Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1915-02-05
Sometimes a Clear
Conscience Needs
No Accuser
By LOUISE. B. CUMMINGS

l was shopping one DAY Wnen Wo
man in the place where | was buying
dry goods was arrested for shoplifting
She seemed to be a lady and 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 we,
man was hustled off to police station
A few days later | saw by newspa-
per that the lady was the wife OF q
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 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 i'm
preston on me that dreaded there.
after getting into such a position my
self | never went to 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 was there. When
| finished making my purchases-they
were to he sent home-I took up my
bag and went to another counter
where bought spool Of thread and
opening my bag to put in the purchase,
noticed some bundles that | could not
account for. Either they had been
put in my bag or | had changed bags
with some one else.
Remembering the case l have men.
toned, 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 a great hurry. doubtless
showing by my expression that | was
a thief running away with goods.
| attracted the attention of q woman
who followed me out. | caught sight
OF her staring ut me and, looking back
on gaining the street, saw her coming
behind me. did not doubt that she
was 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 on. she following as fast as she
could. But she did not gain on me,
for she was older than | and some
what corpulent
Seeing 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 cabman's 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 | went up
stairs to my room.
| had not been there long before
there was sharp ring at the door.
bell remained in my room, SILVER
ing. ana 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 u motorcycle.
l determined to get away from the
house before he could come back. but
nrst concluded to examine the bag.
1t was not mine and contained a mum
Der Of articles of no great value that
were evidently purchases Of woman.
Then | recalled that had been at nv
jewelers. and brought away a valuable
brooch that had left there for repair.
had exchanged my brooch for a ward
or cambria. six handkerchiefs, half a
yard OF dress lining and Il number OF
other articles of no more value.
While l was preparing to continue
my flight l heard latchkey fumbllng
In the keyhole of the front door.
knew 1t was my husband and ran
downstairs, opened the door and when
he entered fell into his arms. In re-
ply to his agonized appeals to be told
what was the matter | finally gasped
that | was about to be arrested as
shoplifter. This naturally astonished
him. and he worked hard with me till
he got the story.
Nonsense" he exclaimed. Some
woman has Internationally exchanged
bags. Doubtless while shopping at tbe
same counter with you you both laid
down your bags and she picked I'D 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
10 the door. | ran upstairs and hid in |
me closet. Presently | heard him call.
ING. but | remained where | was till
ne came upstairs with my lost bag.
Il" woman who had followed mo
ind . that she had exchanged bags
NHH some one and seeing me leave
ne store. recognized mo 10 ana a.