Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-12

SEQ. That was $15 better than the of
fer of my friend. Still l did not close
the deal. The week after | was rid
ing into the city on train and met
travelling representative of the fac
tory. We got to talking business, and 1
asked him what he would sell me a
buggy for. He told me he would give
me a bargain that would make my
hair stand on end. We went direct to
the factory from the depot. He led
me to the same buggy. I'could have
it for $40 cash l took him up. OF
course, boys, | believe in friendships.
and there is no man on earth who
values them any higher than /, but
that little buggy deal turned me Mis-
sOurian when it comes To business
matters"
\ Rock Island man who took in one
of the performances during the week
at the Illinois theatre by the Ferris
Comedians nearly fell out Of his seat
when the face of his brother doomed
up in view of the government print
ing Office at Washington reproduced
by the stereopticon. He said it was
so natural he could hardly keep from
saying hello. He had not seen his
brother for several years, but instant
ly recognized his face when shown in
the picture.
Our losses in thefts of articles are
no small item during the holiday sea-
SON. said one of the managers of
Rock Island department store. ''It is
surprising to know what little things
people will steal-a handkerchief that
may cost - cents, a trinket of Jew
elry the value of which is % cents
probably, or other knick-knacks. 9th
ers will put a bolt of silk under their
coats. and in some instances they get
away with it. 1t is not the children
who do the piIfering, either; it is the
older people who should know better.
Hardly day passes during the Christ
mas season that we are not obliged to
call some person into the private Of
fee to have him or her searched. In
some cases we are mistaken, but in
the majority of instances we see the
goods taken before we demand a
search. We have several detectives
employed at the store until the rush
is over. Despite that the people know
they are watched. they will take
chances. and many times when the
rewards are so small even when they
escape detection
For a time guests at one of the city
hotels complained of thefts of small
sums of money from their overcoats
in the check room. Two boys had
charge of the room and it was puz-
zler to learn positively which was the
guilty party.
Both knew of the complaints and
were warned there would be trouble
unless the stealing ceased. One of
the boys-who later developments
proved innocent of any wrong-doing-
insisted on an investigation. The 9TH
er protested that he was guiltless.
SO a trap was set. y gentleman
who takes a meal at the hotel Occa-
sionally placed three pieces of coin in
Il SIDE pocket of his Overcoat and
checked the garment. When he call
ed for the coat and searched for the
money, it was gone.
The boy on watch was called upon
the carpet. He was asked if he had
'"NVi 'iS liioiiSN. Nv SSilu iS iid ho'.
He was willing to be searched, and
voluntarily emptied mis- pockets. When
shown the marks on the piece of coin
he nearly tainted, but recovered his
composure. and still insisted that he
had not robbed the coat.
He was thereupon told that if he
did not tell the truth he would be
turned over to the police, his accuser
moving towards the telephone as if
to communicate with police headquar-
tiers. Then the lad weakened. He
returned the money and got his walk
ing papers.