The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-05-23

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| with the bundleT inquired the girl In
bored tones,
You took my name twice and tele-
phoncd the delivery department. aud
am waiting for their report. Why do
you not call them again and see wheth.
er the parcel has been locatedy"
Say. do you think 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
pertlnence.
"Well. I'll take your name and ad-
dress and drop you postal when we
find H."
Indeed, you will not. want It
now" said Marian. and she walked
away from the window. with head high
and nostrils quivering.
wonder II she's going down into the
subcelar to get II" giggled the young
person 10 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 system here"
Then while the girl continued her ac-
count OF the fancy dress ball Marian
crossed 10 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 II he
had received his training on the foot
ball gridlron rather than as stock boy
In 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. G. A. rooms by night
Now he stood beside his desk, Ma
rian Macreas card bent between his
fingers. He looked the slender, grace.
ful 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-
tion Of the working girl. He had met
many such since he had become super
intcndent.
what can we do for you, Miss Ma
crae" he inquired, offering her seat.
II merely called TO ask you whether
your complaint department had been
organized for the convenience OF your
customers or to browbeat them so ef-
fectually that they will endure almost
any Inconvenience rather than make
complaintr'
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 10 the lmpertinence Of
the young woman at the complaint
desk. When she had finished. Burnside
leaned forward, his hands clasped be-
tween his knees, his face boylsh 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 a remedy, be-
cause cannot handle women EN-
ployees. can handle the boys In this
line, because ! know boys, but the In
different. the insolent woman employee
IL beyond me-"
He glanced up to meet Marian's sym
pathetic glance. lmpulsively he told
her OF his humble beginning. the pride
with which be had accepted his new
work and his many yexatIons and
trials with Incompetent help.
II have had five girls at that com
plant desk, each less satisfactory than
the one before her. II could just
lind a girl with judgment, discretion
Ind good manners-but you can't cx
pect 10 find such a girl for $12 a week,
AN youf"
Ills big gray eyes were lifted to
Marian's brown ones
She laughed, queer, chuckling little
laugh that seemed 10 fairly bubble up
from her slender white throat.
'Do you think would fill the billi
would like 10 earn sl2 week"
"youy" gaspcd Burnside, his glance
travelling from her neat boots TO her
trim tailored hat
"why. yes. When ] came In here
never thought OF such thing. though
I have been wanting position OF
some sort believe would know
whether a woman had Just com
plaint or was trying to cheat the firm.
and have always been complimented
on my tact | know have patience.
because have been-companion 70 an
invalid for several years. n you
would consider the proposition. ! can
furnish references
IL don't give rs for references.
You're engaged Can you begin Mon
day. ri put that girl hack where she
belongs-in the mail onier depart.
meat"
And that was how Marian Macrea
walked out OF the Barnes Bros store
with a lob Ia her pocket and an odd |
little smile playing around her HIPS.
Three months passed Burnside was
DO longer worried about the conduct
q. the complaint department IN fact,
be argued isai the reason he dropIed
In To talk complaints over with lts pre-
siding bead was merely as a relief
after other WORRIES II was p.easure
10 see a department run 40 smoothly.
And all over the big store the same
atmosphere was beginning to assert
Itself There were weekly taiks 10 the
wosnep clerks. II which reports from
ccorwalkerS sud complaining custom
srs we're offered, lilile lectures on ihe