The Washington herald., 1915-07-04
Copyright. 1881


or so passengers daily at that time
it seemed that several hundred thous-
and were habitually loaded down with
bundles.
Seated with Kennedy in our living
room was a man, tall, thickset, with a
crop OF closely curling dark hair, a
sharp, pointed nose, ferret eyes, and a
reddish mustache, curled at the ends.
He was the typical detective who, for
the very reason that he looked the
part, destroyed much OF his useful
ness.
we have lost so much lately at
Trlmble's," he was saying, that it is
long past the stage OF being merely
interesting. 1t is downright serious
for me, at least. I've got to make
good or lose my job. And I'm up
against one OF the cleverest shoplift-
ers that ever entered a department
store apparently"
AT the mention OF the name OF the
big Trimble store | had recognized at
once what the man was, and it did not
need kennedys rapidhre introduce
ton OF Michael Donnelly to tell me
that he was a department store de-
tective.
Have you no clue, no suspicious -
inquired Kennedy.
Well, yes, suspicious" measured
Donnelly slowly. For instance, one
day not long ago a beautifully dress
ed and rehned-looking woman called
at the Jewelry department and asked
to see diamond necklace which we
had Just imported from Paris. A cou-
pie OF days later she returned and
asked to sec 1t again. This time there
happened to be another woman be
side her who was looking at some
pendants. The two fell to talking
about the necklace, according to the
best recollection OF the clerk, and the
second woman began to examine it
critically. Again the prospective
buyer went away. But this time al
ter she had gone, and when he was
putting the things back into the safe,
the clerk examined the necklace,
thinking that perhaps flaw had been
discovered in ii which had decided the
woman against it. 1t was replica
in paste; probably substituted by one
OF these clever and smartly-dressed
women for the real necklace"
Before Craig had chance to put
another question. the buzzer on our
door sounded, and | admitted dap
per. soft-spoken man OF middle size.
who might have been travelling
salesman or bookkeeper.
Professor Kennedy he asked.
"Ges," answered Craig. What can
i do for you?"
81 am from Shorham. the Fifth
avenue jeweler, you know" he began
brusquely, as he handed his card to
Kennedy. Il thought I'd drop in to
consult you about a peculiar thing
that happened at the store recently.
but if you are engaged. | can wait.
You see, we had on exhibition a very
handsome pearl dog collar. and a few
days ago two women came to"
Say" interrupted Kennedy. glanc-
ing from the card to the face OF
Joseph Bentley, and then at Donnelly.
What is this-a gathering OF the
clans There seems to be an cpl
demic of shoplifting. How much
were you stung for"
About twenty thousand alto
gether," replied Bentley with rueful
frankness. "Why? Has some one
else been victimized, too"
Quickly Kennedy outlined with
Donnelly'S permission, the story we
had just heard. The two store de-
tectives saw the hunor OF the situa-
ton, as well as the seriousness OF it,
and fell to comparing notes.
Have you any idea who it could
be? asked Kennedy, who had been
following the discussion keenly.
We'll, some idea" spoke up Don
~
wouldn't be surprised to find that it
was the same person in both cases
OF course you know how rushed all
the stores are just now. 1t is much
easier for these light-fngered indi-
vlduals to operate during the Christ
mas rush than at any other time.
thought that perhaps we could dis
cover this particular shoplifter by or
binary means, that perhaps some of
the clerks in the jewelry department
might be able to identity her. We
found one who said that he thought
he might recognize one OF the women
II he saw her again. So | took him
down to Police Headquarters
Through plate after plate of pictures
among the shoplifters in the regular
Rogues' Gallery the clerk went. At
last he came to one picture that
caused him to stop. That is one of
the women saw in the store that
day., he said. I'm sure OF it.
Donnelly produced a copy OF the
Rertillon picture.
WHAT" exclaimed Bentley. as he
glanced at it and then at the name
and history on the back. Annie
Crayson? Why. she is known as the
queen of shoplifters Oh. I've heard
of her many times before | wonder
if she really is the person we're look
ing for. They say that Annie Cray
son has forgotten more about shop
lifting than the others will ever
know"
Yes" continued Donnelly. land
here's the queer part of it. The clerk
was ready to swear that he had seen
the woman in the store at some time
or other, but whether she had been
near the counter where the necklace
was displayed was another matter
He wasn't so sure about that.
1--WE have great deal Of very con-
ficting testimony from the various
clerks Donnelly continued. Among
those who are known to have visited
the department and seen the neck
lace is another woman. OF an entirely
different character, we'll known in the
city. As nearly as ! can gather out
OF the mass of evidence, Mrs William
Willoughby. the wife of the broker
down in Wall Street. was the last