The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1922-01-06
emit from Cisrs-fcr the hard times


and Clara at one of the lace counters.
| who also attended Clayton college.
They introduced Bob, and after re-
| marking about the excellent weather
Miss ElStOn moved away.
The two girls were again at the
Jacobs home that evening when Bob
arrived. They were making costumes
for the hard times party. Shortly af-
ter Bob's arrival Clara prepared to
leave and Bob offered to drive her
home in his runabOut.
Bob loved fresh air and sunshine,
and except when it rained he kept the
top of the car down. The sun was
shining with unusual intensity for so
late in the day and he offered to raise
the top for Clara's benefit.
"It's not necessary" she said. 81
can use the parasol. I'm afraid will
get blistered IL l don't have some
shade"
She opened the object in question,
and as she did so something fluttered
from it to the floor of the car Bob
picked it up and handed it to her with
a sinking heart. 1t was a piece Of
lace.
"Why, where did that come frOm"
Clara exclaimed in evident surprise.
Looks like some of ElstOn's GOODS"
commented Bob stepping on the
starter.
'I'm sure I didn't buy It." declared
Clara. ut must have dropped in when
l was at the store today"
But Bob was convinced. and all
night he tossed and tunbled In his
bed, his brain in a turmoil. He loved
Clara and they were to be married In
the fall, but this hOrrifying discovery
was enough to daunt any man on the
matrimonial brink. Marry a shoplift-
er? Impossible!
He was in trance all the next day,
caught between conflicting emotions.
Love was arrayed against duty-tO
himself and his employer. He must
reveal the shOplifter; 1t was what he
was paid for, and surely he could not
marry the girl in the face Of such
publicity. Still, he loved her.
That night he came to decision.
He would marry Clara, regardless. He
loved her and he would take her for
his wife, shOplifter though she was.
Perhaps she was kleptomaniac and
not responsible for her thieving ways.
If she persisted in the habit he would
try to reform her, but his bride she
would be at all costs. He would re-
sign his position rather than inform
other city.
Two days later Clara came to the
store again with Hazel, and Bob
fingered by them, determined to watch.
Miss Elston was there, waiting to take
hcr father to the golf links, and the
girls engaged in conversation at the
silk counter. Presently Mr.. Elst6n APP
peared and his daughter left with him
There goes the biggest cut-up in
college," commented Hazel. "She keeps |
the faculty in hot water all the time"
The following morning Mr.. Elston
again summoned Bob to his Office.
The shoplifter is continuing opera
you gave yourself is nearly up. Silks
were stolen yesterday and laces the |
day before. Have you a clew?"
81 have" Bob declared. II believe |
lave the shopllfter spotted, but I as
sure you l dislike revealing her idep-
tity"
"What." exploded the boss. "You |
mean to say you know the guilty |
party and yet want to shield her? |
What do pay you for, young man3 |
demand that you solve this mystery!"
VERY well. l shall do so before the
day is over"
He waited until Miss Elston arrived
and entered her fathers office. Then
Bob tapped at the door and was told
to enter.
"Mr. Elston am about to reveal
the identity Of the shOplifter. She Is
standing beside you now"
The prOprietOr's face turned livid,
and he seemed about to make an at
tack on Bob. But Miss ElstOn stepped
forward, smiling sweetly.
Father. your astute detective has
solved the mystery. When l came
home from school and learned you had
hired a detective l saw an opportunity
for some fun-t0 match my wits
against the smart sleuth. SO I have
been taking things from the store for
a month. This Is such a prosaic es-
adjustment; nothing ever happens,
and l thought it was up to me to Gre
ate some excitement as well as puz-
zIe this bright young man. Clara Sum-
mers had talked so much about her
detective lover that I decided to show
her he wasn't so much. l was ter
ribly brazen about It; even went so
far as to give Clara a rag doll had
taken; and the other day dropped
a piece Of stolen lace In her parasol,
right under Mr.. Detectives eyes-and
today got away with some silk while
he was talking to his sister and f.
ancee. I've had the whole store guess
ing, and, II was a lot of fun-aDd now
I'm ready for the penltentiary, father,
IL you wish it."
"You had me guessing" confessed
Bob. 81 thought it was Clara-until