The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-06-22

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VIII thS h6d56 dsfecfvS RS SiFIS Ieff
tn Store md Bob yeturped 70 hls
problem. Somehow IN must catch
this 6hoplifter. He had q good mem
Org for faces, and vet he could not
recall seeing any one person In the
store 4 sufficient number DE times 10
arouse suspicion, except, OF course, his
own sister, who frequently dropped Ii
to see him In company with Clara,
and Mr.. Elston's daughter, who called
for her father every evening and drove
him home. N
No solution had presented itself
when Bob left the store that evening
for his home. Ellis mind continued tn
dwell on the subject until he. arrived
at the front gate, where he me- Hazel
and Clara coming out OF the house.
The sun was shining brightly as II
neared the western horizon but Glara's
parasol was not In use. sa
Aren't you afraid yon1l blister your
faceT' Bob inquired.
"No." she laughed. II want d good
tan. I Just carry the parasol for
looks; 1t matches my dress"
Bob went into the house and nat III
the living room, smoking a pipe while
he continued his cogitations.
OF q sudden he bounded from his
chair and crossed the room, picking up
IN object that reposed In d corner be-
hind a focr' lamp. It vas a rag doll.
"Good heavens |" he exclaimed,
standing and staring at the doll In his
hands. "To think I should come across
the 6rst clew in my own home r He
replaced the doll in the corner. and
when his sister came home he asked
her about it. &H =, %s
"Oh. that" she laughed, "is q pres
ent from Clara-for the hard times
party" ~..~*
That started Bob on a trend Of
thought that was decidedly dispIeas-
ing. 1t could not be that Clara WA the
shoplifter, and yet-dt looked bad.
The next day Bob came across Hazel
and Clara at n of the lace counters.
They were talking to Esther Nlston,
who also attended Clayton college.
They introduced Bob, and after re-
marking about the excellent weather
Miss Elston moved away. ,c
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. @th
Bob loved fresh air and sunshine,
and except when 1t 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.
tits not necessary" she said. Il
can use the parasol I'm afraid I will
get blistered If I don't have some
shade" -"
She opened the object In question,
and as she did 50 something 1uttered
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. - NJ
"Why, where did that come fron7'
Clara exclaimed in evident surprise.
Looks like some of Elston's goods"
commented Bob stepping on the
starter. go
I'm sure 1 didn't buy IT, declared
Clara. 1T must have dropped in when
I was at the store today"
But Bob was convinced, and all
night he tossed and tumbled 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? ~Impossiblel
He was In a trance all the next day, |
caught between conflicting emotions.
Love was arrayed against duty-to
himself and his employer. He must
reveal the shoplifter; it 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 a decision.
He would marry Clara, regardless. He
loved her and he would take her for
his wife, shoplifter though she was.
Perhaps she was a kleptomaniac and
not responsible for her thieving ways.
II she persisted in the habit he. would
try to reform her, but his bride she
would be ct all costs. BE would re-
sign his position rather than inform
her, and they would live In ON
other city. 4..
Two days later Clara came to the
store again with Hazel, and Bob
fingered by them, determined to watch.
Miss Elston was there, waiting 10 take
her father to the goaf Links, and the
girls engaged in conversation 1t the
silk counter. Presently MI. Hlston ap-
peared and his daughter left with him.
There goes the biggest cut-up in
college" commented Hazel. 'eShe keeps
the faculty In hot water all the time"
The following morning Nj. Hlston
again summoned Bob to his ONCE.
1.-THE shoplifter is continuing opera
hons." he announced, "and the week
you nave yourself ID nearly up. Silks
were stolen yesterday and lAees the
day before. Have you q cier7 go
II have" Bob declared. : believe
I have the shoplifter spotted. but I as
sure You ! dislike revealing hsf iden-
tity." .
@eWhatp exploded the boass you
mean to say you know the guilty
party and yet want to shield herr
What do I pay you for, young mani
I demand that you solve this mystsry!"
"very well. I shall do so before the
day Is over" /
He waited until Miss Nlston arrived
and entered her father'S Onaco. Then