The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-07-04

transfer Miss Grsttan 10 the crocksry
department, as he had threatened
He was evidently about 70 do 30. when
something she said In describing the
customer she suspected made him
hesitate and take On o puzzled look.
and after q time TO remark:
After you have taken stock
tonight you may find the missing Lace
At any rate. let II 90 for q day Or
two"
Why tie change In him. Did he
suspect her. and was he going to have
her watched1 Was he going 10 have
| her mothers house searched.
Yes, Miss Grattan was engaged 70
Nr. Traver, the head Of the furniture
department: but the fact had not
been publicly announced. These en-
gagsments seldom appear In the so
cisty journals. It's two or three days
OF under protest. marriage. fat
and then one hears no more. It may
| Be spoken of In the store for q day.
but only by employees.
! On the evening OF the last theft
mentioned the matter was talked over
/ between the lovers. Mr.. Traver was
! a man Of action. He had sister
who was not known at the store, and
! next day she was q customer at the
lace counter She didn't make q pur.
chase. but she kept her eyes open.
The next day she was at the glove
counter On the next she was back
at the lace counter.
Perhaps one OF the store detectives
became suspicious and followed her
about for a time; perhaps one Of the
four girls at the lace counter hoped
to find her shoplifting and see her
punished. She was there. undeter-
mined whether to buy or not when
the young lady OF the auto swept
into the store and up to the counter.
She was gracious and patronfzing.
She wanted expensive lace to send
to a girl friend In the country. Miss
Grattan waited on her and watched
her. Never had she watched GUS
toner 80 closely Miss Traver sus-
pended her buying to leave the store
and order a public auto to wait IN
front of it.
At the end OF half an hour her
quarry came out and entered her own
auto and speeded away. She was fol-
lowed and her residence located.
She had not left tho store above q
quarter of an hour when the white
faced and shaking Miss Grattan was
up in the Office reporting to Mr..
Nevins:
"The young lady whom suspected
a few days ago came for more lace
today and bought $50 worth. She had
hardly gone when I missed five yards
valued at more than that"
HIN! You will apply for your sal
airy this evening. We can no longer
afford to keep you here. The other
day, when told you to wait bit,
thought I had clue to solve the
problem; but it seems that I was
mistaken. 1 shall transfer the other
four Of you are careless lot, but you
are the worst"
An hour later Mr.. Traver asked for
q word with Mr. Nevins
'1f it's about Miss Grattan, I don't
wish to hear it." was the answer.
''But it isn't. It's about the shop
litter at the lace counter. I know
her and know her place Of resi-.
dence"
"You-you dol"
"And II you get out a search war.
rant before she can mail away the
lace she lifted this afternoon 1t will
be found in her house. My sister fol.
lowed her today"
Mr.. Nevins bent forward on his
desk and hid his face in his hands,
and 1t was three long minutes before
he raised 1t to say:
II suspected-I knew, but I
didn't want any one else to know.
You and Miss Grattan are engaged.
Please go, both Of you. Your wed.
ding gift from the firm will be
enough to set you up in business
You see, Miss-Miss Lisle Is a klepto-
maniac, and I can't-can't-"
And his face was In his hands
again when Mr.. Traver softly with
drew. Society wondered and by and
by forgot