The Tomahawk., 1925-06-25
WHY 1T
WAS THE
SPOOKERY
By ALBERT J. KLINCk
e by Short Story Pub. Coz

| AFTERNOON 10 10 the last VI ucI
IL holiday shopping. 1t was the
| day before the great festival.
and there would be no tomorrow on
which to do belated buying. She had
left much to do this afternoon. In
order to get around, she did not walt
at several counters to have her pur-
chases wrapped up, but put them d.
rectly into handbag she carried. She
also managed to have the right change
and did not have to wait for the slip
usually wrapped In with the purchase.
Now and then she took out list or
what she had to buy and. checking one
thing off after another, felt exultant
at her wonderful progress. She was
about to make the last Of her pur-
chases, when she felt a hand close
rather suddenly upon her arm. She
turned a startled face, and saw a man
standing beside her.
| Don't create a disturbance" he
said, In a low tone, but come quietly
with me to the Office. 1t Is the bet
ter way"
| For a moment Constance looked
about her. Then she fixed her eyes
upon the man.
II do not understand" she began.
There Is evidently mistake some
where. Why do you wish me to 60 to
the officer"
Come" the man said; you know
why. There Is but one reason for
asking you to 60 there" and he looked
down at the well-filled bag she car
ried.
"And you will kindly apprlse me Of
that one reason" Constance drew up
her head superbly.
Certainly. You are to come to the
Office to be searched. You are appre-
hended as a-a-shoplifter."
Constance Beverly snapped her lips
together. look of d'sdain settled
upon her face.
But the next moment she collapsed
at the thought of what her handbag
ontained-unwrapped articles, put In
topsy-turvy, and without the usual
Slips made out by the clerks.
OF course she could attempt to ex-
plain. But she knew how useless any
thing like that would be under the
circumstances. She began to think of
other things she might do, and through
this grew somewhat dazed. In the end
but one thing remained In her mind
and that was to escape from the
man beside her.
All about her was hustle. The store
held q perfect jam of people. They
were turning here and there, elbowing
their way through. Flight, Constance
thought, was plausible in that throng
But what Of the sleuth beside her?
Could she escape him?
Constance met his close gaze un-
flinchingly.
"Come, it Is time we started" he
said.
would it be Of any use to tell you
that am Constance Beverly, daughter
Of Colonel John Beverly? she asked.
A half smile shot across the mans
face.
Yesterday I caught one who said
she was the daughter Of the mayor"
was all he said.
And l suppose 1t would be quite
as useless, then. to tell you that every
thing l have in this bag Is paid for?"
she further questioned.
Madam, 1 myself saw you put some
handkerchiefs into that bag" he de-
clared 1T Is the custom Of this store
to wrap up all sales. Those hand
kerchiefs had no paper around them"
He looked triumphantly at her.
Constance tried to explain. 1t was
all quite useless.
So occupied was she in trying to de-
wise some plan whereby to elude him
who held her captive that all other
thoughts fled from her mind. She
had slowly worked her way up to the
front Of the store In the hope of max
ing q wild dash for the street should
an opportune moment present itself.
But the man followed her closely. He
saw her tactics, and began to lose
patience. He now spoke more rough
ly to her, threatening to force her
through the store and into the Office
to be searched. At this Constance
glowed with anger. Her eyes were
like live Goals. Now, more than ever,
were her hopes set on frustrating
him.
Suddenly a strange light came into
her eyes. She had leaned back and
her hand had come in contact with q
heavy curtain which hung over an
opening. Cat-like, she waited. Al
last the man turned his back to her
and looked over the surging mass, ap.
parently to call one Of his associates
to his assistance. And when he again
turned his face his fair captive had
disappeared.
For moment he stood stone still
Then he hurried to the door, through
It, and out upon the sidewalk.
Constance could not help smiling
when she saw him. She stood in the
show-wipdow, among the models, her
handbag concealed by the folds of her