The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-06-01

mer DreSSeS-$2.50 a Yard.
Hart, thoroughly aroused over such
competition and what It would mean
10 her own daily sales, stopped per.
fectly still then moved nearer the big
sbiate glass window and peered through
3 II In an effort to critically examine
the quality Of the material. Geor.
sgette at two fifty per yard! Why, any
firm would lose money on such a prop.
osition. She was all business at that
minute.
Il was only when the man turned
his head and saw her standing there
as it,rooted to the spot that the sue
cess or failure OF the piece goods o.
partment at Bloomstein's suddenly
faded into insignificance and Hart, IN
stantly crimson, was conscious Of only
one thing, and that was that big Bill
Maloney was looking at her out OF his
Dangling blue gray Irish eyes and
noddIng good humoredly just as II he
had not taken the cold cream demon
strator with the blondined marcel out
to lunch without SO much as a by
your.leaye from her when, he pretend.
ed to love her and had asked her IL
marry him.
Of course, she had refused him
again only two nights before, but Bill
had never taken her at her word, had
always laughed and lifting her slen.
der, well cared for hands, had kissed
their cool finger tips and told her
that some day they would be losing
their polish when she cooked and
washed dishes for him.
I'll neither cook nor wash dishes
for any man." she had scornfully told
him, and Bill had stopped smiling for
q minute and then he had turned away
and had run down the boarding house
steps Just in time to catch the last
car.
That had been Friday night. Satur.
day noon she had fingered IN the rest
rooms at the store so that she would
not appear 10 be too keen to meet Bll
at the entrance Of the store, where ne
always waited TO take her 10 lunch
and 10 finish out their half.holiday by
going to q matinee together.
She had finally maze her tardy ap-
pearance only to have the very breath
in her throat choked back at sight OF
Bit walking iauntily OF beside the
loud, diszily blond cold cream demon.
strator who had been holding forth
for SIX days in Bloomsteins. A bit
dazed, Hart watched them 50 through
the revolving doors into the smart new
stea,ocm that had just been opened
across the avenue. She had then
rushed home in frenzy OF tndigna'
ton.
Saturday night had come and gone.
An endless Sunday had somehow
dragged itself YEARLY to q close. Ano
now Monday morning-with Black 3
Son advertising georgette to sell at q
price below cost. 1t was true enough
that when It rains 1t pours.
Hart stiftly returned Blll's warming
smile, although her heart leaped at
tie sudden glow in his Irish bluegray
once inside the ornate doors Of
Bloomstein,s, Hart called for the 40
s3etdSing manager and brusuy de-
iHandef that an east window be
cleared at once and 9 sign speedily
painted reading "Georgette Reduced
rom 81 to $685. The manager look
ca obviously at the trim young fgure
81 the new department head, but went
ohediently about the task.
At 1880 Bloomstein himself came
down from the office, swearing soft
II a the crowd Of bargain snatcaers
thSt filled the aisles and swayed hun
gfily over the counter toward the slim
Young thing who had heroically made
such blessings for them possible. In
no uncertain terms Bloomstein called
Hart to one side.
.'What do you mean, young woman,
l6sing money for me like this? Was i
i6r this / trained you. promoted you,
Y trusted you? Ny God, a few such
tficks VIII ruin me! Georgette at
tNOthirty.nine yard and women Will
ing to pay me-anything!" His ges,
tife was one Of hopeless greed and
despair.
ave done nothing of the kind
{ snapped Hart. What II We are losing
eleyell cents on the yard? rye ad.
need prices on every other bit Of
4 zee goods here, and when ] gel Gus.
1y5mers in here buying georgette don't
you think I'm saleswoman enough u
sell them something that will more
Than cover the loss, and in fact make
YOU about rs per cent. profit? II you
don't like my business methods say
%! III resign this morning"
well, there's some sense to what
you say. apologize"
She went back to the clamorine
.hrong.
At / o'clock Hart crossed the ave
nue. and entered the smart new tea
room. where Bill had taken the Anna
loniar blonde two days before. She
iid not know why she was going there,
but she was going. She had Just been
seated BY q waiter when she saw Bill
Maloney slipping into the chair oppo
site her. =
"You put Il all over me this morn
lne. girl" he said quietly. Eve been
watching for you since twelyethirty
10 acknowledge that you are shrewdel
than ] am and that all my talk about
girls staying home and keeping house
has been hot air. You got the crowd
this morning, and, Of course, you Gov
cred your loss by increasing prices OF
other things. Anybody could sting EN-
with q hypo when they were all linet
no waiting for the needle. You're
some smart little girl. No wonder You
don't want to marry q big boob liIt
n,e. and cook and wash dishes and
A little far.away light shone in hi!
bluc-gray Irish eyes and seemed L
drlyer for second at the corner o.
6is wide, straight mouth. "And both
er with-little Maloneys, girl" he add
Hart had not expected anything lhts
that. For q full second she stared IN
hllnkingly at him, then her own LIP!
dniyered and a big tear that sparHet
fikn laval GnlaRkIAd down her cheek