The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-17

transfer Miss Grattan to the crockery
department, as he had threatened.
He was evidently about to do so, when
something she said in describing the
customer she suspected made him
hesitate and take on a puzzled look.
and after a time to remark:
after you have taken stock
tonight you may find the missing lace.
At any rate, let 1t go for day or
two"
Why the change in him? Did he
suspect her, and was he going to have
her watched? Was he going to have
her mothers house searched?
Yes, Miss Grattan was engaged to
Mr.. Traver, the head Of the furniture
department; but the fact had not
been publicly announced. These en-
gagements seldom appear In the so
ciety journals. It's two or three days
on under protest-a marriage, a fiat
and then one hears no more. It may
be spoken of in the store for a 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 a customer at the
lace counter. She didn't make 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 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 patronizing
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 a Gus
toner so 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 hel
quarry came out and entered her owr
auto and speeded away. She was fol
lowed and her residence located
She had not left the store above 8
quarter of an hour when the white
faced and shaking Miss Grattan was
up in the Office reporting to Mr.
Nevins:
1.-THE young lady whom l suspected
a few days ago came for more lact
today and bought $50 worth. She hat
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 longe
afford to keep you here. The othe
day, when l told you to wait bit,
thought ! had a clue to solve tn
problem; but 1t seems that wa
mistaken. I shall transfer the othe
girls to the crockery department. TIL
four of you are careless lot, but yo
are the worst"
An hour later Mr.. Traver asked 70
word with Mr.. Nevins.
'If it's about Miss Grattan, I don
wish to hear It," was the answer.
"But It isn't. It's about the shoI
litter at the lace counter. kno,
her and know her place Of res
dence"
"You-you do!"
"And II you get out search wal
rant before she can mail away tn
lace she lifted this afternoon It wi
be found in her house. My sister 70
lowed her today"
Mr.. Nevins bent forward on hi
desk and hid his face in his hands
and 1t was three long minutes befor
he raised it to say:
Il suspected-I knew, but
didn't want any one else to know
You and Miss Grattan are engaged
Please go. both of you. Your wet
ding gift from the firm will
enough to set you up in business
You see, Miss-Miss Lisle is klept'
maniac, and I can't-can't-"
] And his face was in his hand
} again when Mr.. Traver softly will
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