The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-15
XCopyright 1909, by Benj. B. Hampton.)
R. GARTENMEYER, general manager of the World Wide Store, sat in consulta-
 ton with Mir. Maurice Schmerber, ex-

J6T ton with Mir. Maurice Schmerber, ~~v pert advlser to the firm. MT. Garten- meyer held in his hand statement of accounts noon which his eye fingered with evident satisfac tion s,v. n,. make. suv kick on that showing" he remarked approvipgly. "All the departments, ceut one, are running away ahead of last years bus- ness. We've got to expect setback s9mewne+ei @ n;te guess stil for the class of goods and the capitat invested it would be better if the cloak department was not acting as brake on the wagon; How ae are thsis fine people, Marx and D0menS'F'''' rs
 MT. schmerber touched his carefully trimmed whiskers as his expression reflected concern ;, "A fine, high-priced business, MT Garten1neyer. he returned "INe have overhauled and run away from them every other line but it's no use ds aa, .ns. aas..na la the cloak department 'D@, w .
 The general manager removed the glasses iron the bridge of his and polished them renectiVeE
 T don't quite why that is so, ne saia . understand our advertisements draw customers 10 but. for some reason they go away and empty their pockethooks at Marx and Blumensteins
 MT Schmerber coughed politely as he proceeded
 sThey have made fine art of personality, sir, in their cloak department They nave MISS McFee as
 Miss who?' interrogated the. general manager
 Miss Melee" repeated MT. schmerber, with
 aWef, what's there about Miss Melee that she can hypnotize our customersT c... .,. ;r,-
 "It's in her personality, MT. Gartenmeyer the nm pression she creates customer. When Miss Melee throws $5oo wrap oyer her shoulders ,n ana o mas seo up on throne Miss Meee has such regal air that it makes customer think. that she Ss 0 Rss s Rsn in ss Fse s no sef-respecting customer likes to feel small by her ability to empty the pocketbook as deposit, charging the balance up to the husband
 ssAs vet have not had that honor"
 'sThen how do you know she's such wonder!
 MT Schmerber leaned over and pointed with the finger adorned by handsome canieo ring to an % in the srs o pp to the Secret Service and Intelligence Bureau
 .sYes, was going to ask about that. remember mentioning 1t, but have forgotten just what you iWell, sir" MT. Schmerber explained i've have secured the services of agent in each of our com petitor's stores to report to in confidence any new move that is For instance, Marx and Blum @ ntout our being 0a pped of in advance But the service comes high, because it's dangerous work. You if Mir Marx were to discover one of his T guess % he would kick him out on to the side walk" interposed the general manager.
 Mir. Schmerber made disparaging motion with It is quite likely that he would MT. Garten- has threatened even me with personal violence if I am seen talking to any of his salesladies again"
 Mir. Gartenmeyer ehuckled as if something tckled Well after all, schmerber" he said, q, don't know that I'd care to have you around & in like - eT Melee. why can't we write and offer her more money than she is gettng?"
 "There is danger in that replied MT. Schmerber "she might use the letter to boost her position with Marx and Bumenstein, and in that eaf The w3a sss nh his
 Maybe you're right he agreed Then how do dss in to r oaf M dspsea s Gss aes s sse t only MeFes why we've I've got to have her. her .o.o any direct move it might be better to find out through our Intelligence Bureau how she is fixed up things in the cloak department hate to see those fellows, Marx and Blumenstein, beating us
 In two days Mfr. Schmerber was able to report was G cheerfully optimistic, but on this occasion it toned down by the gravity of the situation in the We Sigik esRa5tnsn greeted the general man. ager bows the only Miss McFee fave fave, you s got s T9m MaT Mr ans is drawing. salary merely nominal compared to her talent-her demonstratve abilty-but it seems old Marx has filled her so full of yarns about the skinfint way that treat our employees that she laughed at the suggestion made by our agent in crossing the street"
 The general manager struck the deskAa blow with hi: ssshmerber si, h. cried tb.. i, di.bolical out rage"
 "Its merely characteristic of Marx and Blumen- stein's business methods" remarked Mr. Schmerber with emphasis
 Sure! exclaimed the general manager. But how in thunder, then, are we to separate them from your Miss Melee. or Miss Melee from them, what it is"
 Mr. Schmerber leaned forward with both hands on the managers desk, and spoke as one who had made up his mind not to be beaten regardless of personal sacrifice.
 "For the good of the house. MT. Cartenmeyer, for the reputation of our cloak department, if Miss Melee cannot be engaged with us, she must-she shall be, separated from Marx and Blumensten. Then their cloak department will go to pieces"
 That's all right" argued the general manager, Ito say must and shall but how are you going to do it-thats the knot, Schmerber."
 MT Schmerber spoke in a lower tone.
 It has happened Mir. Gartenmeyer that an er- ployee leaving the house at the close of business has not returned the next morning
 AT Gartenmeyer stared at his executive officer