Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-07-10
1t the. n q n
Complaint
0Soaho AUSTIN

tOSt rom Tie uucOIlIuTtdple sthtSt lt4sAi
faced the complaint desk and approach
ed the young woman, seated behind the
wide window. who was taking to the
checker
..0f course il gave her a good chance
to let us al know what nice white
arms she has. but my mother a see ne
bali in any such costume as that"
"Wili you kindly ascertain whether
they have found my parcel yet?' inter
rupted Marian, tapping the desk light
ly with the tips of her gloved fingers.
The young person flung her an impa-
tent look
What parceiT'
'sThe one about which l inquired at
intervals for the past half hour
whats your name and what's wrong
with the bundle?" inquired the girl in
bored tones.
You took my name twice and te!e-
phoned the delivery department. aud
am waiting for their report. Why d.
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 mef Ii they
find it. they'll tell me quick enough
IF echoed Marian, her delicate
face flushing under the girls cool i'm
ipertinence.
well. I'll take your name and al
dress and drop you postal when We
find it,
Indeed, you viii not. l want IT
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 y 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 bali Marian
Crossed to the main aisle, found a floor
walker and asked to be directed to the
superintendent Of employees. Five
minutes later she was usnered into the
presence Of smooth faced. square
shouldered chap who looked as il 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. 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 a
man accustomed to seeking good mate
rial for his staff and decided that she
must be reporter or magazine writer
hunting Information about the condi-
ton of the working girl He had met
many such since he had become super
3ntendent
What can we do for you, Miss Ma
.craeT he inquired. offering her a seat
Il merely called TO ask you whether
-FOUR 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 ]. the superintendent
OF this store. cannot find remedy. be
cause l cannot handle women en-
ployees. can handle the boys in this
line. because ! know boys. but the in
different. the insolent woman employee
is beyond me-"
He glanced up 10 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.
Il have had five girls al that COM
plant desk. each less satisfactory than
the one before her. If | could Just
find a girl with judgment. discretion
and good manners-but you can't ex-
pect TO find such girl for $12 week
can you?"
His big gray eyes were lifted to
Marian's brown ones.
She laughed, queer. chuckling little
laugh that seemed TO fairly bubble up
drom her slender white throat
DO You think would fill the bill?
i would like to earn $40 week.
Your gasped Burnside. his glance
travelling from her neat boots to her
trim tailored hat.
why. yes. When came in here
y - -