The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-04-04
ut the = = i
Complaint
Doc -.-By KATE
0&0h AUSTIN.
q CopyFighl. no. by g. II. satoliffe.
1,so..O.N@o.S.0 o.o.As0Sa.rs.

~ L
For the third time Marian Maerea
oss from the uncomfortable settee that
faced the complaint desk and approach.
ed the young woman. seated behind me
wide window, who was talking to the
checker.
''of course It gave her a good chance
to let US all know what nice white
arms she has, but my mother a see me
in my grave before she'd let me GO to,
a bali in any such costume as that"
"wiiI you kindly ascertain whether
they have found my parcel yetT' inter
fupted Marian, tapping the desk light.
" with the tips Of her gloved hugers
The young person flung her an lmpa-
3tient look.
What parcels
THE one about which ] inquired at
intervals for the past half hour"
whats your name ant! what's wrong
with the bundle?p inquired the girl In
bored tones.
You took my name twice aud tele.
phoned the delivery department. and b
am waiting for their report, Why do
you not call them again and See whetti.
err the parcel has lIccn-locatedf
Say, do you think want to get the
delivery boys down on me? IL they
find IT. they II tell me quick enough
IT,, echoed Marian, her delicate
face flushing under the girls cool inn
pertinence.
Well, I'll take your name and ad-
dress and drop you a postal when we.
find II /" ii
Indeed. you win not want ii
now, said Marian, and she walked
away from the window, with head high
and nostrils quiverlns.
= Wonder If she's going down into the
subcellgr to get it, giggled the y0nng
person to the checker, :It.is funny hoy
some sWeIls think they cap come ipl
here and run this store. ,gaess she
doesn't know we've got u system here, =
Then while the girl continued her nc.
count of the faneyN dress btill AfaFiltii
crossed TO thesnIainaaisle, found floor,
nwalkei and asked 10 be directed TO the
superintendent Of employees. Five
minutes later she was nsIlered into the
presence Of q smooth faced, square
shouldered chap who looked as if hie
had received his training on the foot
bah gridlron rather than as stock boy
In a big departments M 81
! Richard Burnside had risen from the
lowest ranks IN, the store where he was,
now, superintendent, studying practical
business methods by day and physical
culture and English branches al the
y. n. @. A. rooms By night
Now he stood beside his desk, Ma.
rian Maerea's card bent between his
fingers. He looked the slender, grace
ful figure over with the keen eve OF a
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 Ind met
many such since he had become super
intendent.
What can we do for you. Miss. Ma
crae?'' he inquired. offering her seat.
II merely called to ask you whether
your complaint department had been
organized for the convenience OF your
customers or to browbeat them 30 e.
fectHally that they viii endure almost
any Inconvenience rather than make
complaint?"
Richard Burnside sat down rather
suddenly. This was not just what he
had expected.
Very deliberately. bit conyincinEty.
Marian told her story. from the indif.
ference Of the clerk who had first
waited on her to the impertinence OF
the young woman Mt the complaint
desk. When she had finished, Burnside
leaned forward. his hands clasped be,
tween his knees, his face boyfsh no
longer. but scanned deeply with lines
Of anxiety H.7T 500 At
''Afiss AIacrea, you have been treated
utrageously. and so have many Of our
customers, and |, the superintendent
Of this store, cannot find remedy, be,
cause ! cannot handle women EN-
ployees. l can handle tile boys in this
line. because know. boys, but the In
different, the insolent woman employee
is beyond me- =!
he glanced up to meet Mariah's sym
pathetic glance Impulslvely he told
her OF his humble beginning. the pride
with which he had accepted his new
work and his, many yexations and
trials with incompetent help.
Il have had five girls at that com
plant desk, each less satisfactory than
the one before her. II / could Just
find girl with Judgment, discretion
and good manners.~but you can't exs
pect to find such girl for sI2ta week,
can you:,' .es,,- !,
His big gray eyes were lifted to
Marian'S brown ones.
She laughed, queer, chuckling little
laugh that seemed to fairly bubble up
from her slender white throat.
do Won think l would fiji the bill?
IsyTopld pike tOfearns$12 a week,
Your gasped Burnside, his glance
fPaynliug fTnYit FKar yaat 1,oo4e, -. 49,.