San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30
GLOVES AND NUTMEG


Of adele, Inc.," said good night to
her two department helpers with the
sanity calm of { blind man who senses
sae stealthy entry Of thieving fingers
into his extended cup-and smiles.
Then with a weary sigh she closed
and locked the front door of Bigburg's
newest and smartest costume shop.
Through the closed door, the care-free
chatter of the two drifted back to her,
the contralto laughter Of Miss Mer-
cedes O'Brien and the answering gig
gle Of Miss Marianne Schultz; both
As lifting and joyous as if their pay
envelopes were rightly come by
earned.
Care-free! Joyous! Earned!
With a nervous shudder Miss Glaub
leaned back against the heavy door
and gazed into the interior of the
shop with eyes that mirrored neither
pride nor happiness. Ahead, in the
dusk, q full-length mirror threw back
the sheen of her black silk gown and
the crow-blue CLINT in her piled up
hair. But no half-light could soften
or conceal the contempt which sud-
denly blazed into being as the two
stared, one at the other.
"You poor little fish, Kissed the
one possessed Of the power of speech.
"When have you been able to laugh
.-xe that? When have you been able
to 20 out of door like that with
nice little pay-envelope and nothing
TO worry about but getting down in
the morning a ialf-hour late? When,
ask you"
Silence. 2
Miss Glaub sniffled plaintively. "Six
months ago you were what?" she de-
manded. "The best-paid buyer in
dresses and blouses in the town. Moth
ing to worry about! Successful !!
What are you nowY-with a con-
tinuation of the sniffle. 'The pro-
prietor of a smart shop that amt
smart enough to make money. And
everything in the world to worry
about! Rent! Advertising! Poor
help! Rotten business! Cold springs!
Mortgages! INTEREST,"" ="
The room echoed her lament.
The letter on the desk caught her
eye, and she read it again.
Dear Miss Glaub:
1--WE have considered very carefully
your letter OF Thursday, last. There
is no question in our minds Of your
merchandising ability. Your past his
tory carries with it nothing but sue
cess" Miss Glaub sniffled) Meth
er do we doubt your ability to put
your new enterprise over with unlim-
tied success. We also are ID that
it would be desirable to have a retail
outlet in your wonderful city" Miss
Glaub SMILED again) "for our. mer-
chandise.
However, we do not feel justified,
because of the unsettled conditions
now existing in retail lines, in max
ing any further extensions along fl
nancial lines. We therefore must de-
cline, most regretfully, your kind Of
fer of partnership.
"Please accept our best wishes for
your continued success and the per-
sonal regards of both Mr.. August and
myself.
Sincerely yours,
NATHAN ROSEWATER."
Miss Glaub rolled the letter into an
angry ball and thrust it from her.
Friends! Her head sank slowly TO the
table before her. Softly she began
to cry.
"Good evening, Cutie!"
Miss Glaub aroused herself with
start. Her wet eyes blurred the figure
standing in the doorway leading from
the fitting-,oom. She wiped them ner-
vously. 1t was dark in the room, and
suddenly cold. Straining, Miss Glaub
managed to make out the figure of
a man. Something loose and white
was twisted about the upper part of
his face, and his right hand fondled
something that glittered ominously.
For the first time in her varied career
Miss Glaub found herself voiceless. A
frightened cry of inquiry strangled it.
self half uttered.
Nothing like that, Cutie the voice
advised calmly.
"What-what do you want?"
The man laughed. what do you
suppose, Cutie?" he inquired lightly.
a game Of dominoes?"
Miss Glaub decided that he was a
young man-and the thing which was
twisted about the upper part of his
face was a piece of white silk from
the fitting room. The muscles which
had contracted about her heart loos-
ened slightly.
"What-what do you want:" Sc
repeated duly.
He advanced slowly into the room.
Miss Glaub shrank back with shud-
der. The thing that had glittered
in the doorway was an ugly snub-
nosed revolver.
what are you, Cutie-Adele her