Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-12-24
Sometimes a Clear
Conscience Needs
No Accuser
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

She SeemSQ TO De lduy ana very
much cut up. She endeavored to con-
vince the proprietor that she was re
spectacle and had no occasion to steal.
but he was obdurate, and the poor wo
man was hustled off to police station
A few days later saw by newspa-
per that the lady was the wife of
wealthy and prominent man. She lived
in another city, and, there being no one
at hand to vouch for her. she spent the
night in a CELL Her husband came
for her, got her out and commenced
suit against the dry goods firm for
100000 damages.
This matter made so great an In
preston on me that I dreaded there
after getting into such a position my
self. l never went to a counter to
look over goods but that felt that the
eyes Of detective were upon me.
One day while buying some goods
laid my bag on the counter to examine
them. Several other persons came to
the counter while l was there. When
| finished making my purchases-they
were to be sent home-I took up my
bag and went to another counter.
where I bought a spool Of thread and.
opening my bag to put in the purchase.
noticed some bundles that could not
account for. Either they had beer
put in my bag or ! had changed bags
with some enc else.
Remembering the case i have men
toned, l became terror stricken lest
should be arrested as a thief.
And here is where an innocent per-
son is liable to incriminate himself.
Unless very cool and collected there
are nineteen chances in twenty that
he will do the wrong thing. and there
are nineteen chances in twenty that
one. especially woman, will not be
cool and collected. certainly was
not, and l did not do what | should
have done-that is, take the bag to
the office and report the facts. My
one desire was to get out of that store
before the lynx eyed detective on duty
should pounce upon me. | went toward
the door in great hurry doubtless
showing by my expression that | was
thief running away with goods.
attracted the attention of Il woman,
who followed me out. | caught sight
Of her staring at me and. looking back
on gaining the street, saw her coming
behind me- | did not doubt that she
was a detective, employed by the firm
to watch shoplifters. and that would
be arrested as soon as she could Sc
cure the services Of a policeman. !
hurried Oh, she following as fast as She
could But she did not gain on me,
for she was older than | and some
what corpulent.
Seeing Il cab standing beside the
curb. jumped in and told the cabman
to drive me to my house. The woman
coming up as we were driving away.
endeavored to attract the claimants at
tention. but he did not see her. | saw
her plainly enough, but ! looked
away. pretending not to see her
There was no other cab near, and
succeeded in getting away from the
woman. When | reached home | ran
in as quickly as | could, locked the
door behind me. and after calling to
the maid to admit no one l went up
stairs to my room.
had not been there long before
there was a sharp ring at the door
bell. | remained in my room, SILVER
ing, and the summons was not an
swered. There was another and an.
other ring, but after that whoever was
there went away. heard some one
going down the steps and, looking out
Of the window. saw policeman riding
away on motorcycle.
determined to get away from the
house before he could come back. but
first concluded to examine the bag
1t was not mine and contained mum
Der of articles of no great value that
were evidently purchases Of woman
Then | recalled that | had been at my
jewelers. and brought away valuable
brooch that had left there for repair
I had exchanged my brooch for yard
of cambria. six handkerchiefs. half
yard of dress lining and number Of
other articles of no more value.
While was preparing to continue
my fight beard latchkey fumbling
in the keyhole Of the front door |
knew it was my husband and ran
downstairs. opened the door and when
he entered fell into biz; arms. In re-
ply to his agonized appeals to be told
what was the matter | finally gasped
that l was about to be arrested as
shoplifter. This naturally astonished
him. and he worked hard with me till
he got the story.
"Nonsenser' he exclaimed Some
woman has Internationally exchanged
bags Doubtless while shopping at the
same counter with you you both laid
down your bags and she picked up the
wrong bag. When you turned for
yours you took what was left"
There was another ring at the door
bell. and my husband insisted on going
to the door. l ran upstairs and hid In
the closet. Presently heard him call
ing, but remained where ] was till
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