The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-19

NE ulTSctlons tnat SOUNDED like a
recipe for plum pudding; but eVentu-
ally unravelling them found the coun-
ter and the gloves.
But finding the gloves was not buy
ing them, as | was soon to discover.
Before this counter stood a row of wo-
men even more formidable than the
row at the counter where the belts
were not sold. 1 bided my time AS
at that other counter at last some
one went away and l took her place.
" 1 should like pair of suede gloves
L ventured
what number?'
Number six
''She turned her head critically side
wise and looked at nay hand.
II think you must be mistaken,
said she. Your hand looks as if you
might wear six and a quarter if not
six and q half
Il also looked at the hand. 1 had
been buying gloves for it for some
years.
mo, 1 said firmly, I don't wear
any larger size. / am sure l don't.
Still, when she looked at me like that
1 was not so sure. However, L en-
deavored to put on a brave front. L
know wear a number six l reiter
ated. Why, once, l even wore five
and three quarters BY this time L
had taken to stammefing.
suppose you know best she said
coolly, in a tone which implied that
she knew 1 didn't know best. What
color?'
Gray 1 replied at a venture.
Really, 1 didn't know whether 1
was also beginning, in spite of my bra
very, to be more and more at sea in
regard to the size.
'She vanished beneath the counter
for brief moment, drew out a large
nat box, appeared once more above
the surface, opened the box and took
out a pair of gloves l was struck
with amazement to see that they were
the color l had asked for, gray.
What size?' she asked once more.
Six l stammered again, dizzy
with wondering whether she thought
l had given place to another customer
during the period of her submergence,
or if she was only trying to get me
hopelessly muddled in regard to the
size.
Your hand she began.
81 know l interrupted, it looks
large, very, very large; but l wear a
"She slowly removed some tissue pa
per from the gloves and handed them
to me.
Will you try them on for me?'
inquired.
mo said she in a tone of deter
mination We don't try one dollar
and a half gloves. Only two dollar
gloves. From that on up
Now. the question was, were those
gloves too small for me, or were they
not? L was sure, or l had been sure,
that wore a six. To be quite sure
L took off one of my old gloves and
measured it. | also looked at the num-
ber. Yes, there it was in letters faded
somewhat, but discernible. The num-
Der six.
'See,' said 1. holding up the glove
for her inspection.
She yaWned.
al see,' said she when her mouth
came to again; that is a six. But
this glove, though we are selling it
at reduced price, is an entirely diff
ferent glove. l am sure it would be
too small, because it doesn't stretch
- And you won't try it on for me?
4" No. she replied, not at that
price
Then 1 am afraid 1 can't take
them said l.
"'As you please said she, and was
dismissed.
LAS 1 wandered disconsolately down
the aisle l again consulted my little
memorandum book. The next item
was handkerchief.
THE fioorwalker directed me to the
handkerchief counter which | found
with less difficulty, having grown fa-
miliar, what with wandering up and
down and this way and that. with the
store. The counter was spread with
hardkerchiefs of every shape, color
and variety.
Il found a vacant place and stood pa
tiently awaiting my turn. The shop
girls were exceedingly busy. They
rushed hither and thither. waiting on
the crowd. l drew a handkerchief box
near me and picked up the top one. l
liked it. / looked up at the clerk.
" What is the l began.
'Ca-a-asssssh!' she yelled
-" What is the price 1 began
again.
Z" I'll wait on you directly said she,
and with that she fed to the far end
of the counter, hid herself behind a pile
of hand1erchiefs and a dozen or so
customers and l saw her no more.
II corralled another clerk
" How much is this began.
" I'll wait on you directly she
shouted as she passed me on the fly.
'Ca-a-sss-sh!'
Il knew how that was by this time.
1t was her busy day. I never laid
eyes on her again.
Il fingered the handkerchief and
sighed. 1 wanted it awfully, but how
was to get it. There was the money
in the pocketbook to pay for it if l
only knew the price.
"They wouldn't tell me the price,
they wouldn't wait on me, they would
MT let me buy it. 1 gathered it up.
How pretty it looked with the middle
all crumpled up in my hand and the
ends sticking out! They wouldn't let
me buy a belt or pair of gloves. Sure
ly they would let me buy handker-
chief.
How much is this handker-' I
began again, as another Shopgirl
alighted for a brief period in my vi
cinity.
" IN tell you soon,' she said. I'm
busy now. Ca-s-s-sh!
Il sighed again. Evidently the only
way to buy things in that store was
to break in at daylight and nail the
clerks as they came in from break
fast. Hereafter, / concluded, that was
what / would do.
But wanted the handkerchief that
very day. ! stuck it into my muff to
see how it looked. Just then a clerk
came up.
. Have you got what you wanted?'
she asked.
II gasped as / looked down at the
handkerchief sticking out of my muff.
Yes. | had got what l wanted; but
how was / to explain how had got 1t?
| thought the girl looked at me suspic-
iously.
asked. and the tone of her voice was