The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-25

hfnd II is, one would suppose, snOp-
| pee, and the fund of information that
the latter acquires anent feminine
human nature makes Henry James. w.
d. Howells and even Sherlock Holmes
look like thirty cents.
The social tenderfoot may have an
idea that the world of graft is popu-
lated chiefly by bold. bad men. Listen
| to the tales that the shoppee tells, you
who think so--go to the man behind
the counter and learn that lovely wo-
man is a CRATER of no mean ability.
The Juror who in the play "Resurrec-
ton" asserted that he knew all about
women" and who silenced the outburst
of incredulity that followed the state
ment by the somewhat dry remark
that he was clerk in a dry goods
store was true to life. The wise writer
who wishes to know all about the ways
of woman will do well to go to the
man behind the counter for informa-
ton.
The Confidential shoppee.
Patricia and I. to be sure. were not
out for material. Or rather. we were
out for material. but we were after the
sort that you face dress skirts with.
and not the sort you make copy of
That we should listen for a quarter
of an hour to the tales of the shoppee,
thereby greatly widening our knowl-
edge Of the sex to which we belong.
was not on the program. We went
out for yard of black silk, and re-
turned with an inciplent knowledge of
sociology. We felt as IL we had
fished for minnows and caught
whale!
Our particular shoppee was a tall
close bearded man who looked as If he
had accepted the position to which
lI
test Outwardly he was calm, but
there was that about him that con-
veyed without need of words his. opin-
ion of the justice that had consigned
him to such a fate.
While his experienced blue eye took
us in with sort of austere severity
Patricia confided to him her need of
some nou-rustling black taffeta and
| a moment later he unrolled a piece on
the counter before us, abstractedly
running his hand under the silk and
gathering II up between his thumb and
fingers to give an idea of weight and
texture. This action, 1t may be re-
| marked in passing, becomes reflex
with the clerks at the silk counters.
How much?" demanded Patricia,
with laconic brevity.
Ninety Eight cents" replied the
shoppee as concisely.
How much do you think 1t will
| take?"
The last inquiry was addressed to
| me, and I wrinkled my brow
You want it for facing?" I muir
| INJURED thoughtfully. About three
inches deep. LIE met see. I should
think quarter of a yard would be
enough"
As 1 finished speaking I met the
clerks glance and in its ironical calm
l read that he had served thousands of
women just like us. heard thousands
| of such colloquies and expected to hear
thousands more of the same sort In
the cold, concentrated impartiality Of
| that look my individuality seemed to
disappear like wrinkles under a hot
| iron.
Three-quarters of a yard" said Pa
| tricia, while love of a gray peau de
cygne on the opposite counter attract
ed my attention momentarily. and 1
paid no further heed to the two until
| the clerks even. toneless voice sound
| ed In my ears again.
| One dollar" said he with mechanical
precision
Patricia did not demur, and I was
seized with sudden suspicion that her
mathematical training had ended with
addition. 1t was obviously a chance
for person who had got as far as
quadratic equations to distinguish her
self.
Il thought you said it was 90 cents
yard" said l to the clerk, with some
surprise.
He bowed gravely.
She said three-quarters of a yard"
1 went on, argumentatively.
Again he bowed with perfect COM
posure.
"Well?"
There was no mistaking the super
cilious intention of my inquiry. The
mans calmness was exasperating
There was no perceptible change of
expression in his eyes-the eyes that
had sort of I-have- seen-and-I-haye-
suffered expression-but there was
something akin to pity in the ghostly
smile that haunted his lips as he OBJ
served:
was only repeating to your friend
the amount of the bill she handed me.
"Oh" l calculated, as If that were
what l half suspected after all, and
he tore off a page of his cash book and
handed 1t, together with the taffeta
and money. to the small girl perched
up among the shelves behind him.
There was no other customer in
sight. and Patricia and have two ed RS
apiece and the shoppee was charged
with the experience of years. The re-
quisite condition for confidence was |
fulfilled.
Strange HallucinatiOn of the shopper. |
Yes I always make a point of re-
peating back to the customer the DC |
of money received. Ladies |
get confused-get the wrong |
impression. you know. I've known 'em
awfully cut up at getting change for
a one dollar bill! You see they some
times give a one and kind o. get the
idea that 1t was a tent
What a strange hallucinationw
Patricia. her honest brown
eyes opening wide with amazement
1T is likely to happen every now
and them" replied the clerk in his
disciplined manner. Mistakes will
happen. you know! That's the reason,
you see. that when you give me one
repeated one dollar back to you. 1t
was to call your attention to the fact
that 1t wasn't a ten"
But what do you do in such cases?"
inquired I. curiously.