Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-07-19
THE MANAGER


vour steadies during business hours,
laughed q lace counter girl You re eX-
ne rted to have your mind sulcty on
business and do your little best TO pro
mote the interests Of the firm, don't you
know" T.,
nothing to me. I'm working for the best
interests of Susie Gibbons, and don't let
ANYBODY forget it, Besides, that hatetul
Venner had no business to come shopping
around just when ] was talking CONN.,
dental matters. Don't you THINK So
Ethcl?'
81 think he's horrid," her counter mate
responded He always looks like meat
AK -,
who'd ever want to marry him?"
ron. I don't know. He might be
tanned" --....o.,
why don't you take the job, Kitty"
Whereat they giggled and trooped down
the aisle to the big front door.
A moment later man emerged from
behind the new partition. 1t was John
Venner the manager Of the great store. A
faint smile lowered about his lips.
whats the old proverb about listen
ers?" he muttered. at is quite evident
that / do not hold desirable place In
the good graces Of these young women.
I'm sorry overheard their talk I would
have showed myself, but l couldn't very
well after they had fired their broad
side. I'm a hard man, all right but I've
never to my knowledge done any man or
woman an injustice. Who was the girl
who stood up for me? She called me
a gentleman. Her name Is Alice and she
is a newcomer. ] wonder II they were
right when they said she would learn to
hate me as the others do? None Of
them seem to realize that l am but
steward here"
Alice Landon's duties were not exact
I ,1ya Inrr
useful There were little annoyances now
and then, but they did not discourage her.
One day. however a more serious dis
pute arose over n sale that Alice had made,
and the purchaser, a Tnatron Of command
ing and somewhat offensive manners,
finally declarde that a certain piece Of lace
she had purchased was damaged when II
left the counter. Alice remembered the
sale very well and knew that the woman
was mistaken. Consequently she held
her ground, and the woman departed,
vowing to obtain satisfaction from the
management
A little later Alice was summoned by
boy to come to the managers office. She
found the manager there and the iras
chile matron.
Miss Landon." said the manager in
his measured tones, you understand the
claim made by Mrs. Harrington. Let me
hear your story"
You may 60. Miss Landon"
Late that afternoon shower came up,
and when Alice Landon, trailing behind
the girls as was her custom, passed
through the big door. she hesitated
moment having no umbrella.
Then voice greeted her. 1t was that
Of the manager.
Let my umbrella and myself accom-
pany you to your car" he said, and fell
into step beside her.
Il think owe you a little explanation"
he presently added. Perhaps Mrs Har-
rington's thoughtless remark annoyed
you. but you should remember that she
was very angry and very unreasonable
when she made IT. She went away
threatening me with the loss of her GUS
tom and promising TO write a full ex-
PLANTATION Of the matter to Miss Carml-
chael"
Miss Carmichael"
The owner of our store and my res
pected employer She is now In Switzer-
land, I believe. I have never seen her
Perhaps she may conclude to dispense
with my services when she views Mrs
Harrington's letter"
"Oh, that would be too bad"
Thank YOU. But I'm not very much
alarmed In fact have a tempting offer
from man Of means to enter into part
nership with him. I believe I need n
change. I've no doubt I'm RAPIDLY be-
coming mere machine. I am thirty
two years old and all know is business
business, nothing but business"
He spoke little bitterly. but his face
quickly cleared as he caught the girls
gaze.
They say YOU have been very success
full" she said, 'Will you let me know II
you hear from Miss Carmichael on this
subiect?"
why, yes, I will" he said"
lie
Thank you, and good night"
Two DAYS later Alice Landon went to
the stockroom on the eleventh floor
When she had found the goods she
wanted she started TO return AS the
elevator descended she stood close to the
hoy. II was a swift and noiseless car
Her gaze was directed downward
As the car reached the second floor the
boy slackened its speed a little. Then
the girl leaning forward, saw the back OF
man close to the elevator shaft on the
floor below. He evidently had opened the
ment.
With quick and firm grasp she caught
at the rope and checked the car lust in
time to prevent its knocking the man into
the opening.
He drew back and stood there ms the
car slowly settled at the floor level.
The man was John venner.
The girls white face scared him more
than his recent danger
Thank YOU, Miss Iandon," said John
Nenner, I'm soTy YOU were startled
was just doing what I've cautioned The
help one hundred times not to do Are
you all right now?"
You were very careless" the girl ra.
sponded Good managers owe It to
their employees not to take such risks &"
Il hadn't thought Of it in that light :"
ne laughed, I'm promise to be more
considerate."
Every afternoon thereafter he waIl,Ad
with the girl to the car and, strange 10
say his attentions were not noted bv the
other clerks fact for which the girl
was profoundly thankful
Ana then one morning a messenper
summoned her to the managers private
He was there alone
i have heard from Miss Carmichael {"
ne said, II received a letter this morn
ing through her lawyer here. It Is a
it." 4'e stahu
And what does she say about the Har.
rington matter?"
she touches on It very lightly. She
says she has entire confidence in nv dis
erection. But here is what puzzles me
she offers me an interest in the concern
with an Increase in salary on two condi-
uons. One is that I give up all idea ~
seVering my connection with the house M