A few years ago I came across a compilation book of my mother's,
looking to be from the 70's/early 80's.  It was filled with short
stories (among them, Lois Gould's "Project Baby X").  The particular
story I would love to know the title of involves a man who becomes
addicted to robbing a certain man's home and stealing his nice
cashmere jackets and other clothing.  The man whom he robs begins to
leave notes on the door (ex: "Helga, I'll be home at 2:30 today, so
don't worry about cleaning the bathroom"), and the robber is thrown
off.  The homeowner comes up with several different notes to put on
the door, but the robber catches on when one note stays on for several
days.  Finally, the homeowner posts a note that says he has purchased
a wild puma that is roaming free in the house, and should the robber
enter, he will be ripped apart.  The robber doubts it, until he sees
something moving inside the house, but seized by his addiction and his
doubt, he enters regardless.  Actually inside is the homeowner.  They
have their words and the resolution of the story is that the homeowner
and the robber end up going into business together creating clever
notes as deterences for intruders.
  I believe the title of the book is actually the name of the
homeowner, to the effect of "The Mind of Harry Haskins" or something
like that.  I'm pretty convinced the first and last name begin with
the same consonant.  And I'm also fairly sure it's an 'H', but of
course I could be wrong.  The reason I mentioned Lois Gould's "Baby X"
is that, if you could find out which compilations her story has been
in, they would also find my story.  I just can't seem to find it
myself.  If you can help me that would be wonderful!

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 30 Dec 2005 03:26 PST

Do any of the titles in this book ring a bell?

http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:BKjEpWSXWGQJ:emmapac.emmaclark.org:90/kids/1955,2125/search/tX-men./tx%2Bmen/-5,-1,0,B/bibframe%26FF%3Dtx%261,1,+%22Lois+Gould%22+%22short+stories%22&hl=en

Best wishes,
Rainbow

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Clarification of Question by exardesco-ga on 01 Jan 2006 13:10 PST

I'm sorry, those titles don't sound familiar.  I think this was a
college book, so the subject material may have been more geared
towards adults.  It also had different pictures of modern art between
the stories.  I may be wrong, but I think "the secret life of walter
mitty" was also among them.  Baby X was for sure, though.  thank you

I may be wrong on this, but that sure sounds like a story which was
printed in PLAYBOY magazine, and it would have been no later than the
70's, since I have not received that magazine in many years.  (My
first wife subscribed to the magazine for me, and I did not wish to
spend the money...)

It very well may have been.  I'm 22 and female, so I haven't really
had the occasion to read a Playboy from the 70's.  If you could recall
any more details about the story that I have forgotten, that would be
so helpful!