The Pensacola journal., 1917-08-14
(copynsht. lns. by the Mcclure Newspaper
Evnd,rnke1

out on a shopping excursion. She had
stopped at the jewelry counter of Sta
cy's to have a ring repaired and had
gone on to the leather goocs depart
ment to purchase something else.
The woman who spoke to her was
quietly dressed young person, quite
inconspicuous. with a keen eye that
seemed to take in everything within a |
radius of a wids-angIed lens at al
glance.
She leaned over and before Con-
stance could express even surprise.
added in a whisper. Look in your
bag"
Constance looked hastily. then real
ICED what had happened. The ring
was gone!
1t gave her quite a shock. too, for
the ring. a fine diamond. was a pres
snt from her husband. one OF the few
pieces of jeweIry. treasured not only
for its intrinsic value. but as g remem-
branee OF Carlton and the supreme
sacrifices he had made for her.
She had noticed nothing in the crowd.
nothing more than she had noticed
scores OF times before. The woman,
watchsd her puzzled look.
i've been following you" she said.
BY this time the other store detective
must have caught the shopIifter and
beg-opener who touched you. You
see, we don't make any arrests in the
store II we can help 1t. because we
dou't like to make a scene. It's bad
for business. Besides. IL she had any
thing else. we are SAFER when the case
comes 20 court. If we have caught her
actually leaving the store with 1t. OF
eoarse. when we make an arrest on
the sidewalk. we bring the shoplifter
back. bot In = private. back elevator"
Constance vas following the young
woman mechanically. At least there
was . chance of recovering the ring.
'Eha was standing next to you at
tho S0wAlry counter she continued
Asnd n you win help identify her the
phpgs marAgament VIII appreciate it-and
maAe 3t worth your while. Besides"
Sha urged. 1T is really your duty.
HaAAnS
ConskAnos remembered now the
rS2hsr simply but richly gowned
young woman VINO had been standing
naxt 60 hsr at the counter. seemingly
unable TO decide which of a number
Of baautifuI rings she really wanted.
Che remembered because. with her
Own love OF beauty. she had wanted
ons herself. In fact had thought at
the time that she, too. might have diff
hcuity in choosing.
with the added feeling of curiosity.
Constance followed the woman deteo-
tive up in the elevator.
In the office. apart in a little room
euriously furnished with a camera. IN
Vulnerable photographs. cabinets. and
hling cases, was a young woman per
haps twenty-six or seven. On a table
before her lay a pile of laces and small
trinkets. There. too. was the beauti-
full diamond ring which she had hid
den in her mum. Constance fairly
gAsped at the sight.
The girl was sitting Imply in q
chair crying bitterly. She was not g
hardened looking creature. In fact
her face bore evident traces of refine
ment. and her long. slender fingers
limited at a nervous. artistic tempera,
ment. II was rather a shock to SET
such g. girl under such distressing cir.
cumstances.
We've lost so much lately" a smaI
ferret-eyed man was saying. that W.
must make an example OF some one
It's serious for US detectives. too W,
lose our Jobs unless We can stop yoC
booSteRA"
'Oh-E-T didn't mean to do it L,
just couldn't help it, sobbed the str
over and over again.
Yea" dr&wIed the man. 'thatl
what thsy all say But you've beer
cSaKht with tho goods. this time
young lady"
woman entered. and the mar
turned to her quickly.
"Carr-Kitty Carr. Did you hnt
anything under that nameT'
NO, sir" replied the woman stor,
detective. We've looked all through
the records ana the photographs. W,
don't flnd her. And yet I don't thinl
Il is an aliss-at least. If II is. not al
alias for any one we have any recort
Of. I've good eye for faces ant
there isn't one we have on file asa
good looking" she added. perhap
with a little touch OF wistfulness a
her own plalnness and this beaut,
gone wrong.
This ts the woman who lost tn
ring" put in the other woman detec
tive. mottoning to Constance. who hat
accompanied her and was standing
silent spectator.
The man held up the ring. whicl
Constance had already recognized
Us that yours" he asked.
For a moment. strangely. she hest
tated If it had been any other RIM
in the world she felt sure she woul
have said no. But. then. she reflected
there was that pile OF stun. Their