Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-06-29
THE MANAG R.

this morning" snapped the little blonde
girl at the ribbon counter. Il thought
he'd take my head off,
"Well, you shouldn't talk about your
steadies during business hours" laughed
lace counter girl. you're expected to
have your mind strictly on business and
do your little best 10 promote the inter
ests of the firm, don't you known"
ooh, bother the firm. The firm is moth
ing to me Pm working for the best in
terests of Susie Gibbons, and don't let
anybody forget it. Besides, that hateful
Venner had no business to come snoop-
ing around just when I was talking con
fidential matters. Don't you think 50,
Ethel?"
81 think he's horrid," her counter mate
responded "He always looks like meat
ak"
who'd ever want to marry him?"
ooh, | don't know. lie might be
tanned"
why don't you take the job, Kitty?"
Whereat they giggled and trooped down
the aisle to the big front door.
A moment later a man emerged from
behind the new partition. 1t was John
enner The manager Of the great store.
faint smile lowered about his lips.
What's the old proverb about listen
ers?" he muttered. 1T is quite evident
that | do not hold a desirable place in
the good graces of these young women.
I'm sorry | overheard their talk. l
would have showed myself, but / couldn't
very well after they had fired their
broadside I'm hard man all right,
but I've never to my knowledge done any
man or woman an injustice Who was
the girl that stood up for me? She called
me gentleman. Her name is Alice and
she is Il newcomer. | wonder if they
were right when they said she would
learn to hate me as the others do? None
of them seem to realize that ! am but a
steward here"
Alice Landon's duties were not exact
ing and she soon learned to make herself
useful. There were little annoyances
now and then, but they did not discour-
age her. One day, however, a more seri-
Gus dispute arose over a sale that Alice
had made, and the purchaser, matron
Of commanding and somewhat offensive
manners, emphatically declared that
certain piece of lace she had purchased
was damaged when itleft 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
a boy to come to the managers office.
She found the manager there and the
irascible matron.
Miss Landon," said the manager in his
measured tones, you understand the
claim made by Mrs. Harrington. Let me
hear your story"
She told it in as few words as possible
you may go, Miss Landon."
Late that afternoon a shower came up
and when Alice Landon, trailing behind
the girls as was her custom, passed
through the big door, she hesitated mo-
ment, having no umbrella.
Then a 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.
81 think / owe you n little explana-
ton" he presently added. Perhaps Mrs.
You, but you should remember she was
very angry and very unreasonable when
she made it. She went away threatening
me with the loss of her custom, and
promising to write full explanation of
the matter to Miss Carmichael"
Miss Carmichael?"
The owner of our store, and my re-
spected employer. She is now in Switzer-
land, | believe. | have never seen her
Perhaps she may conclude to dispense
with my services when she views Mrs
lIarrington's letter"
"Oh, that would he too bad"
Thank you. But Pm not very much
alarmed. In fact, have a tempting of
fer from n man of means to enter into
partnership with him. l believe | need
change. I've no doubt I'm rapidly be-
coming II mere machine. l am 80 years
old and all | know is business, business,
nothing but business"
He spoke a 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 if
you hear from Miss Carmichael on this
subiect?'
why, yes, | will he answered.
This is my car said the girl
Thank YOU. and good might"
Two days later Alice Landon went to
the stockroom on the eleventh floor.
When she had found the goods she want
ed she started to return As the elevator
descended she stood close to the boy 1t
was swift and noiseless car. Her gaze
was directed downward
rs the car reached the second floor the
boy slackened its speed a little. Then
the girl. leaning forward. saw the back
OF a man close to the elevator shaft on
the floor below. He evidently had opened
the iron gate and was looking into the
basement
With quick and firm grasp she caught
at the rope and checked the ear just in
time TO prevent its knocking the man
into the opening
lie drew hack and stood there as the
car slowly settled at the floor level.
The man was John Nenner.