Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-02-28


opened the door of one of the apartments,
and invited him to enter. The room was
neatly furnished and was evidently one
of a suite. At a table near one of the
windows little girl sat doing sums on a
slate. She had the black hair of her
mother; a beautiful, saucy. piouant
mouth eyes of deep, scintillating blue;
and little figure that was the very per-
fection of childish grace. She arose on
the entrance of the detective and ran
toward him, holding out both hands.
"Ah! Papa Alfred, how do you do?"
she exclaimed. Have you brought me
some bon-bons"
"A kiss first" cried the detective, lift
ing her in his arms.
Mile Celeste Cresson having complied
by placing both arms around his neck
and putting her charming mouth to his,
| he set her down on the floor and bade
her search for the bon-bons, in the course
OF which she brought to light a great
many articles of Papa Cassagne's pecu-
liar calling, all of which she placed in
her apron, declaring she would never sur
| render them.
At length, having found her bon-bons,
her playmate was at liberty to address
himself to the young mother, who all
this time had been standing by clapping
her hands, and seemingly evincing as
much delight, when a wig Or a pair Of
handouts was unearthed from the depths
of the detectives capacous pockets, as
the child herself.
Nine. Rosa Cresson, from whose face
all trace of amusement had now vanished,
and who sat easily In her chair prepared
to listen to the detective, was a woman
with history. Married at an early age
and cruelty deserted by her husband, she
had been thrown upon her own resources.
There were many occupations open to her
by which she could have earned living.
She could have found employment in
dressmaking had she chosen, for she was
an expert with her needle She could
have taught the piano, or set up as q
translator of foreign documents, for she
was very fine linguist. Her personal
charms and Accomplishments were great
enough to have induced many a theat-
rical manager to take her up, and proba-
bly, she would have drifted on to the stage
If it had not been for a slight incident
which turned her from it, and presenting
an opening in an entirely new field, de-
cided her to adopt her present calling.
One day she entered the Bon Marche
to do some shopping. She had made her
purchases, paid for them and had reached
the door when a heavy hand was laid
upon her shoulder. Turning, she was con-
fronted by one of the foorwalkers, who
accused her of taking piece of silk from
the counter. Indignant at the charge, she
made an impassioned appeal, on the spur
of the moment, to gentleman standing
near. Her appeal was successful. The
gentleman accompanied her into the office
of the manager, became voucher for her
honesty, and offered If given half an
hours time to produce the stolen prop
erty. The time was accorded him, ant
he left the office, to return with the piec,
of silk in question, which he had com
PEELED a notorious female shoplifter t
dsgorge just as she was being bowed ou
by an obsequious shopman to her carriage
You had better strike the Marquise d.
Brabant from your books, monsieur" h,
had observed, laconically, when the man
ager insisted that one of his best Gus
toners had been insulted.
"That woman's real name is Bergeret
l thought everybody knew her. Now 20,
will please pay this lady FIVE hundred
francs, and let her come with me. l car
promise you she will institute no actor
for damages"
The manager was thunderstruck.
"Who are your" he gasped.
II am Alfred Cassagne; you may hav,
heard of me. Good morning."
Then he took little Celeste Cresson IL
his arms and, accompanied by the crate
full young mother, left the store. She
was half fainting when he lifted her into
cab. He felt that it would be sheer
brutality to leave her He seated him
self beside her, and bade the driver seek
the address she gave him. On the way
Nine. Cresson sat up and told him hel
sad history. She must find work soon
she confessed, for her money was nearly
exhausted. Then it was that he told her
how to enter a new profession.
"The proprietors of all those large
stores would give you business, if l spoke
to them. l also will give you employ.
| ment."
That was how Nine. Cresson became q
female detective, and at the time of this
interview had become the most famous in
| her limo in Dar ris