The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-09-10

| who was sauntering on after new
easy marks"
1t was a motion all the clerks knew,
and by means Of which they communi-
Gated their suspicious to the house de-
tectives. This particular one enter
tanned deep grudge toward vesta. Re-
ceiving a higher salary than the clerks
and fioorwalkers, he regarded himself
as catch OF no mean value. and when
he began to smile upon vesta Som
mors he had expected her to respond.
There was Dick. however. and vesta
did not smile. The man was vain and
yengeful, and now had come his
chance. Stepping up to the woman.
ne spoke to her in low voice, at the
same time dexterously taking the col
lars from her without her being aware
of 1t. With measured step he took
the detected shoplifter upstairs where
the store superintendent put such peo-
pie through sweat box experience
that regenerated many, and kept the
rest from his store forever more.
Not only were the guilty ones thor
oughly searched. but a pretense. and
one that was just as good as real, was
made of taking the photograph AS
a last resort, If the store did not pros
ecute, and in general the services of
the police were not called upon, for 1t
was contrary to the business princi-
pies of the store to let the public know
| anything of nature likely to react
| upon the amount of the patronage, a
| convicted person was required to sign
full confession. This the store kept,
| as protection against further trouble.
On this day. however, a thorough
searching of the woman by the woman
assistant failed to disclose any goods
belonging to the store.
"How's this?" Numbered the super
intendent.
The house detective looked angry.
| as he said with some heat:
Miss Sommors gave me the sig.
nal"
Ten minutes later Miss vesta Som
mors was standing in the superintend-
ent's room.
But l really saw her take the
goods" she persisted.
| Always De sure, young woman. To
haul up an innocent lady like this can
only result in harm to the house." and
Vesta knew that the superintendent
was correct. Suddenly an idea came
to her.
Il want to say something. l counted
the collars Just before she came in.
| gave my count to Miss Wilson, and
she entered II. If there is no report
of sales. or even If there is, I ought
to be able to establish my reputation
for not making blunder." Her voice
appreciated good service. and knew
that shop lifters had many ways of
concealing stolen articles, so he sent
to the department to have the collars
counted. and to Miss Wilson, its head,
to bring up the report.
Vesta, trembling more than the shop
litter, counted the moments. while the
house detective glowered Finally Miss
Wilson arrived. After having gone
over them that morning according to
her usual custom, she had given them
to Vesta to go over. Their count had
been the same. She had, after receiv
ing orders, gone over them herself, and
had Miss Albright do the same, and
they found that just two collars were
missing.
The house detective blandly asked
risking a severe reproof:
But where are those two collars ?
There were the four women: Miss
Wilson, Vesta, the shop litter and the
SSiS n dot f1..
ran them over with his sharp eye.
Il would suggest that these foul
be searched" he began. but he hat
gone little too far. The superintend
ent gave him a look, under which hs
wilted almost to confession, and per
haps under that mans skillful cross
, examination he might have broker
down. but the day was saved for hin
by the arrival of cash boy with tn,
!, two collars, which had been found un
der a stool. near which the woman ha,
been standing when caught by tn,
house detective. The superintendent
dismissed them with a wave of tn,
, hand. and vesta was faint and dizz
, as she and Miss Wilson hurried bacl
;, to the floor.
THE beast'!' Miss Wilson had NUT
: tered. but Vesta said nothing. He
mind was changing a little, and b.
:. night she knew her future course
|, Dick had not come. 1t was hot an,
stutry. People thronged the store
J. not one sparins a kind word or
4 smile of approval, and in the marrow
; space allotted them, the clerks al
q walked on each other, and became i'm
! patient. To crown it all. confused b.
her burning headache. the result Q
! the house detectives treachery, sh
!. made a mistake of a dollar In he
sales, and was forced to stand the loss
|, One dollar out of her weekly six wa
= | inst too much and uhan Sha Ga,