The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1912-06-06
STORY OF
A MUFF
BY EDITH TURNER

lady stood beside her. looking at some
other laces. The muff lay between
them. Presently Mrs. Munger looked
I'D and saw the lady resting one hand
on her (Mrs. Munger'sD nun. Mrs
Munger reached out for the muff. The
lady, not noticing her-being apparent
ly intent on the laces-Mrs. Munger at
tempted gently to draw the muir to-
ward her. The lady looked up and.
seeing some one about to appropriate
the muff, placed it on her other side.
BEG pardon" said Mrs. Munger.
"you have mistaken my muff for your
own"
81 beg your pardon, have done no
such thing"
81 insist upon it that you have"
"And insist upon ii that | have not.
If you persist in insulting me ! shall
call for a member of the firm. ! nave
an account here and am well known.
Mrs. Munger was astonished. Turn
Ing to the clerk behind the counter, she
said:
did you not see me bring that mutf
and lay it down on the counter when
asked to see laces?
Indeed, madam, was very busy
waiting on another lady when you
came, and | didn't notice whether yon
had a muff or not"
"Call for fioorwalker." said Mrs
Munger.
A fioorwalker was called and listened
to the story. He sent for one of the
firm. When that gentleman came he.
too, listened to the difficulty between
the women, and she who had appro
priated the mutf said to him: Il am
Mrs. Sunderland. | have had an ac
count here for years. Please tell this
lady that am not a thief.
81 can bear the lady out in her state
ment," said the man, land, more.
know her social standing to be excel
lent"
Good morning." said the muff !taker
with a toss of the head. and she swept
away with the captured article.
81 am sorry, madam" said the mer-
chant, that the difficulty should have
arisen in my store. IL you will go to
the muff department and pick out a
muff similar to the one the lady took
away with her you shall have it in eX-
change-that is. with the understand
ing that the matter be dropped"
without waiting for a reply he led
the way to the fur department, and
Mrs. Munger followed him mechanical
IL. She was so upset that she scarcely
knew what she did.
"There is n muff." said the merchant,
taking one he had called for from q
clerk. "of exactly the same quality as
the one you have lost"
"And finer" said Mrs. Munger,
smothering 1t with hand. Now,
wish you to tell me why you do this"
"Under promise Of secrecy|
eyes"
THAT lady is a fashionable woman
moving in the most exclusive circles
Her account with us is now $500 to
her debit. IL | had decided In your
favor we should have been put tC
much trouble to collect it."
"And you believe the muff was
miner
The gentleman smiled. with thai
i have nothing to do"
Mrs. Munger was new to the city
and its social circle. Nevertheless she
was admitted to the swim and was
likely to meet Mrs. Sunderland. II
she ever should-well-
She did meet Mrs. Sunderland at ar
afternoon tea. All the ladies wor,
their finest afternoon costumes. Mrs
Munger wore hers and looked so fine
that Mrs. Sunderland didn't remem
Der having seen her before. But Mrs
Munger remembered Mrs. Sunderland
The former managed to get near thu
latter and slipped her own portemon
maize containing visiting cards as wei
as bills into Mrs. Sunderland's muff-
rather 1t was Mrs. Munger's-that la,
to hunt for the portemonnaie, ant
when she had attracted the attention
Of those about her. thrust her hanC
into the muff. took out the pertemon
naie and proved property by showing
her own cards. Then. having takeI
the names of several ladies present 70
witnesses, she walked to the telephon,
and called for an officer
AS soon as the hostess heard of tn,
matter she begged Mrs. Munger to de
sist from making the matter public
She was obdurate. Then Mrs. Sun
derland sent handsome offer to husl
mp the matter on account of the host
ess. Mrs. Munger remained firm
When the officer arrived she charge,
Mrs. Sunderland with theft.
The next morning Mrs. Munger ap
peared against her. and she was oblig
ed to give security for her appear
ance the next morning In court. Whel
her accuser stepped forth Mrs. Sun
derland recognized for the first tim
the woman whose muff she had ap
propriated and saw IN the lady's ey
terrible revenge The prisoner sen
her lawyer to Mrs. Munger to offer {,
make such terms as the latter woult
Insist on. Mrs. Munger offered I,
withdraw the charge on the return o
certain muff in Mrs. Sunderland
possession and donation to the funC
Of certain hospital of which she wa,