The Washington herald., 1917-04-16

/ Since you insist our house de-
tectlve found certain articles in her DOS
SoSsIOn' There's no use getting
SNC4teu, sir. There's been no mistake
In twenty minutes? Very we'll"
Ihen as he hung up the receiver ''You
needn't search her yet. Miss Barker
Just take her into the other room"
IN the inner room Helen dropped on a
leather couch. Her handbag fell to the
moor she heard the detective pick II up.
but sobbed on unheeding.
l presume you don't know how these
got in your bag?" sneered Miss Barker,
holding up bolt of lingerie ribbon and
bunch Of steel beads
why those are mine-I iust bouVb.
them
'oh. you did," mocktngiy. where's
the sale cheCks?'
Il threw away the wrappings-so they
would go in my bag"
You say you've an account here
caustically. You had these charged?'
No. paid for them-I wanted to take
them with me-"
Better plead kleptomania-thars the
usual gag: When they've money it's
hIeptoihshia-when they've poor it's Just
pIaln shop-lifting," as with a con-
temptuous shrug she swung into The
managers Office.
Helen' choking back her sobs, heard
thelr mumbled consultation. They were
sending the articles down to find out IL
they had been bought or stolen.
The bang of a door-and Warren's
What does this mean?' with savage
wrath, Where is Mrs. Curtis?"
The lady's in the next room. sir. m
give you the facts first
Facts? Facts about my wife being a
shop-ntter? You'll eat that inference
I regret this exceedingly. sir. but we
must protect ourselves. The gloves were
found in the lady's pocket-she does not
deny"
Now see here, you needn't 60 into
particulars. l dent care how things
look-or what the evidence, There's one
thing certain-Mrs. Curtis is NOT a
shop-lifter! No matter what the circum-
stanccs-it simply ISN'T So"
Ihis is very painful sir. hut it's a
plain case. There's no possibility of
mistake"
Helen, listening quiveringly. now flung
Warrens steadying arms were about
her.
Madam, you don't deny that these
gloves were found in your pocket?" de-
manded the manager sternly. And you
don't claim TO have bought them?''
Hold on thundered Warren. You'd [
better so SLOW
The door flew open and a weII-dressed
woman, her hat awry and her face beet
red. was pushed into the room by a
frock-ccated fioor-wRlker
Here's the party we've been after.
She saw me watching her and tried to
slip this" laying a silver chain on the |
desk, into a customers pocket"
Just as those gloves were put into my
wife's pocket" roared Warren.
Its the same one!" breathed Helen. |
as the sullenly defiant woman was forced |
into the rear room. She was standing |
by me at the glove counter"
Again the door swung open. 1t was an
employe with the bolt of ribbon and the !
beads. Disconnected at the tense group, |
he turned to withdraw.
Wait" the manager checked him. |
You can report on those now"
They were bought an hour ago. |
Here are the duplicate sale checks"
In the palpitating silence that fol-
lowed. Helen, hardly realizing her
swift, complete vindication. still clung |
tremblingly to Warren.
''Mr. Curtis, I've been manager here
for eighteen years." his voice was
husky and have never before known
one Of our detectives wrongly TO ac-
cuse a customer. It's the first mistake |
of this kind in my experience-and
have no words for an adequate apoi-
ogy."
mo apology can square this" snort
ed Warren.
II don't know what more can say.
II there's anything or the store can
do"
Il don't care TO discuss It," brusque-
ly. Wen have a taxi
"A taxi at the side enurance!" was
the sharp order to the abject detec-
tive. Then with anxious solicitude,
Mrs. Curtis is still unstrung. perhaps
she'd prefer not to go through the
store. If you1l allow me, I'll take you
down in the freight car"
Warren nodded a curt acQuiescence,
and in deferential silence the manager
led the way back to the freight ele-
vator.
Basement. Make no stops" as he
them into the car.
In the basement shipping-room, he es-
corted them out through a labyrinth OF