Evening star., 1923-03-18

1t was concealed in an envelope with
the De Grand arms in the corner. 1t
was composed as follows:
Gentlemen: Mrs. De Grand asks
| me to inform you that she has Just
| received from your Arm a statement
listing the purchase OF a $4,000 fur
I coat. She wishes me to inform you
| that there must be some mistake,
since she has not been in your shop
in more than two years. and since
| she has neither ordered nor received
| any such garment"
It was signed by the secretary.
The furriers were in CONSERVATION.
They telephoned urgently TO Mrs. De
Grand They reminded her of her
visit on the third Of the preceding
month. She repeated impatiently that
she had not been there. They gave
details. She told them colby and de-
cisively that they had been duped.
But the coat was delivered to
your house." pleaded the manager
Impossible" said Mrs. De Grand.
However, you may send some one to
investigate and question the servants
II you like
The correct address Of Mrs. De
Grand had been given and the de-
liveryman insisted that he had taken
the coat to the De Grand house and
handed 1t to a maid, who had re-
ceipted for it. He could not identify
the maid among the De Grand serv-
ants. Neither could the officers fasten
any guilt upon him. Presumably the
merchants ultimately discovered what
must have happened to their coat, but
the secret has never been barred, per-
haps on the good, old fallacious
theory that to explain the work
ings Of the plot would lead 9TH
ers to initiate 1t. Only one thing is
certain, and that is that a ''moll"
tried on and ordered the coat posing
as the society woman, and that other
members OF her gang managed some
how to get possession Of 1t. Since
four weeks elapsed between the theft
and its discovery, 1t was almost use
less to seek the thieves and none was
ever caught.
But more beautiful still is the ad-
venture Of the society woman and
the store detective.
~ X
EARLY one afternoon a richly
IL gowned woman drove UP to the
establishment OF one OF the great fur
riers. left her limousine standing at
the curb and hurried in to demand i'm
mediate attention. She must have a
sable evening wrap at once. Had they
any made up? Four or five were
shown her and she selected the best
in great hurry. Then she asked to
see the credit man.
II am Mrs. Grattan Jones Of Stam-
ford" she said, really using the name
Of rather we'll known attorney and
capitalist. I'VE haven't an account In
this store, I believe. but you must
know who we are have Just picked
out a sable wrap which want to
wear tonight. I wonder If you can
let me have it and send the bill to Mr..
Jones on Monday"
1--WE might be able TO do that If we
had Mr.. Jones' o. X. on It," said the
credit man. May I telephone him
and ask"
Mrs Jones displayed Immediate dis
tresA
Unfortunately he's out OF the otty
and will not return till Monday" she
said. But surely you can let me have
1t. Ny husband will pay for anything
I want"
Just here this subtle little actress
dug a very fine steel into the psy.
chology of the credit man. He knew
these little tricks of frivolous women
with close-fisted husbands. This de-
lightful Mrs. Jones would take the
wrap. wear 1t to her function. stun
her rivals and accomplish her ends
on Monday, when tho bill was pre-
sented TO Jones. there would be q