The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-04-07

Nor l." she answered; Il an .yery
tired" had finished my purchases
when she came back. Is =..s=
Are you ready? lam feeling so faint
DO you mind hurrying'' f@s M. =
I'm just ready said, "this very
moment" and l put my hand in my
muff to get my purse. There was no
purse there, and I gave cry Of dis
may: Mrs. Vereker!-my purse!-ita
gone! and hid G25 in it. had it q
moment ago. must have put it down
in the ribbon department"
"Let me pay" she began-but I in
terrupted her. s..
''Nonsense, it can't be really gomez
and I almost ran to the ribbon depart
ment: = go
found the shopwal]zer and the as
sistant-but no one had seen it, and
baskets of ribbon were hastily searched
without result.
1T is very dangerous to lay your
purse down in = crowd" said the shop
walker, who knew me we'll; "it's only q
wonder, madam, you didn't lose your
muff as we'll"
Invent back disconsolate to the fur de-
partment.
- am awfully sorry to have kept you, "
I began, trying not to show my vexa-
ton more than l could help. Are you
better?"
She nodded a;1d rose with haste YES,
but let's go if you don't mind. You
can come back again and make inquir-
les. 1t doesn't matter about your purse.
/ have heaps Of things and bits of fur
/ do not want"
Nonsense" said, "as, though I
should take yours"
But, my dear child, l have so many,
and surely married woman can help a
girl; besides l dare say the purse will
turn up"
Pardon me, madam"
A grave-looking man IN a frock coat
slid past me and laid his hand firmly on
Mrs. .Vereker's arm at the moment she
was just stepping into the motor.
what is it? This lady has left all
information about her purse" She
moved her arm haughtily.
The mans face grew graver.
perhaps you will kindly come back
with me. It's you We want, if you please,
madam"
There was faint sheer On the word
madam" and Mrs. Vereker's face
blanched. =
what do you mean?" she stammered.
How dare you? Cannot you see am
i'll and wish to go home at once?"
sprang to her side. Never mind
about the wretched purse" said to the
man. 'This lady is not we'll, let her go
home, and will come back about the
purse" =,
The man took no notice of me, but
bending to Mrs. Vereker said something
that made her step Suddenly back and
stand by his side. Then, to my utter
amazement, shaking obviously from
head to foot. and without even looking
at me, she turned into the shop and I
followed in bewildered dismay.
1t was soon over. A few minutes in
had taken the heavy coat, far heavier
now with lace and furs and flowers and
blouses that were marvelously fastened
in it's ample folds. Under her cloak and
attached to her waist by firm hooks
hung several furs and many pieces of
costly lace.
Mrs. Vereker, white as death, shovel
no sign of what she must be feeling but
loked in front of her with a dazed, set
face, while slipped outside to the wait
ing man. He was talking to another
shopwalker, who, luckily, knew me we'll.
"What is it," l asked rs she a
thief?"-a silly question he answered at
once.
lone of the worst shoplifters in Lon
don," he said, laconically, "and yet
we've never been able to catch her. Her
husband is doing six months now for the
very same thing. She knew you were
here, madam, and brought you to shield
her."
But how did you find her out to-day7"
l asked, aghast, land what did you see
her take?''
"Something that belongs to you,'' he
said. as he gravely handed me my
purse-London Mail.
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