Josie could not help being flattered by Sergeant Tanner’s recognition of merit but she merely blushed a little and said:
“It was all luck, absolutely nothing but luck that made me successful in those cases.”
“I hope your luck will keep up,” said Mr. Cox.
“Of course plain clothes men are what we will need,” said the sergeant, “and I think I’ll be one of them. Shall I take over the apartment house and the entrances to Burnett & Burnett’s?”
“All right!” agreed Jimmy ruefully, “but what’ll I be doing? I want to get in on this somewhere.”
“You might be an inside man and help me in the shop,” said Josie. “Somebody must watch Major Simpson or he’ll bungle things.”
Sergeant Tanner was much amused over the poor Major and his bungling.
“He’s a terrible dub at detecting. If he had called us in on this shoplifting trouble we might have helped him but old Simp thinks he knows it all and he is as ignorant of the game as a new born babe. Now, Miss O’Gorman, I’ll detail some sharp men to keep an eye on the apartment house to-night and others to look after it every minute of the day to-morrow.”
“And I’ll come in the shop and buy things and even make up to Miss Fauntleroy,” suggested Jimmy.
“Don’t get too much in evidence,” cautioned Josie. “And Sergeant Tanner, be sure to keep a watch over the blind beggar man in front. As for the woman with papers, I have an idea she will not come to work for a day or so, not in the guise of an old woman, at least.”