The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-27
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
100 Per Cent Efficient.
BY CRAWFORD LUTTRELL.

.ES.N/oU'RE always busy, Miss Mar
tin, aren't you? asked AUS
" tin Sheridan, pausing on his
rounds of the store to look over the
ribbon counter at the young clerk
whose white fingers were never idle,
What are you making, thingumagigs
for pretty girls to wear to parties?"
She took q last stitch in the rosette
of blue ribbon that she was fashion.
ing 30 deity! Something nicer than
that" she smiled. Bows for baby
bonnets. {" She tackled the ribbon in
place on a sheer little garment made
Of fine lace and batiste. II wish that
the management would put this In the
X window. ] could sell fifty pairs of
these bows in q week 10 they would.
Besides that. II would help the infant
department sell bonnets, too"
Sure 1t would" agreed Austin, re-
garding the lacy bit Of headgear. "lll
J put 1t in myself"
Marian looked around cautiously.
BE careful" she warned. Don't
make Gigsby mad! He'll be awfully
cross about everything you do IL you
try To tell him anything about the
window. displays"
well, we want to sell ribbons,
don't WEI"
yes, but I'd hate to see you get in
TO trouble here. You've only been in
the store for few weeks. I've been
here for five years and I know that
4 Rigsby stands in with the boss, and
that If he gets mad at anybody the
boss backs him in anything he wants
to do"
I'D like to see him try to pick on
You Just once. That would be about
enongh.'
a faint color crept into the girls
pale cheeks. She shook the threads
from her black sateen apron before
she answered him. you know when
you first came here was so hurt be-
department when you were new here,
and i had been here for so long and
had WORKED so hard that Just couldn't
like you a. bit. But ! know better now,
and want TO tell you that / appreci-
ate all the kind things you have done
for me more than l can say. 1t was
nice of you to take me to the hotel
Yesterday to see the drummeris samp-
les and TO let me select my spring
stock. certainly did get pretty
thing. ! hope there won't be any
strikes to tie up production or de-
livery"
eYou are really interested in your
job aren't yGu?'
eyes, ! am" she declared vigor-
ously. :, "Why shouldn't be?"
Most girls aren't. Business with
them Is Just means 10 an end. They
want to get married.
$50 do l.. All girls do" said Mar
ian promptly and then blushed to the
roofs of her smooth brown hair. "But
that natural ambition doesn't prevent
me from trying. to make success of
my position here. When keep house
I'll feel the. same way about that, I'll
DO the best 4 can. and il fate wills that
"a stand behind this counter the rest
ssof my life I'll be 100 per cent etfi..,
cient, And I'll be contented even If
am not particularly happy" She
was holding the little cap on her hand
fiuffing out the soft, pretty bows that
would some day cover tiny pink ears.
She smiled little, then she looked
at the young man eagerly. az wish
& that we could put this on a figure In
the window! 1t would double my sales
tomorrow"
He reached over the counter for the
Hlmy bit Of lace and ribbon. GIVE II
TO mel" he said. "I'll manage it IL
you will go to lunch with me today. +"
..'sIll go Dutch treat!" she COM
promised. 81 know where there is a
new tearoom that is operated by a
woman from Virginia. You can get
q splendid lunch there for IS cents"
'Righto!" she said slangily. Now.
I'm going to put this bonnet in the
windowstf 1t costs me my job. It
Will run your sales UP high enough
10 ring the bell and shake down
plum in the way Of an increase in
your pay envelope Saturday night"
7 wish that you were a true prop
bet she sighed as she turned to
greet customer with her usual smile
OF welcome.
AT i O'Clock he was waiting for her
lust outside the big front door.
You're q nifty looking girl" he COM
mented admiringly. There's some
class to you 4 don't see how you man
age on $40 week, paying board to
Your sister and keeping yourself as
stylish as you look. Why, If you had
real money, girl-say, you could look
Ike q million dolla25 on $50 a week.
Where's that tearoom?"
Just around the corner. It has
the cleanest little tables and there
are always a few fresh, flowers on.
each one every day. When l work up
10 $35 a week l am going to try to
get some girls to go in with me and
rent little apartment. think that
IL: would be wonderful to have a real
home where I could cook things at
night and on Sundays. Maybe I'll ask
You to tea some Sunday, when Rigs
by recommends me for raise; that
as to say. il 1t happens before you are
too old to walk"
x! Can you cook?" asked Austin won
aderingly. BET you can't do 1T as
swell ats you can tie ribbon bowsm
;:SS Bet cam" laughed Marian as
they went into the tearoom.
M He asked her to do the ordering
for both Of them, and marveled at
her business-like manner. She
squicSly selected a few nourishing
dishes. ut will be 35 cents for each
sof u.s." she told him smilingly.
This is, my set up today. You'll
make a poor man good wife? he
$said, looking at her SO steady that
her eyes dropped before the unmis-
lf1ly ah wa d. 1T. a