A "scooperoo" tale of the grand larceny of a valuable Shakespeare folio and an international search of private detectives appearing in last night's Record failed to rouse more than a perfunctory denial from Widener authorities.

The story published in George W. Clarke's column, "Man About Town," described the thief as "a man in clerical garb" seen, but not disturbed, by attendants.

"So rare," the article continues, "is the work that it will eventually be recovered, but not before 10 or 15 years," all of which will be most reassuring when the deed does occur.