Evening star., 1926-08-02

w YHEN Bessie Apperson took
n her new position in the lace
NV department at Millers she
was determined to make no
friends. Being pleasant had
cost her a job at Feldman's. one
should smile at no one. she declueu,
else one might be reported. 1t had
been the head of her stock who had
complained, Bessie knew. because the
floorwalker had fingered about Bes''
sizes counter. 1t was said that the
head clerk herself was sweet on the
floor manager. Bessie's years at the
orphanage had taught her little con-
cerning social relations. There one
smiled at the matron and at the visit
ing hoard members. but it seemed that
in the big world everything was dlt-
ferent-
The head Of the lace stock was a
little dried-up old maid, who. wore
thick near-sighted glasses and FOUND
II hard to distinguish one clerk from
another. Bessie felt herself miles re-
moved from the girl whose stool was
nearest hers-the doll like, little crea-
ture, SO wasteful of her rouge and lip
stick.
There was one person, however
whom it was hard not to be KIND to
the floorwalker, who strolled past her
counter
kind brown eyes. Still, Bessie resisted
the temptation to meet his glance. IL
was not safe to smile at floor man.
ayers.
He's new, too," confided the near
est clerk. lavfng another coat or car
men upon the cracking surface or her
lips. Just came in day or SO oetofe
you did. Looks kinder shy to me, put
/ believe he's sweet on you, Bessie.
How'd you ever learn to do that oaoy
stare?"
Bessie replaced bolt of Irish lace
and turned to inquire of customer
what could be done for her. AT that
moment she saw the fioorwalker turn
into the aisle. He did not have the
stately stride of fioorwalkers, and he
was young and altogether human
looking. Out of the corner OF her eye
Bessie saw Dot smile and bestow upon
the young man a wink douotlesS IN
tended to be enticing. Bessie shud-
dered. Poor Dot! Surely some one
would report her and she would f1nd
herself on the street in search OF a
lob. She was doubly alarmed when
she saw the fioorwalker stop and say
a word TO Dot.
That night, however. 1t was with
sickening sense Of disappointment,
which Bessie was totally unable to ex-
Join Dot and walk away from the
store with her. Evidently one would
not be fired at Miller's for the things
one dared not do at Feldman's.
The next morning Dot was quite
evidently in a blue funk.
What do you think?" she poured
into Bessie's ear. That guy asked
me where l. got my eats. and when /
told him the Dirty Spoon around the
~pl . t,a NolS SNVrf
Astoria wouldn't be too good for me,
he said he'd just go along with me.
Do you know. he had the nerve to
take me to that joint l go to every
night and then to come with me TO
that dump where ] have my room? 2
What did you expect him to do?'
asked Bessie.
Now, cut out that innocent stuff.
I wanted a feed and a show and
cabaret and something different. There
amt no place to entertain at my room
in house. When he found that out
he just said goodnight. Now amt
that the cheapeSt?'
Bessie noted that Dot tossed her
head in disdain every time the floor.
walked passed the lace counter. BeS.
sic was sorry that he could not meas
ure up to Dots requirements OF man.
hood. 1t was a pity for any one who
looked as he did to be guilty Of cheap
ness. At lunch hour Bessie studied
her face in the rest room mirror. Her
hair, loosed from the orphanage
braids, waved slightly toward the coil
SIT the back of her neck. Her cheeks,
though unrouged, were not pale. Bes-
sic wondered if all her life she was
destined to be lonely.
Late one afternoon the head of the
stock announced that two bolts Of the
expensive handmade Italian lace had
disappeared since lunch. Bessie felt
more than ever miserable and forlorn.
She was the newest clerk, and surely
she would be the first to be suspected.
sickness for the orphanage and the
hideous blue gingham.
Wen have to search every one,
the head continued.
Bessie thought that Dot was pale
beneath her rouge, and she was sure
that her own face was ashen. 1t was
terrible to stand in the shadow of sus-
picion like that. Mr.. Brown had not
been in the store all afternoon.
Strangely, Bessie felt that his kindly
presence would be reassuring.
1--WE looked in the pocket of all the
coats" the head of the stock said.
Now / want to search behind the
counters before / go through your
clothes"
Dots counter came first. Then the
little lady approached the domain over
which Bessie reigned. She picked up
the girls handbag, that seemed
strangely bulging, opened 1t, and
pulled out the crumpled yards OF ex-
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