The sun., 1889-12-08
THE FLOOR WALKERS DAY.
FOURTEEN HOURS WITH CAPE, sTKN
or FOURTEENTH sTREEE


spd Extraordinarily.
On the ferryboat that was scheduled to
have the Hoboken clip at TX O'Clock one morn
Inc last week was a young man distinguished
nv blond hair. a blond moustaolle and Ger
man cast'of countenance. He was very earnest
lacking and at this moment especially his brow
vas knitted into many frowns for the boat was
ia,e and he was in a hurry to get over to the
st,v Tho boat finally got away. packed from
sten TO stern with busy workers going to their
nlaoss OF employment In the big city. 1t had
hardly touched the New York side before he,
Tho had elbowed his way to the front Of the
crowd. Jumped upon the landing and rushed
A. fast as his legs could carry him to one Of
tbe Fourteenth street cars that had already
stsrtsd on its way eastward.
II was now twenty-five minutes Of 8, as he
acted with many dubious shakes OF the head
vhIle staring into the face OF his old-fRshioned
silver watch. Tho car rolled along In an exas-
peratIngly slow manner. 1t was fifteen min
utes lator when he reached q certain dry goods
store on Fourteenth street He jumped OF the
car and ran across the few feet OF pavement
and sidewalk to the store entrance.
WELL" ho said, as he glanced up at the big
oock hanging from the ceiling Of the centre
aisle, Pm only Eve minutes late after ALL"
Good morning, Mr.. stein," said the watch
man OF the store as he walked in. Tho super
intendent has already been inquirinE for you."
Mr.. Stein became depressed again. and
walked back to the superintendent without
removing his coat
"You wanted to SOC me. sira" ho said to the
superintendent
The latter looked up from some papers and
handed over to Mr.. Stein package Of letters.
MIR. Stein shrugged his shoulders "a he glanced
over them and put them aside. while he at
tended to the first duties Of the day He was
tho floor walker in the china department which
included brlc-a-brac and artificial flowers. He
took down the time book and. while waiting for
the clerks to come In. walked up and down
through his department, looking SHARPLY at the
counters TO see that the stock had been left in
proper order the night before. A few minutes
before the clerks began to troop In. As each
same In. he or she walked up to Mr.. Stein and
waited until he had entered the name and the
time. As he made the entries. Mr.. Stein kept
up running commentary upon them.
well. now" he said. there are still two
behind time again. would like to know why
Miss Clark is always late. Curious about
Jackson now. because he Is usually ahead Of
time. Yes come to think Of 1t, / never knew
him to be late before"
He was interrupted at this moment by mos
Oenger who came up with note for him. Tho
messenger was small boy. very much out oi
breath. who had evidently been running to de-
liver his note. Mr.. Stein tore It open and read
as follows:
DEAR Mr. srImI am very sorTy that eannot get
down to-day, but slipped last night and turned my
ankle 20 that cannot walk Hope to be down to NOR.
row. Your truly, oHARLHs JAoKsoA
THAT'S too bad" said Mr.. Stein. talking
partly to himself and partly to the boy. Jack
son is o good clerk. and. further than that,
can Ill afford to spare him in this busy season.
He knows moro about the stock. and is moro
competent to assist me. than any one have
Yes, sIr." said the boy. "He tried to get up
mother 9s wouldn't let him come although ho
Stein nodded and said:
Your brother. suppose7"
Then. as the boy answered in the affirmative.
"Teii him not to come until ho Is all right
from the goods. dustinR and preparing for the
dhay work. ssn EhS bothered By
prepared to admit. was inclined to be o little
iInausnt Miss Clark came In 6e said to her
Nov, what is the matter this morning. Mise
Clark Why are yor late aGain2 warn y9,Ml
os Isn M
The Girl he was talking to was pale and deli
and as Mr.. Stein spoke tears came into her
oyee. ,., m, s..,, 81. al, .,..
my mother is very sick again and had to go
for the doctor just as was about to start over
Mr. Stein. looked at her for q moment as
Well that's ali right" no said after pause.
Seh % adsred 81 b s sSznSs e Sny %9y hs 3
morning and am little irritable. You may 20
Q little earlier this evening II your mother Is
a flush which betokened both gratitude and
pleasure spranR into the young girls face as
Ghe hurried to her place with q muttered
Mr. Stein now surveyed critically the appear
Qnce OF the counters. gave few directions as
cd especial attention. called to. and then With
he tSpE u and F9Sd tSd
sapePntondent si seysra Of them N % were e. psr sae
sonal letters. which had been addressed to him
3t the store. These he thrust aside as soon ns
turned to the others; They we're all from GUS
toners and referred to erticles that he'd been n
ana hd 20 oerfs Rs
had been inattentive. and that the house was
evidently run on poor system or else THO
There was nothing new In them. and Mr.. Stein
%as Iva,s hardly annoyed 80 accustomed was he to
letters OF tne klnQ.
Nevertheless, II was his duty to look up each
complaint and question each clerk regarding
it. This entailed considerable work. for he had
to look up the alleged orders In several books
and trace them to their end. AS nearly each
one Of the complaining customers had failed to
give the date Of the purchase, or any definite
regarding 1t, nearly the enttre let
ter being devoted to abuse Of the clerk and the.
firm. Mr.. Stein was compelled to do consider
able guessing before he could arrive at any In
formation. This not altogether agreeable task
having been finally completed. and the letters
answered. Mr.. Stein was prepared to attend to
the more pressing duties OF the day.
The first OF these was to send the time book
TO the firm. with such remarks and explana-
tions as he deemed necessary II Mr.. Stein
bad at this moment been In the same CROSS
humor as when he started his days work. II is
again been hauled over the Goals BY her
superiors, for she had been late several morn
ings withinla week. and 1t was rule Of the house
not to keep dllatory employees. But Mr.. Stein
was good enough to write the word sickness"
after the time Of her, entry, and thus ,averted
disposed Of. The book had Just left
hr. STEMS hands. whom he heard ayoice say:
Are YOU fioorwalker in this departmentT
Mr. Stein turned around to see d tall. majestic
looking woman, with sealskin and diamonds
and the naughty manner OF a princess. He
gave an inward Rroan. but said. pleasantly:
Yes. madam. What can i do for you"
!" / want to know" said the lady In a loud