Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-05-03
the mall order depart

belongs the mall order depart
ment.v
And that was how Marian Macrea
walked out of the Barnes Bros store
with q job In her pocket and an odd
little smile playing around her lips.
Three months passed. Burnside was
no longer worried about the conduct
OF the complaint department. In fact,
he argued that the reason he dropped
In to talk complaints over with Its pre-
siding head was merely MS relief
after other worries. 1t was pleasure
TO SEQ a department run 30 smoothly.
And all over the big store the same
atmosphere was beginning to assert
itself. There were weekly talks to tho
women clerks, at which reports from
hoorwalkers and complaining custom
ers were offered, little lectures on the
smoothing out OF tangles and the nd
justment of differences were given,
The sales girls took new view OF
seliin, goods and handling customers,
and s.yae knew that these talks We're
all planned out In charming little up
town apartment, where the superin-
tendent and the head Of the complaint
department gravely discussed store
problems while the invalid mother for
got her own pains In listening to the
new interests of her daughter.
Then came the great day when
James Barnes, Sr, returned from his
trip around the world. Richard Burn
side had no need to give account OF
his stewardship. Others had done 80 In
letters that encircled tho globe. and 80
one bright spring morning the head of
the house sat In his superintendents
office saying the sort of things that
warm an employees heart when there
= came tap at the door. and girl with
soft brown hair and eyes entered the
office, her hands filed with report
slips.
"Mr. Barnes, want you to know
Miss Macrea, tho very capable
But Mr.. Barnes quite apoplectic, was
sparring for wind.
Marian, what in tho worldl If you
wanted something to do, why didn't
you go in for settlement workw
Richard Burnside felt the little Office
spinning around us Marian crossed the
room and patted the apoplectic fore
head soothingly with her slender white
hand.
Dear Uncle Jimmy. do not have
stroke. With the head OF the firm
globe trotting and everything mother
and 1 had in the world in this store. l
felt had right to come In hero and
see that our small Investment was
safe. You couldn't expect Jimmy or
Howard to do II when one has new
motor and the other new yacht"
Ten minutes later Marian laid her
reports on Burnside's desk and turned
to leave. He held the door open for
her, and as she flung him CHEEKY
smile she stopped suddenly. His face
looked old. His eyes were heavy, as II
they had watched something very love-
ly and dear pass out of his life. She
paused irresolutely and glanced over
her shoulder. Mr.. Barnes, Sr., was
Just passing through the opposite door
way into the mail order department.
you win be up tonight. as usual2
want to Talk over the question of
new rest room for the girls"
Richard Furnishes face went Il
shade paler, and he spoke In n voice
he had never used to her before.
"Certalnly, If you wish It,"
"Of course I Wish It," She tried to
speak gnyly, but her voice trembled.
"Don't you understand? want ev-
erythIng to go on Just as 1t has before.
oh, why do you make 1t 30 hard for
neT Ills face was still stern, but
he persisted. III want you to tell
le-what- what would not lot you
by the other nlght-because now I
NOW 1t was all for myself-don't you
lnderstandT
She passed out like fash and drew
he door shut behind her Richard
Burnside leaned heavily against 1t.
breathing hard, but the light of youth
lad come back to his eyes.