WOMEN AS SLEUTHS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 142, 16 June 1923, Page 11

WOMEN AS SLEUTHS

A COAT THAT WAS FOUND.

When women eet themselves out to get what they want, they invariably get it. They may coax, cajole, coerce, or connive; there are dozens of ways besides being peeved (remarks the Christchurch "Sun"). But here is a ease of three women resorting to a tidy piece of "sleuthing" to recover a valuable coat that was mourned as lost.

It was mentioned in "The Sun" on Saturday that a valuable coat was aold by mistake at a jumble sale a fortnight ago. The coat, a Bilk-lined Burberry, was bought about twelve months age- for £22 10s. There was & 10s note, purse, and a pair of gloves in a pocket. Yet, the saleswoman at the sale sold the coat, money, and gloves for Is 6d. Every sec-ond-hand shop in the city was searched 1 for that coat, advertisements were resorted to, and the detectives were informed. Well, on Saturday, the erstwhile owner of the coat took two of the assistants at the sale on a quiet little motor-car jaunt around the jumble sales of Christchurch. Jumble sales are very popular in Christchurch; there were four on Saturday. At the fourth sale one of the women sleuths sought out a face that was not unfamiliar. There was an element of doubt Did the sleuths rush in and say: "Where's that coat?" No.

Quietly, one woman slipped out and telephoned for a detective. The professional sleuth did not arrive pronto, and the watchers in the hall saw their quarry, tired of a show that held no more bargains in* Burberry's, walk out. Discreetly, the women followed, and they followed far, the trail leading past the Pumping Station. The quarry entered her abode. Then the detective came into the picture. His inquiries met with head shakes and denials generally. Finally there came an admission. She denied, however, that there had been money in a pocket. She said that she did not know that the coat was valuable or that a search was being mada for it.

At all events the coat was restored, Is 6d was repaid, but the 10s note and the purse and gloves have gone for ever. Naturally, the good reward offered for the return of the coat was not paid.