The Washington herald., 1908-03-29
CHAPTER XXxIII.
Agninsf fhe RnIes.

MISS ftOiIeY MT. CunnlnStOn wants you
In the counting-ho exclaimed a
youth. approaching Marion just after 10
o'clock the following morning She had
been in the department early, and was
busy rearranging an autumn costume
upon stand. with a ticket bearing the
words, paris model, 49s Id
The dread words that broke upon her
ear caused her young heart to sink within
her AS she feared, she was ''carpeted-"
To be absent at night without leave
was the sack at a moments notice TO
any OF Cunnington's girls. There was no
leniency in that respect as in certain
other. large stores in London which
could name, where the girls are so very
badly paid that II is q scandal and dis
grace to the SNUG. church-going share
holders who grow fat upon their divi-
dends. But who among those who hold
shares in the big drapery concerns of
London, or who among the millions of
customers on the lookout for bargains at
sales, cares a jot for the poor girl assist
ant. the drudgery she has 10 undergo or
the evils she suffers by the iniqutous
system of living IMP
II is a dull drab life indeed the life
of the London shop. with its fortnight s
of the telling OF untruths in order to sell
goods. But the supply of shop labor is
always greater than the demand. Girls
and youths are always coming up from
the country in constant streams, crib
bing." as it is called-or on the lookout
for a berth-and as soon as a girl loses
her freshness, or a mans hair begins TO
show silver threads he is thrown out in
favor Of a youth-from Scotland or Wales
by preference.
London. alas! little dreams Of the cal
lous heartlessness Of employers in the
drapery trade.
Marion knew this. Since she had been
at Cunningtons her eyes had been open
ed to the scant consideration she need
expect Girls who had worked in her
department had been discharged merely
because suffering from cold or from
the stress of overwork, they had been
absent couple OF days. And all the In
formation vouchsafed them was that the
firm could not afford TO support invalids.
Once indeed. she had sat beside dying
girl in the Brompton Hospital-a girl to
whom the close. vitiated atmosphere Of
the shop had brought consumption. and
she had been sent forth, at moments
notice. homeless. and TO die.
And so. when the youth made the an
nouncement, she knit her brows brushed
the hair from her brow, placed down the
pin cushion in her hand. and followed
him through the several shops into an
other building. where Mr.. Cunnington's 5
private room was situated.
In the outer Office of the counting
house several persons. buyers, callers.
end others. were waiting audience with
the chief
One girl. a saucy. dark-haired assistant
e ribbons, exclaimed:
ullo. Rolfe! What are you up for?'
rion flushed slightly, and answered:
I hardly know"
ell I'm going in for a rise. and II
yuv'nor don't give IL 10 me I'm going
Testoby's tomorrow. I've got good
there. My young man is shopwalker,
II get on like house on fire"
Iestoby's is lot better than here.
lrked pale-faeed male assistant
as there for a sale once. I only wish
d have kept me-"
We heard that the food is wretched. ''
arked Marion, for the sake of some
thing 70 say.
TT isn't good" declared the young
man. but the girls get lots more free
dom They do as they like almost. Old
Westoby don't care as long as the busi-
ness pays. It's a public company, like
this. but they do a bit lower-class trade,
which means more 'spiffs.
Il haven't made quid this last three
months out Of 'spiffs. declared the
ribbon girl That's why l want q rise. -
Marion smiled within herself. for be-
yond the glass partition were quite a
dozen girls. all of them young, several
quite gOOd-lOOking. waiting to see If any
berths We're vacant. and ready that very
hour 10 take the ribbon girls place-and
hers.
Every girl who came up to London
went first TO Cunningtons. for the as
sistants there were declared 10 be Of bet
ter class than those of the other drapery
houses that jostle each other on the
north side OF oxford street
Marion waited. full of deep anxiety.
Every detail Of that midnight interview
with the man who held controlling inter
est in the huge concern came back to her
his clever attempt TO ingratiate himself
with her in order TO learn Maud's secret,
and her curt dismissal when she had met
his request with pointblank refusal
One by one the applicants for hearing
were received by Mr.. Cunnington. again
emerging from his room, some dark and
angry and others smiling and happy. AT
last her turn came. and she walked into
the small Office with the severe-looking
writing table and the dark-blue carpet
The dark-beared man, by whose enter
prise that big business had been built up.
turned in his chair and faced her
Miss Rolfel" he exclaimed. "Ah. yes, -
and he referred TO a memorandum upon
his desk You were absent without
leave last night. the housekeeper reports
You are aware Of rule 70. eh?
Most certainly. sir was the trembling
girls reply. for this meant 10 her all her
But I think I ought 10 explain that
II have no time, miss, for explanations
You know the rule. When you were en-
gagged here you signed it. and therefore
I suppose you've read II. 1t states as fol
lows: Any assistant absent after L
O'clock without previously obtaining sign
ed leave from Mr.. Hemingway or my
self will be discharged on the following
day The firm has, therefore, dispensed
with your services. AS regards character
Miss Rolfe. please understand that the
firm is silent"
But Mr.. Cunnington.' cried the girl
IT was absent at the express request OF
Mr.. Statham. BE wished to see me-"
The head of the firm frowned slightly
answering:
'I have no desire to enter into the rea-
sons of your absence. You could easily
have asked for leave. II Mr.. Statham
had wished 20 see you. he would have
sent me note, no doubt. 1t was at his
request 1 engaged you. recollect. There
fore, think that the least said regarding
last night the better
But Mr.. Statham promised me he
wc1id send you message this morning,
the girl declared in her distress.
Parker. has Mr.. Statham been on the
phone this morning." asked Mr. Gun
nington of the young man seated near
him.