The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-08-10
IIS@GS 1S@i&i39 MG ~ I2 Il Il T@3
PLAYING DETECTIVE
By CLAUDINE SISSON
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Literary Press.)

put on her mettle, and she would
astonish her brother-in-law and 9TH
ers. Very few good looking young
women who have set out to astonish
folks have made a failure of It. It
was back to the store the next after
noon for Miss Cleo. A bright thought
struck her as she crossed the thresh-
old. From all she had read and heard
the shoplifting business was confined
to her sex. The store detective had
her eye on the women. Why not
watch the men?
Miss Cleo saw young man saun-
tering about. She first noticed that
he was well dressed and had a fair
face; then she saw he was looking
about in what she considered furtive
way. Then he walked up to the jew
elry show case and drummed on the
glass. Then he went over to the per-
fumery counter and asked the price
of bottle of cologne. Thence he
walked to the door and looked up and
down, as If to see whether there was a
policeman about or not. Being salts
fed on this point, he walked back to
the book counter, picked up one book
after another, and finally walked of
with one in his hand as bold as brass
1t was a valuable book.
Miss Cleo should have stepped for
ward at this moment and laid her
heavy hand on the shoplifter and
made an arrest but her heart failed
her. He would deny and resist. She
would let him go and trail him and
then report to her brother-in-law. She
hadn't far to trail. With quick
glance up and down the street, the
young man crossed. At the entrance
to a stairway he paused a moment to
look back, and then climbed the stairs.
The girl had the criminal run to earth.
She re-entered the store, was taken
up to the managers office, and aston
ished him with announcing:
George, | have been doing detec-
tive work downstairs unbeknown to
you or Sarah, and l have caught
shoplifter He may be the head of
the gang!"
1OQ QOl I LCAl LhOs WhCAO 40 ~
Il didn't want to create excitement
In the store, and so / trailed him to
his lair
Good grill Where is it?"
Right across the road and up
stairs. He can be arrested in five
minutes
You'll have to come along and
point him out"
"Oh, I'll do that"
At the store doors they picked up
detective. When the trio had cross
ed the street and the stairway had
been pointed out, Mr.. Marshall said
to the girl:
There are dozen offices up there,
and studio or two, and We mustn't
bungle this case. Sure you can iden.
tify your man again?"
I'm an instant"
81 can't believe that any of these
people are shoplifters. Well look in
on Paul first and ask him what he
thinks. Right In here"
They entered a studio. At desk
sat young man with an open book
before him. There were paintings on
easels and paintings on the walls.
Hello, Georgel" from the young
man to Mr.. Marshall.
Hello, Paul"
THAT is the man and there is the
book!" exclaimed the natural born de-
tective as she stood erect and pointed
an accusing finger
Ten seconds of intense silence, and
then they broke into laughter.
"What-what does this mean?" de-
manded Miss Cleo
"Mr. Paul Wainwright, this is my
wife's sister, Miss Cleo Gates, in town
on visit. Mr.. Wainwright is the
son Of his father, who is the Vain
wright of our firm
1t took five long minutes to make
it clear that Mr. Paul Wainwright had
borrowed instead of shoplifted, and
that there was nothing coming to him
in the way of punishment, and there
were apologies and don't mention its"
and somehow Mr. Paul got the idea
that he must call on the young lady
opd fo1L tho caSo Ovar Jo is call