The Bozeman courier., 1926-10-01
By F, Scott Fitzgerald

"YOu come in tomorrow and see, Miss
Miss Quit" he remarked oracularly, and
reeled out into the cold just as he had
reeled in-with all the motion above the
knees.
And that was how it happened that on
Christmas night Oracle retired early and
left Mr.. Axelrod to shift for himself. She
| slept as determtnedly as she usually fried
chicken and for about the same length
Of time. She was drinking coffee when
she heard the first trolley pass a block
/ below her house, and putting on a coat
Of some indeterminate fur that in damp
weather smelt like live animal she minced
/ over the ice and cfusted snow to the trolley
stop. The street she came along was
steeply down hill, and If she had been an
exuberant person she might have taken a
little skip and slid ali the way. But she
didn't-she always walked sideways to
keep from falling.
The car was filled with steamy heat
and melted snow, and wOrkingmen putting
their ways to far parts Of the city. Oracle
reached the Blue Ribbon at the opening
/ hour and after wandering among atStes
and elevators located Mr.. Albert POmeroy.
He was more pOmpous and less verbose
| than when she had seen him befOre-but
he remembered her perfectly and for the
| pest part OF an hour he initiated her,
| with severe finger skakings, into the art
Of being a saleslady.
Before Oracle had time to consider the
question Of quitting a mOmentOus Occa-
sion arose that drove the thought out Of
/ her head. She had been a participant
in the activities Of the store for less than
a. week when general massmeeting of
all the employees was held in the restroom
after hours. Mr.. PomerOy, standing on
a bench, acted as general chairman.
1--WE are gathered here" he announced
/ from his rOstrum, "fOr the purpose of
discussing the subject of selecting the
Blue Ribbons representative in the pop
ularity contest now being held under the
auspices of Mr.. Blue Ribbon, one Of the
towns leading business men, and several
other Of the towns leading business men. "
he paused here, and took a long breath
as one slightly dizzy.
"We must choose our queen-with hon
esty," he went on, and then added sur
prisingly, (which is always the best pol
icy. Everybody |nOws that we have here
in this store the most beautiful ladies that
can be fOund in this store, and we must
choose the best one among them all tC
represent US. You have until this time
tomorrow to decide who you will vote for
1 want to thank you on behalf Of my
J self and Mr.. Ribbon for your attention
.and-" He had prepared a strong fin
: marred by the fact that just at this nom
ent a stray thought Of the haberdashery
? department flashed into his mind.
an clothing 1 wish to say,1, ~, He paus
! up and ended somewhat tamely with
And that's the way it is"
e AS Oracle went out through the emplOye
t entrance behind the tittering file of fe
males she saw Mr.. PomerOy on the corne
e under the white arc light. She wakes
( quickly over, and spoke to him.
= Honest" she said, that was a grea
speech you made 1 don't see how som
d people can all Of a sudden just max
e up a speech"
t She smiled and disappeared into the win
ter lights and the furry crowds and huI
|, ried toward her street car. Unwittingl
: she had made up a good speech hersel
= Mr.. POmerOy, though imperviOus both {
g ridicule and insult, was a sensitive ma
to compliments.