La Junta tribune., 1907-06-22

1T the e . q
Complaint
11nGb by KATE
DS0n> AUSTIN
, Copyright. i-e. by c. II. sutciinr.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

For the third time Marian Aiacrea
| o-. from the uncomfortable settce that
7 faced the complaint desk and approach
/ ,I th.. young woman seated behind tho
vi,I. window, who was talking to the
checker.
..Of course It gave her good chance
10 let US all know what nice white
arms She has. but my mother Il see me
In nv grave before she'd let me go to
a bali IN any such costume rs that"
"wil You kindly ascertain whether
they have found my parcel yet:" inter
] fupted Marian. tapping the desk light.
iy with the tips Of her gioved fingers.
| The Young person fiung her an Impa-
: tient look.
What parcel;'
.-The one about which l inquired q,
intervals for the past half hour"
What's your name and what's wrong
with the bundiet' Inquired the girl In
bored tones.
You took my name twice and tele-
phoned the delivery department.. and
am waiting for their report. Why dc
yon not call them again and see wheth-
er the parcel las been locatedt"
SAY. do you think want to get the
delivery boys down on me? II they
Hnd 1t. they'll tell me quick enough
"Ir'- echoed Marian. her delicate
| face flushing under the girls cool liz.
pcrtincnce.
We'll. I'll take your name and al.
I dress and drop you Il postal when We
nnd IT.
Indeed. you win not. ! want 1t
now" said Marian. and she walked
away from the window. with head high
/ and nostrils quivcrln-.
wonder II shes going down into thc
subcollar To get it, siggled the young
person to the checker. 1t is funny how
some swclis think they can come IN
here and run this store. I guess slle
doesn't know we've got system here
Then while the girl continued her nc.
count of the fancy dress bah Marian
crossed 10 the main aisle. found . floor
waiker and asked TO be directed to The
superintendent OF employees. Five
minutes later she WAS ushercd into thy
presence Of smooth faced. square
shouldcred chap who looked as II be
had received his training on the foot
bah gridlron rather than as stock boy
In a big department store.
Richard Burnside had risen from tie
lowest ranks In the store where he was
now superintendent. studying practical
business methods 10y day and physical
l culture and English branches at the
Z Y. NJ g. \. rooms by night.
9 II. II.
/ rian Macrea-ss card bent between n
fingers. He looked the slender. grace,
I fuI figure over with the keen eye Of n
m3u accustomed 10 seeking good nate
! rial for his staff and decided that She
must be a reporter or magazine writer
! hunting Information about the condi.
| tion OF the working girl. He had met
I many such since he had become super.
| intcnlcut
what cnn we do for you. Miss Ma
cracf" he inquired, Offering her seat
u merely called TO ask yon whether
l vour complaint department had been
( organized for the convenience OF Your
/ customers or 70 hrowbeat them 50 ef-
( rectually that they viii endure almost
any Inconvenience rather than make
4 compiaiu,?''
Richard burnside sat down rather
suddenly. This was not Just what he
had expected.
Very deliberately. but convincingIy.
Marian told bcr story, from the lndif-
ference OF the clerk who had first
waited on her to the impertincncc 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
nutrageuusly. and so have many of our
customers. and |. the superintendent
! NJ this store. cannot find n remedy. be-
/ cause l cannot handle women en-
/ ployees. I can handle the boys in this
tine, because I know boys. but the in
1 different. the insolcnt woman employee
is beyond me-
( He glanced M 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.
4 have had five girls at that com
plaint desk. each less satisfactory than
the one before her. If could Just
find girl with Judgment. discretion
and good nianners-but you can't ex-
| pect To find. such Il girl for So week,
| can vou:''
His big gray eyes were lifted to
Marian's brown ones.
! laugh that seemed to fairly bubble up
| from her slender white throat
DO YOU think would fill the bilia
I would like to earn SD n week"
"1oui' sasped burnside. his glance