The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-04-05
lit the 81 e. 81
Complaint
DHcR ""By KATE
, ~ AUSTIN.
Copyright, 1907, by C. Il. sutcline.


'ose from the uncomfortable settee tina
faced the complaint desk and approach
ed the young woman, seated behind thu
wide window, who was talking to tn,
checker.
"Of course it gave her good chance
to let us all know what nice whit,
arms she has, but my mother d see nt
in my grave before she'd let me go tt
bali in any such costume as that"
Twill you kindly ascertain whethel
they have found my parcel yet?" inter
fupted Marian, tapping the desk light
ly with the tips of her gloved fingers.
The young person flung her an impa
tent look.
what parcel?"
"The one about which / inquired a
intervals for the past half hour
What's your name and what's wrong
with the bundleW inquired the girl il
bored tones.
You took my name twice and tele
phoned the delivery department, and
am waiting for their report Why dt
you not call them again and see wheth
Err the parcel has been located?"
Say, do you think l want TO get the
delivery boys down on me? If they
find it, they'll tell me quick enough
IF echoed Marian, her delicate
face flushing under the girls cool in
pertinence
well, III take your name and ad
dress and drop you postal when We
find it,
Indeed, you will not. l want
now" said Marian, and she walked
away from the window, with head higl
and noStrils quivering
wonder if she's going down into the
subcellar to get it, giggled the young
person to the checker. 1T is funny how
some swells think they can come il
here and run this store. | guess she
doesn't know we've got system here
Then while the girl continued her &C
count of the fancy dress ball Marian
crossed to the main aisle, found floor
walker and asked to be directed to the
superintendent of employees. Five
presence of n smooth faced, square
shouldered chap who looked as if he
had received his training on the foot
ball gridiron rather than as stock boy
in q big department store.
Richard Burnside had risen from the
lowest ranks in the store where he was
now superintendent, studying practical
business methods by day and physica.
culture and English branches at the
Y. Nj. c. A. rooms by night.
Now he stood beside his desk. Ma.
rian Macrea's card bent between his
fingers. He looked the slender, grace
full figure over with the keen eye of
man accustomed to seeking good mate.
rial for his staff and decided that she
must be reporter or. magazine writer
hunting information about the condi-
ton of the working girl. He had met
many such since he had become super.
intendent.
What can we do for you, Miss Ma.
craze" he inquired, offering her seat.
81 merely called to ask you whether
your complaint department had been
organized for the convenience Of your
customers or to browbeat them so Of.
fectually that they will endure almost
any Inconvenience rather than make
complaints"
Richard Burnside sat down rather
suddenly. This was not just what he
had expected.
Very deliberately, but convincingly,
Marian told her story, from the indif
ference of the clerk who had first
waited on her to the impertinence of
the young woman at the complaint
desk. When she had finished, Burnside
leaned forward, his hands clasped be.
tween his knees, his face boyish no
longer, but scanned deeply with lines
Of anxiety.
miss Macrea, you have been treated
outrageously, and so have many of our
customers, and I, the superintendent
Of this store, cannot find q remedy, be
cause / cannot handle women en-
ployees. l can handle the boys in this
line, because l know boys, but the in
different. the insolent woman employee
Is beyond me-"
He glanced up to meet Marian's SYM.
pathetic glance. Impulsively he told
her Of his humble beginning the pride
with which he had accepted his new
work and his many vexations and
trials with incompetent help.
II have had five girls at that com.
plant desk, each less satisfactory than
the one before her. If l could just
find a girl with judgment, discretion
and good manners-but you can't ex
pect to find such a girl for $12 week,
can you"
His big gray eyes were lifted to
Marian's brown ones.
She laughed, a queer, chuckling little
laugh that seemed to fairly bubble up
from her slender white throat.
"Do you think would fill the bill?
| would like to earn 81 week"
"You?" gasped Burnside. his glance
travelling from her neat boots to her
trim tailored hat
"Why. yes. When came in here
never thought of such Il thing. though
| have been wanting position of
come sort. | believe I would know
whether woman had n just com
plant or was trying to cheat the firm.