The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-05-24
1T the "a r. e
Complaint
EcGP "".By KATE
OSoah% AUSTIN.


For the third time Marian Macreu
ose from the uncomfortable settee that
faced the complaint desk and approach
0d the young woman, seated behind the
wide window, who was talking to the
rhecker.
"Of course it gave her 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 go to
ball in any such costume as that"
evil you kindly ascertain whether
they have found my parcel yet?" inter-
fupted Marian, tapping the desk light
ly with the tips of her gloved fingers.
The young person flung her an impa-
tent look.
'What parcel?"
'The one about which 1 inquired at
intervals for the past half hour"
whats your name and what's wrong
with the bundleT" 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 locatedW
Say, do you think 1 want to get the
delivery boys down on me? II they
find it, they'll tell me quick enough
IF echoed Marian, her delicate
| face flushing under the girls cool i'm
| pertin0nce.
well, I'll take your name and ad-
dress and drop you a postal when we
find it."
Indeed, you will not. 1 want 1t
now" said Marian, and she walked
away from the window, with head high
and nostrils quivering.
wonder if she's going down into the
| subcellar to get 1t" giggled the young
person to the checker 1T is funny how
some swells think they can come In
here and run this store. l guess she
| doesn't know we've got 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 a smooth faced, square
shouldered chap who looked as if 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
i
culture and English branches at the
y. NJ. c. A. rooms by night.
Now he stood beside his desk, Ma
rian Macrea's card bent between his
fingers. He looked the SLENDER grace
full figure over with the keen eye Of
man accustomed to seeking good mate
rial for his staff and decided that she
must be reporter or magazine writer
hunting information about the cOndl-
ton Of the working girl. lie had met
many such since he had become super
intendent
what can we do for you, Miss Ma
craze" he inquired, offering her seat.
81 merely called to ask you whether
your complaint department had been
organized for the convenience of your
customers or to browbeat them so eff
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 convincingly,
Marian told her story, from the indif-
ference of the clerk who had first
waited on her to the impertinence 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 l, the superintendent
of this store, cannot find remedy, be-
cause l cannot handle women en-
| ployees. l can handle the boys in this
line, because 1 know boys, but the in
different, the insolent woman employee
/ is beyond me-"
He glanced up 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.
II have had five girls at that COM
plant desk, each less satisfactory than
the one before her. If l could just
| find a girl with Judgment, discretion
and good manners-but you can't ex-
pect to find such girl for $12 a week,
can youF
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 you think l would fill the bill?
l would like to earn $40 week"
"You?" gasped Burnside. his glance
| travelling from her neat boots to her
| trim tailored hat
"Why, yes. When l came in here
| l never thought of such thing, though
| l have been wanting Il position Of
! some sort l believe | would know
whether a woman had just com
| and l have always been complimented
| on my tact. l know l have patience,
| because 1 have been-companion to an
invalid for several years. If you
would consider the proposition, l can
! furnish references"
az don't give Il fig for references.
You're engaged. Can you begin Mon-
day? I'll put that girl back where she
Gelongs-in the mail order depart
nent."
And that was how Marian Macrea
walked out of the Barnes Bros store
! with job In her pocket and an odd
i little smile playing around her lips.
Three months passed. Burnside was
J no longer worried about the conduct
or the complaint department. In fact,
/ he argued that the reason he dropped
In to talk complaints over with its pre-
siding head was merely as a relief
after other worries. 1t was pleasure
to see q department run so smoothly,