Constance Dunlap

with me for a few moments to

ed at the jewelry counter of Stacy's to have a ring repaired and had

, quite inconspicuous, with a keen eye that seemed to take in

e could express even surprise, adde

then realized what had h

r husband, one of the few pieces of jewelry, treasured not only for its intrinsic v

ng more than she had noticed scores of time

sts in the store if we can help it, because we don't like to make a scene. It's bad for business. Besides, if she had anything else, we are safer when the case comes to cour

oman mechanically. At least there w

you will help identify her the store management will appreciate it-and make it

seemingly unable to decide which of a number of beautiful rings she really wanted. She remembered because, with her own l

sity, Constance followed the wo

ng cases, was a young woman, perhaps twenty-six or seven. On a table before her lay a pile of laces and small trinke

fact, her face bore evident traces of refinement, and her long, slender fingers hinted at a nervous,

that we must make an example of some one. It's serious for us dete

-I just couldn't help it," sobb

they all say. But you've been caught

and the man turne

id you find anythin

t think it is an alias-at least, if it is, not an alias for any one we have any record of. I've a good eye for faces, and there isn't one

her woman detective, motioning to Constance, who had

ing, which Constance

yours?"

felt sure that she would have said no. But, then, she reflected, there was that pile

for the salesgirl who waited on you to identify you and your check

nce sa

or displaying our goods. But it's too high. They are the department store's greatest unsolved problem. Now most of the stores are working together for their common interests, seeing what they can do to root th

n Constance, wondering at herself. Strangely, she

been caught at it," corrected t

Sometimes an irresistible impulse to st

listened there seemed to come a complete break

man, "can it! Cut

he counters, is it any wonder that some poor woman or girl should be tempted and fall? There, before her eyes and within her grasp, lies the very article above all others wh

and-none of you. I don't crave anything. I-I just-can't help it-and then, afterwards-I-I H

ial on the table, and the unwinking gaze of the store detectives. True, the girl had taken a very valuable diamo

the man who beckoned her aside to talk

e asked of the girl. She nodded. "And that woman

ned?" he asked Constance as they faced Ki

detective squarely in

ainst her. She doesn't even look like a professional bad character. No-I'll not appear to

tives were preparing to argue. Constance hardly knew what she

ill do. If you will let her go I will look a

He read it carefully, and a puzzled look came over his face. "Charge

sitated. Then he s

," he said,

the desk, filled in a few blanks, then

," he said

r and read. It was

with intent not to pay therefor, and by reason of the withdrawal of the complaint of larceny, OF WHICH I AM GUILTY, I hereby remise, release, and forever discharge the said Stacy Co. or its representat

, Kitty

ad quietly been taken, "they are going to let you go this time-with me. Come, straighten your hat, wipe y

other and a brother were living. She herself had a small annuity, sufficient to live on modestly, and had come to New York seeking a career as an artist. Her story

t with two friends, a man and his wife, both of whom happened to be out when they arrived. As Constanc

when the girl had sunk half exhau

s to the back of her head, "and I have a terribl

und of a key in the door. A young woman in black entered. She was well-dressed, in fact e

," she cried, "wh

ance, added, "let me introduce my friend, Mrs. Dunlap. This is Mrs. Ann

nd the woman held o

im, is not at home, but we are a very happy littl

in. Between sobs she blurted out the whole of the sordid story. And as sh

and extended her

you for what you have done for Kitty? She is al

oice. But Constance could not quite make

nything like that

her such a talking to that I thought she would be a

she had an engagement for the evening. As she ros

at the door, "and if you will let me know when anythi

nd I want to add my thanks to Kitty's for

all. As she passed them she thought she recognized one of the voices. She lowered her head, and fortunatel

irs. Instinctively she realized that something was wrong.

ason it out. Then she crept back, and climbed the stairs noiselessly. Voices inside the apartment tol

ood, and as she stood there she co

she heard the strange

hen her voice trailed off into

, Kitty?" as

e, Jim. I've had it all day. I

hope it gets

go away as suddenly as they com

voice the

ie. "They have a lot of new diamonds from Arkansas, they say,-one

ee the papers,"

e rustle of

It must be great. I've he

seen it?"

I intend

Constance, fearing to be discovered, d

nstance arrived at the apartment it was closed, and a neighbor informed

t, she did not notice that a man who had been loite

, "you're traveling w

here was no concealment possible now. Her only refuge was silence. She

e her, and adding contemptuously, "I don't kno

ce bit

ied. "Then I'

e could see from the corner of her eye, a full face and a profile p

tly she recognized the face. It was Annie Grayson,

consorts with. Why, they call Annie Grayson the queen of the shoplifters.

before, but thought better of it. There was no use in angering Drummond fur

osed his hand to her, even partially. She felt that she must see Kitty before it was too late. Then the thought crossed her mind

as she waited and watched, she tried to reason

terested her particularly. She had talked to the doctor about it, and as she talked an idea had occurred to her that it might have other uses than those which the doctor made of it. She had bought one. While she was waiting it occurred to her that perhaps

ed it, her hand trembling, for she felt sure that it w

the call and found that it was from Drummond. It w

mble's advertised the new diamond, the Arkansas Queen, on exhibition. Well, it was made of paste, anyway. But it was a perfect imitation. But that didn't make any difference. We caught Ki

r. Constance realized suddenly the truth. Th

ickly. "Well, can you wait there just a

vertheless she decided to go. As she left her apartment hurriedly s

the door to a little room at Trimble's much like that which she had already seen at Stacy's. "A

would almost have fainted if Constance had not caught her. It seemed as if something had snapped in the girl's make-up. For the first time tears came. Co

ance a moment later as she found an

the replica in time, saw a little spot of carbon on it-and she was shadowed and arrested just as she

picture that had appeared in the papers the nig

?" shrugged Dr

ed him squarel

e Grayson?" she

. We have a record against the Carr girl. We can use it against her friend. We're just about taking her to the flat to identify the Grays

ll she went with them. There was always

itchenette loud voices told them

nd str

sets and stacked on the table riveted Constance's eyes. Only dimly she could hear that

, laces, jewelry and trinkets, little antiques, even rare books-everything small and portable, some of the richest and most exquisi

rayson at bay, Drummond, cool, supercilious, Kitty almost on the edge of collaps

school for shoplifters. In addition to her other accomplishments, the queen of the shoplifters was a "Fagin," educa

ght sight of Constance

had broken loose a

d, "one of these departme

had leaped to her feet and

as loyal as she was to me this would never have happened-I should never have

nd out Annie Grayso

nking sarcastically to the two other men. "None of that. We shall need both of you

humping like a sledge-hammer. There was Kitty Carr, in a revulsion of feeling, her hands pres

he night before. With her back to the others, she reached quickly into her hand-bag and pulled out the

he poor girl, and gently stroked her f

not well, Kitty. Perhaps, after all, t

verge of the wildest hysterics. Annie Grays

face. As he looked down he saw what Constance w

l disorder, a mania, which is uncontrollable, and takes this outlet. It is em

ment with a significant glance a

the satisfaction-call it what you will-of taking them. A thief works for the benefit he may derive from objects stolen after h

so careful not to get caught? Every one is responsib

had whee

d consequences, craftily avoiding detection with an almost superhuman cunning. No; the test is whether knowing the nature and consequences,

arm. If it had been a Bertillon camera, or even a finger-print outfit, Annie Grayson would proba

ses framed up by the experts to cover up plain ordinary stealing. But did y

hief. There is the insane desire to steal-merely for stealing's sake-a morbid craving. Of cours

"Such diseases are the product of civilization, of sensationalism. Naturally enough, then, woman, with her delicately balanced nervous organizati

ad pa

ing?" asked Drummond as he tapped th

somehow instinctively regarded it with somewhat

ygmomanometer-the little expert witness that never lies-one of the instruments the insurance companies use now to register blood pressure and discover certain diseases. I

Drummond's arm. He

ssure. Kitty Carr is absolutely abnormal. I do not know, but I think that she suffers from periodic

e thing carefully. Constan

husband?" she

," she replied bitterly. She had been watching Constance narrowly, qu

ked at Drummo

ver catch him," he said. "He got the jump on u

t the little innocent-looking

med suddenly, with al

egistered a sudden, access of emotion totally concealed

od by the open window facing the street, a bright little police whistle gleaming in her

peaking r

e to piece it together. Kitty is suffering from a form of vertigo, an insanity, kleptomania, the real thing. As

So did the whi

not caught, even by a man who lived with her

o face out her accusers at

Annie," cut

d laid for you. I take pleasure, Mr. Drummond, in presenting you with better evidence

pa

m it because the real shoplifter, the queen of the shoplifters, Annie Grayson, has worked out a brand-new scheme, taking up a tr