The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-27
Retaliation
By ETHEL HOLMES


called leakage In the store-that is. a
certain proportion Of all the goods
brought into it was taken out, not by
legitimate process.
One Of the Junior partners. Mr.. Wat
kins, was given carte blanche to stop
the leak.
One evening in pile Of paper that
had been used for wrapping and
that had been tucked under a coun-
ter to be carried out were found some
valuable laces. They were Of light
bulk and readily concealed. The coun-
tor was attended by Helen Sayre, q
girl Of nineteen. The morning after
the discovery she was sent for by Mr..
Watkins and accused of having placed
the laces where they were found with
q view either to hide them to avoid
detection or to take them away later.
The girl could not explain how the
laces she sold laces-came to be where
they were instead Of In the boxes
where they belonged. She was bewil-
dered and tongue tied. Watkins turn
ed her over to the police and prosecut-
ed her for theft. Since no one had
seen her take the goods he did not
expect to convict her; he simply de-
sired to make an example of her by
disgracing her. She was acquitted,
but every clerk in the store knew that
her arrest was a bitter punishment
and a warning TO them.
The morning after her acQuittal q
young man called at Mr.. Watkins pri-
vate Office.
What can | do for you, sir?" asked
Watkins.
you can give me $4,000"
What for?" asked the dry goods
man ip amaZement
"a wedding present for Helen Sayre.
whom you have publicly disgraced
You may call 1t wedding present or
an atonement or anything you like. but
the money must be forthcoming. The
real thief, being conscience stricken,
has confessed by letter that she stole
the goods In question and, seeing a
fioorwalker approaching, mixed them
up with some CASTOR wrapping paper
and threw them under Helen Sayre's
counter"
IF Miss Sayre has such a letter as
that she will be restored to her posi-
ton and the thief will be prosecuted"
"You will not be permitted to see the
letter. Helen Sayre does not intend to
return to her position. She will be
married TO me this evening. l will be
pleased to take her the wedding pres
ent have mentioned"
Nonsense, man! If you have come
here to bluff me you may take yourself
away or ! will call policeman to eject
you"
81 came here to make q demand"
venture the prediction that in less than
one year you will comply with it."
With this the speaker withdrew.
Six months passed, and Mr.. Watkins
had forgotten the incident when his
daughter. eighteen years old, was
walking through the aisles Of Hodkins
& Co.'S store, when she was accosted
by woman, who said she would like
to speak to her in private. Miss Wat
kins, surprised, followed the woman to
a secluded place, where>the latter re-
lieved her of her reticule, opened it
and removed several boxes containing
articles of jewelry. To the astonished
girl she said
You were in Nevins jewelry store
this afternoon. were you not?"
81 was"
you stole these articles. / hap
pened to see you take them. l know
who you are. You are the daughter
Of member of this firm. He would
not like the matter made public. If
you will go home you are welcome to
do so. Tell your father that he will
receive a visit this evening from one
authorized to arrange to keep this
matter quiet"
The woman left the girl, taking the
reticule and its contents, and Miss
Watkins hurried to her fathers Office
and, bursting into tears. told him what
had occurred.
"Oh, papa" she cried, don't con
denim me! Indeed, l am innocent"
Mr. Watkins called a conveyance
and took his daughter home.
That evening a man called on Mr..
Watkins. He said that he was from
Nevins' jewelry store. A woman had
reported that she had seen Miss Wat
kins take certain articles Of jewelry
from Nevins counter and slip them
into her reticule. If the jewels were
returned the matter would be hush
ed up.
But both the reticule and its con-
tents had passed from Miss Watkins
| possession.
what are the jewels WORTH" asked
J Mr.. Watkins.
The man handed him a memoran-
dunn of the articles, with prices foot
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