The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1911-10-05
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

| u
Trowbrdge. girl of twenty-five. had
been tried before Judge Griffiths, and
the evidence had proved her guilty be-
yond doubt. The charge was grand
larceny. though it was afterward
changed to receiving stolen property.
Some goods had been missed from a
store. A woman was seen to take
them and had been followed She was
tracked to an apartment house. where
she was lost. Among others the apart
ments in which Miss Trowbridge lived
was searched. and the articles-some
lingerie-were found between the mat
tresses Of her bed.
| Miss Trowbridge had captured both
Judge and jury by her innocent and
modest appearance. but the evidence
was so strong against her that it was
impossible for the twelve jurymen to
acquit her. The judge gave her the
lightest sentence the law would al
low-two years in the penitentiary
But even 50 light a sentence was
horror to one who had been carefully
reared and we'll educated After it
had been pronounced the prisoner. hav-
ing been embraced by her mother.
turned to George Whitcomb. to whom
she was engaged to be married and
on whose face were written horror and
indignation.
"Cheer up. George" she said. "You
and know that am innocent Two
years will soon pass. and then we will
be reunited"
TITS horrible!" was his only reply.
When Judge Griffiths left the court
room at the end Of days work he
thrust from his mind. as was his Gus
tom. the scenes of the day. A hap
pier scene to come took their place.
In few days would occur birthday
to his daughter. girl just emerging
from her teens. and her father was
thinking Of giving her a present of
some article of jewelry. On his way
home he stopped ut Renkard's. the
principal jeweler Of the town. There
he looked over various articles until
bis fancy was caught by bracelet. a
golden serpent with two ruby eyes.
He asked the price. but found it to
be greater than what be had laid out
for his purpose. The salesman show
ed him others. which he examined ap.
provingly. hut always returned to the
snake with the ruby eyes.
| II wish It," he said. ''for my daugh-
ter. whose twentieth birthday comes
around in few days. But III not de-
eide today. Perhaps Ill come in to-
morrow"
When after Judge Grititths' depar-
ture the clerk put away dozen or
more articles that be had been show.
ing the judge he missed the bracelet.
ticle on and In the case. thinking that
he might have overlooked 1t. then on
the floor to see II it had been dropped.
The bracelet was not to be found.
One thing was certain-the bracelet
had been taken. The salesman report.
ed that while showing goods to m
eminently respectable appearing gen
tleman bracelet had been lost A
member of the firm questioned him
closely. but got no further Information
than has been given here. The sales.
man had recently been given position
on trial. He was very anxious to
make sales. and both he and his en-
ployer considered that his anxiety in
this respect had momentarily diverted
his attention from what every sales.
man must constantly be on the watch
for-theft.
A week passed and nothing had been
heard from the missing bracelet. Then
one day an anonymous note In an evi.
IDENTIFY disguised hand was received at
Renkard'S. 1t was az follows:
ION Wednesday. the eth of June last.
l was in your store looking at some
jewelry. ! stood near q case at which
a gentleman was examining different
articles. saw lady standing ut the
same case. She picked up several ar.
ticles. looked ut them. examined the
tags attached to them and put them
down. While the salesman was intent
on his customer she took up bracelet.
held 1t in both hands and examined
1t closely. She wore loose flowing
sleeves. and while the salesman was
examining the tag on brooch for the
purpose of learning its price she drop
ped the bracelet into one Of her sleeves.
1.-THE young lady was evidently not
common thief At any rate. she was
handsomely dressed. Curiosity led me
to discover whom she was and what
her object might be in stealing the
bracelet She went directly from the
store. hurrying Az soon as she reached
the door. ! followed her and saw her
get on trolley car. boarded the
car myself aud left 1t when the thief
left 1t. Passing or the main street.
she turned into residential avenue.
stopped at stone front dwelling and
entered with latchkey.
1.-The adventure interested me, and
took pains to investigate as to who
lived In the house. I learned that Il
was the residence Of prominent citi.