The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-06-01

Two Shop-Lifters
BY CARL JENKINS
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Literary Press.)

soeiated Literary Press)
But what for?" was asked.
You will know when you get
there"
Then | shall not come"
'If you do not there will be a scene
herel | am a store detective You
shoplifted an extra cake of soap"
1T is false! How dare you say
such a thing"
IF you do not come you will go to
the police station!"
Mr. Barton had heard every word.
He turned upon the girl, whose eyes
were flashing and cheeks burning,
and whispered
Better go and avoid a scene"
But she is wrong!" exclaimed Miss
Bessie
"All the more reason why ron
should go quietly"
The girl followed the detective, and
Mr.. Barton followed the girl, and
they soon reached the office on the
second floor There the detective
made her statement to a severe-faced
man who seemed to be in waiting for
victims.
she is mistaken" said Miss Bessie
when the statement was finished.
I'VE make no mistakes here!"
warned the man with a shake of his
head. Your name, please"
81 won't give it,"
Then you will be turned over to
the police!"
You daren't do such a thing! |
tell you the girl is mistaken. | bought
three cakes of soap. | have no 9th
ers."
"Will you submit to a search!"
mo! II would be an insult! You
must take my word for It."
You may call a police detective!"
said the man to the employe. She
can be searched at the police sta
tion!"
Just a moment" said Mr.. Barton,
who had been standing quietly by.
This young lady is no shop-lifter.
Here is the cake of soap that was
stolen. You were about to make
bad mistake"
II thought-thought-," faltered
the store detective as she turned
pale.
81 was standing right at the young
lady's elbow, and you got things
mixed, ! am ready to give my name
and take the consequences"
Miss Perkins, escort the young
lady down stairs" said the severe.
faced man. Star & Company make
her thousand apologies. AS for you,
| will talk with you later. You evi.
IDENTIFY have much to learn. Now, sir,
who are you?"
Mr. Barton gave his name and ad.
dress. He said he must have pocketed
the soap in an absent moment. He
was ready for arrest and cell. He
had been sized up for young man of
wealth and position. Star G Com.
pany didn't propose to antagonize
such people for three.cent cake OF
soap. He was even shaken hands
with as he departed His curiosity
about the girl he had lied for was
great. He himself believed that he
had seen her cover cake of soap
with her handkerchief. When he saw
her detected he had stolen a cake
himself, hoping to clear her. She
wouldn't have fingered in the store,
and he doubted if he would ever run
across her in any other.
This was in April. Mr.. Barton now
had an object in life 1t was to hunt
up a pretty shop.lifter. Day after
day he sauntered through shops and
stores. He hunted the avenue, and
was at some theater every night. He
even went so far as to enter the mil
linery department of the big stores
to see If he might not find the object
of his search trying on a new hat.
All search was In vain.
Days and weeks and months passed
and in August he went up to the
Catskills. Almost the first person he
set eyes on as he reached his hotel
was the girl shop-lifter She was
with her father and mother and did
not see him. After dinner, however,
as he walked in the grounds, Miss
Bessie Merriweather came right up
to him and said:
you are the gentleman who saved
me"
We'll, | stole the soapl" he laughed.
so did |! True as you live. when
! got out Of the store ] found had
cake in my hand. But for you
they would never have believed II
was a case of observation-disclosures Did
they put you in jail?"
"Oh, no. | believe | plead tempo.
rary insanity"
We'll, If the insanity won't come
back please come with me and intro
duce yourself to my father, and then
he can introduce us. Father and
mother know that we are two shop
lfters, out on bail, as 1t were, but
they won't be afraid of you!"
1t is said that when the young
folks go to housekeeping much of the
furnishings will be bought of Star G.
Co.