Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-05-07
boobies
SOAP THIEF
DETECTOR
BY HAROLD KINSABBY
20 by Short Story Pub. Coz

Y OdN JEFFERSON DOODLE de-
rived large amount of pleasure
from the knowledge that he was
considered a crank In boobies
opinion cranks were persons who,
knowing the right way, refused to
have things done in any other. John
Jefferson demanded full value for his
own money and persisted in giving the
same in return for the money of 9th
ers. Business back-steps, fool fakery,
and lame excuses were foreign to his
methods, so when he opened his res
taurant success was assured. Doodle's
was the most up-to-date cafe in the
entire eating zone. The food, service
and appointments were of the best,
and from the opening day the future
prosperity Of Doodle was something
that fifth-rate prophet could foretell
without running the risk of head
ache.
But Doodle's cafe was in the direct
line of a trouble cyclone. In the
Mushrooms connected with the estab-
lishment the proprietor supplied the
finest toilet soap that money could
buy, but unfortunately for the peace
of mind of John Jefferson he was
called upon to supply much more than
legitimate demands required. Expen-
sive soap proved a tempting bait to
unprincipled patrons, and Doodle soon
discovered that something like forty
dollars worth of soap was removed
to meet the daily demands of his six
washing could not possibly be respon-
sible for this enormous outlay, so
Doodle set his brain the task of de-
vising a plan by which the thieves
could be detected.
AS all the world knows, various In
genious schemes have been tried with
the object of protecting the soap In
the Mushrooms of hotels and restau~
rants. The cakes have been chaiaed
to the washstands, for example, only
to be cut away by well-to-do people
who take things as they come. Again,
hotel proprietors have put up liquid
soap in fixed contrivances, but the
kleptomaniacs outwitted the vigilance
of the worried owners. The soap was
carried away in bottles, and the UNI
fortunate proprletors, finding 1t i'm
possible to circumvent the ingenuity
of the thieves, furnished common soap
in large quantities as the only means
of lessening their loss.
But Doodle continued to buy the
finest toilet soap that was on the mar
ket, and he was determined that no
thief would make him change his
methods. On this account he set his
wits to work and Doodle's Soap Thief
Detector was the result.
The cafe owner was In rapture over
his invention. Its ability to do all
that he claimed for 1t was beyond
question. He had 1t patented, fitted
to the washstands, and then awaited
results.
The detector was a simple contri-
vance. 1t consisted of a small kodak
like arrangement concealed behind the
mirror that hung above each wash
bowl, the eye Of the camera being hid
den among the electric light fixtures
The picture-taking device was con
nected with the soap tray in such
manner that person lifting the soap
relieved the pressure upon a button
in the bottom Of the tray, and was by
this means Immediately photographed
by the unseen instrument. When the
soap was replaced a self-developing
film was moved up In readiness to snap
the next person who lifted the tablet,
but II 1t was not replaced the photo
graphic apparatus stopped working
and the picture Of the soap thief was
therefore, the last on the films
Doodle gave orders to his staff to
Immediately report to him when they
found a cake of soap missing from Its
tray, and on the first day he waited
anxiously. John Jefferson had phllan-
thrOpic ideas and he considered the
exposure of soap thief an act for
the benefit of the community. He had
not long to wait Dinner had scarce
ly been served when a cake Of soap
was reported missing and the pro
prletor Immediately stepped to the
Mushroom and took the film from its
place of cOncealment. The last snap
shot was that Of well-dressed mid
dle-aged man, .and Doodle, with the
long film In his hand, walked down
the big dining room In search Of the
original. At the very last table he
found his man, and, leaning over, ad
dressed him.
Pardon me-" he said, quietly, touch
ing an OvercOat that hung near the
customer, SIS this your overcoat?"
The diner nodded.
"Then," continued John Jefferson,
Twill you kindly take out Of the pocket
the cake of soap you took from the
washstand a few moments ago."
The accused man grew red In the
face and indignant, but Doodle was
persistent.
VERY WE'LL" he said, when the Gus
toner refused TO comply with the re-
quest, II will take 1t out myself It
belongs to me-"
He inserted his hand In the pocket
OF the Overcoat and drew forth the
missing soap wrapped in one Of the
small hand towels also belonging to
the establishment.
"As | thought" commented Doodle.
"a wet piece Of soap calls for dry
wrapper, and | suffer doubly. Now,
sir, you had better keep quiet have
soap and that picture is yours" lie