till, as
the day waned, many asserted that the
new girl was perfect little gossip; yet
all agreed she was present day young
woman. brlmful Of a piquant and allur.
ing union of wit and wisdom.
The following day "Miss Wood" fit.
ted among hcr companions as an auto.
graph iiend. Her book was thrust
before all. and none there were that re.
sisted.
The AOorwalker smiled sadly as nc
simply penned his name, "Charles Cor.
don Bruce" and closing the album
said quietlyl
"Miss Woo,.. may In return ask OF
you a favor?'
Certainly" she replied, pleasantly
lie spoke In seeming desperation as
he said: II have been watching you
CLOSELY You are not only an intelli
gent woman, but keen and observant
one, l am sure; and for this reason
seek your aid. A systematic robbery
has been going ON In this department
for some weeks-one cloak at a time
am helpless to discover the thief
viii you watch closely and help me II
possible"
Certainly, will. sir; but 1t seems
strange. Who can 1t be?"
zone OF the score employed on this
aoor." he answered, bitterly.
'Why doesn't the firm hire a detec
tive?" she asked.
1--WE always have three good mel
about the store" he asserted land
know they have kept close watch
and, frankly, know am myself un
der suspicion, and unless the matter i.
solved soon shall go mad"
lie quivered In the intensity of hi,
emotion. and, full of sympathy, thu
little woman unobservedly extended ,
hand as she said. stoutly:
II will use my eyes, believe me-"
"'rhank YOU" he said, warmly, as
with a grateful pressure of tie hant
he turned away.
Alone In hor "den" that evening Ber
nice Wood, microscope in hand, ben
over her album of autographs. 1t was
her belief that every adult handwrit
ing was made up Of the characteristic
Of the individual, and that In test al
depended ON the presence or absence o
these characteristics.
She placed by the sido of each auto
graph the disguised handwriting of thu
letter and instituted q comparison O