Arizona republican., 1907-11-29


 worried. Being floor manager of the book department of the huge Broad gauge store was an honor he long had coveted. but here. after his first week in that position. was Mir Popllin. wondering if. after all. il was worth while. Ever since he had entered the employ of the great establishment as cash boy. he had set the head of this particular floor as the height of his ambition. Every step that he took upward was but one more toward his goal. When he became bundle wrap per. he felt that his cause was advanc- ed; when he stepped behind the cotton goods counter. his upward leap was almost like a flight to the. blue dome of Empyrean;; when he was given charge of the tinware and iron goods in the bargain basement annex. he be- lieved that it was merely a test of his ability to handle things. And he had then told Name in all the pride of his heart that things were coming his way"
 True. this last move took him off Names floor. She was in hosiery and lingerie: she was tall. naughty and
 
 ton as worth more than temporary absence from her vicinity. especially as he knewthat books were in the next aisle from hosiery. and that when he reached that stock. he would be better off than ever. Also, true. Tim Healey was now its head. and Tim's eyes fell on Name with no uncertain gleam. But even this could not stay the force of Popkin's ambition. and to the bargain basement annex he had gone. to take the headship of his first stock
 And a week ago he had come into his reward. Healey had been attract ed by a dignified raise" from Bam- berger's, and had left books in the Broadgauge to handle a similar line for its chief rival Good work in tin ware by Popkin had been observed; his ambitions were known. and when Healey was gone. the position he cov- eted was his. It was now Saturday night, the end of his first week there.
 And he was worried. Yes, vastly. The red carnation in the buttonhole of his Prince Albert'-for tradition says that all floor managers shall wear Prince Alberts" with red carnations atached- the red carnation withered in the ableful glare of his countenance. and his accustomed suavity. the rub ping together of the hands. the slight bow and the smile, all parts of his store makeup. were purely mechanical tonight; the eve carried no cordiality and the voice was weary and far away
 For Healey. now of Bamberger's. had avowedly set out to put the Broad gauge books out of business" and Popkin had been warned twice during the week that this was in fair way to happen. according to the views of one MT. WilkersOn. the store manager The Broadgauge trade in the six best sellers was showing a decided slump. and there was even danger that the Bamberger record would be taken as authoritive for the city. rather than that of the Broadgauge; and so q q calamity could mean only one thing for Popkin-a new place. So it was. as he had told himself. up to" him to stem the rush.
 Your department" Mir. Wilkerson had said. shows a decided falling off MT. Healey seems to have a certain personal following which you having been so long in tin. haven't acquired. You do not know literature like he does. Nor lit'ry people. Your run on The Enigma our best exclusive novel was a failure"
 All of which was quite true The hint contained in the Wilkerson ad- dress could not pass unheeded. and Popkin was distinctly discouraged and worried. Hence amid the Saturday night throng, he stood distraught stroking the end of his taffyhued mustache and smoothing his coat front mechanically.
 Watts wrong?" cheerily inquired Name. sticking her head around the end of her counter into the ribbon department. which move enabled her 10 hail MT. Popkin when she deemed it expedient or needfui. She didn't do this too often; Name was a sort of belle in the Broadgauge and she didn't care to go too far in encouraging attentions that would deter in num- bers, however much they might make up in strength. She possessed a cer- tain style of rather bold beauty: she had a good figure. which showed well in the black garb the store demanded Her brown pompadour was a bit strag- gly in the rather close atmosphere of the place. but she gave it a pat or two and re-skewered it with a couple of bone hair pins colorcd to look like shell. before she spoke to MT. Popkin.
 III
 Name was the ideal of Popkin-and she knew il. She was also the adored of Healey-and she knew that. In her heart of hearts she had made up her mind, but to neither man had she vouchsafed more that tacit encour- agement. For Name was wise in her own generation and she did not pro- pose to surrender her S15 a week till she could find something like an equivalent in her husbands finances. Hence to each had been her reply: Make good, When you get to a floor manager. with an interest in the sales, come around and talk business. Meanwhile. on matrimony. skiddoo, Names open for candy and the the ayter. but-cook on no salary, in flat for two? Nixie," And. though rather slangy. it was plain to the individuals most concern | ed. this reply and they had set them ' selves to accomplishing the tasks she | arHp p1 l,fI al,