The Washington times., 1901-10-13
ALL ABOUT a BARGAIN.
Mrs. Blanks Wild and Futile Race
for Reduced Cashmere

Mrs. Blank had no special longing for
a certain kind of cashmere cloth until
she saw 1t advertised in her morning pa
per at q cents a yard at a special sale
at Cheepone's. She could not resist such
| a bargain, and it was with difficulty that
she rstrained her impatience until after
| luncheon. When she entered the store
| there was no need to ask where the cash
mere cloth counter was. She Just follow
ed the crowd and succeeded in getting
within eight rows of the women of the
counter. a big woman stepped on her
toes, and when she turned around to re-
, monstrate the elbow of another woman
| bumped into her side so hard that she
gasped.
! The wild cries of those Immediately
around the bargain counter encouraged
her to push ahead, and at the end of fif-
teen minutes che was two women nearer
the goal of her desire. Occasionally she
would catch a glimpse of the cloth itself
| There was a cOmmotion behind her and
a red-faced woman with her hat hanging
/ down over one ear pushed her way in
behind Mrs. Blank
What. I cents a yard?" gasped the
red-faced woman, as she saw the sign
above the counter. why, they are SELL
ing the same thing for 10 cents a yard at
Cutems right on this street"
why did you come here, then?" asked
Mrs. Blank sharply
Thought it would be cheaper here.
Usually is, you know. I'm going back
there and out she went
Mrs. Blank hesitated just a moment
and then she began to fight her way out
of the circle of bargain hunters. If Cutem
was selling this cloth two cents a yard
cheaper Cutem should have her trade
When she reached the street she was so
confused that she walked around the
block to get to Cutems 5. though the place
was within three or four doors of the
first shop.
Much the same conditions prevailed
there around the cashmere cloth counter,
bur Mrs. Blank was cheerful for she
saw the sign ''l9 cents a yard very
plainly. Profiting by experience she
worked herself halfway through the
crowd by using her elbows regardless Of
the sides OF other people. Half an hour
filled with strenuous efforts passed quick
ly and Mrs. Blank was again within sight
of the coveted cashmere cloth when a
rumor was started by a new arrival on
the outside OF the crowd that Littleprice
y Co, TO meet their competitors cuts
had reduced their price on this same
goods to Is cents yayrd.
is it true2' sad half a dozen women,
and from the outer edge of the circle |
came 4 voice that carried conviction.
] i
self and | saw the crowd scramblng for J
it."
Tn crowd around Cutem's bargain |
couufor separated itself into forty rush |
ins .,Inung wid-eyed. covetous women, /
eaJl headed for Littleprice & Cos. two |
blocks away. Mrs. Blank went with the /
70 -. and although she was well in the /
he found there between seventy-tive !
a hundred women massed around /
5.- cashmere table underneath a sign /
bore the pleasing news rs cents /
ydSfl, special"
Other women in the crowd had evident
ly profted by the tactics they had observ-
ed In the other shops, and Mrs. Blank
attempts to elbow her way in were met
by the attempts Of other women to do the /
same thing and scowls or even reprOof in
the shape of Cant you be Lady," did
not deter a single struggler The chief
object for the moment of everyone pres
ent was to get some of that cashmere
cloth.
Mrs Blank s progress was satisfactory |
on the whole and at the end of three
quarters of an hour she was so near the |
table that by reaching over the shoulder
OF the woman in front of her she was able
to feel the cloth. That one touch of the
compensated her for all her trou-
BILE. She had intended TO buy only i've