Evening journal., 1907-03-14
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Complaint
hHGb ~.~By KATE
OSOthe AUSTIN
....By KATE
AUSTIN
Copyright, 1907. by O. H. sutcline.
,.O.O.O-O.O~OO.O.O.OsO.O.

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 d see me
in my grave before she'd let me so to
a bali in any such costume as that"
"WiI you kindly ascertain whether
they have found my parcel yetT inter
rupted Marian, tapping the desk light
ly with the tips OF her gioved fingers.
The young person flung her an impa-
tient look.
what parceli"
",rhe one about which inquired at
Intervals for the past half hour
What's your name and what's wrong
with the bundler inquired the girl in
bored tones.
"You took my name twice and tele-
phoned the delivery department. and
am waiting for their report. Why do
you not call them again and see wheth-
er the parcel has been locatedT
"Say, do you think want to get the
delivery boys down on me7 If they
find It, they'll tell me quick enough
''If'- echoed Marian, her delicate
face flushing under the girls cool i'm
pertinence.
"Well, I'll take your name and ad-
dress and drop you a postal when we
find IT,"
Indeed, you will not. I want 1t
now," said Marian. and she walked
away from the window, with head high
and nostrlls 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 in
here and run this store. / guess she
doesn't know we've got a system here"
Then while the girl continued her ac-
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
minutes later she was ushered into the
presence OF smooth faced, square
shouldered chap who looked as II he
had received his training on the foot
ball ,gridiron rather than as stock boy
in a 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 physical
culture and English branches at the
Y. NJ. G. A. rooms by night.
Now he stood beside his desk, Ma
rian Macrea's card bent between his
fingers. He looked the slender, grace
ful figure over with the keen eye Of a
man accustomed to seeking good mate
rial for his staff and decided that she
must be a reporter or magazine writer
hunting information about the condl-
tion OF the working girl He had met
many such since he had become super
intendent.
"What can we do for you. Miss Ma
craey he inquired, Offering her a seat.
Il merely called to ask you whether
your complaint department had been
organized for the convenience OF your
customers or to browbeat them so ef-
fectually that they will endure almost
any Inconvenience rather than make
complaint
Richard Burnside sat down rather
suddenly This was not just what he
had expected
Very deliberately. but convinclngly,
Marian told her story, from the indif-
ference Of the clerk who. had FIRST
waited on her to the lmpertinence 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 a remedy, be.
cause cannot handle women en-
ployees. / can handle the boys In this
line. because I know boys. but the in.
different. the insolent woman employee
is beyond me-" -.-
He glanced up to meet Marians sym.
pathetic glance. Impulsively he told
her Of his humble beginning, the pride
with which he had accepted his new
work and his many vexatlons and
trials with incompetent help.
Il have had Eve girls at that com.
plant desk. each less satisfactory than
the one before her II I could Just
find a girl with Judgment discretion
and good manners-but you can't ex
pect to find such a girl for S12 a week
can youg
His big gray eyes were lifted tc
Marian's brown ones.
She laughed, a queer. chuckling little
laugh that seemed to fairly bubble ur
from her slender white throat.
"Do you think would I'll the bin
would like to earn SO a week"
"You?' gasped Burnside. his glance
travelling from her neat boots to her
trim tailored hat
"Why, yes. When came in here
I never thought Of such a thing, though
have been wanting a position OF
some sort I believe I would know
whether a woman had a just com
plant or was trying TO cheat the firm,
and l have always been compllmented
on my tact. know ] have patience,
because / have been-companion to an
inyalid for several years. II you
would consider the proposition. can
furnish references"
81 don't give a fig for references
You're engaged. Can you begin Mon.
day? III put that girl back where she
belongs-in the mail order depart
ment."
And that was how Marian Macrea
,,-.lr-o.s ,,,t 80 +f,. De-. ~. -.