The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-14
THE SHOP GIRL By C. ". and A. M. Williamson

turned to something else. It was not until she had applied for work at six other shops, and found herself too late at all. that it began to seem fairly possible for her to think of going to Peter Rolls fathers store.
 When Win was just about to say to her. self. "That's the one thing l couldn,t do, she remembered having heard that MISS Rolls ruled her father and mother socially Peter senior was allowed to show ms nose in the place only about once year. ., M.s' Young Peter didn't bother. In fact, she would, apparently be far more likely to meet a member of the Rolls family in any other shop than their own. ,.
 Instead of saying that she could not' win said: "Why shouldn't I?''
 Morning and girl were gray with cold as Win hovered before the vast eNpanse or plate glass which made Peter Rolls de- partment store crystal palace.
 "Of course 1 shall never see Peter Rolls or his sister here" she told herself for the twentieth time, and passed through side door almost on the pack of an enormous young man, with q g!rl closed Tn behind her with the intimacy of a sardine.
 When the queue of tightly packed men and women had advanced along the corridor on the other side of the doorway, It began mounting a fire-proof staircase. up ana up it went, slowly steadily rising from story to story. Seven flights of stairs Win count ed, and then she and those in front and De- hind debouched into corridor.
 "They might have shot us up in the GUS, toner's lift" snapped the sardlne who nad just detached herself from Wlnlfreds spine. "'Twould " have saved their time ana our tempers,"
 There was something likable about that sardine. Win felt drawn to her, which was fortunate in the circumstances. q,
 Nearer and nearer they approached, Wlth a kind of shuffle-step, to an office whose whole front consisted of windows The ao- vance-guard of would-be hands stopped one at a time in front of a counter Whlch LOOK the place of window-ledge.
 "Tired, Girlie?" inquired the big young man on whose broad back Win had lnvolun- tarily reposed on the way upstairs. She was startled at this manner of address, put the brotherly benevolence on the square lace under thick brushWood or otohd nalr' ie- assured her.
 Mot so very. Are you?" She felt that conversation would be a relief
 "Me? Huh! Bet yer my place yer can guess what my job was up to month ago.
 If I guessed what's in my mind, I'm afraid it would be shy" said Win. You look as if you might be a-a-boxer-or-'
 "Or what?"
 "or as if you could train things-anmals,
 Gee whitaker, If she ain't hit it square in the jaw first round Go up ahead, little girl. This is where move down one."
 The sardines were now so loose in thelr partially emptied box that they could Wrig- gle and even change positions if they liked. The big young man Wheeled, passed his arm round Winifred's vast as if for waltz, half lifted her off her feet, and set her down where he had been.
 Good gracious!' she gasped.
 "That's what you get for bein bright child," he explained. 'The place is yours. See?. If Peter Rolls wants only one more hand when your turn comes, you're 1t, and Pm left: 1 was lon-man in Jakes and Boon's show, but my best lion died on me, and that kind O got my goat. Guess my nerve went; and them brutes is as quick as fleas to jump if they feel you don't know where you are for once. That shop is shut for yours truly, so Pm doin' my darndest to get another If Peter Rolls can use me, he can have me dirt cheap. l want to feed my face again. It needs it!'
 "You give Father one straight look be7 tween the eyes," suggested the sardine now at his back, "sort of as if he was lion, and I'd bet my bottom dollar, if 1 had one, he dasn't hand you the frosty mitt."
 "Who's Father?" the Ion-tamer threw over his shoulder. Win had longed to ask the same question, but had not liked to betray herself as an amateur.
 "Oh, l forgot this was your first party! Wish twas mine. Fathers what the supe the superintendent, the gent in the win dow-gets himself called by us guyls."