The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-03-03
BY L. f.

% to so yrs, experience unnecessary,
for investigating; SIS to start.
Apply"
applied. ~
The woman at the desk asked me,
Have you ever worked in a depart
ment store as cashier or clerk ?" re-
piled that l had not "Are you ac-
quainted or friendly with any one
working in a department store or
any other store?" l answered that l
was not, and was given a blank form
with the usual questions to answer
and then the woman explained what
the work was to be. She said, eve
run a shopping service here, that is,
we send you to the various stores
which employ us as their investiga-
tors. You purchase articles in these
stores just as you would purchase
for yourself and incidentally follow
our methods of investigation in order
to see whether or not store employees
are honest" Of course, I Immediately
realized what the Investigating" was
to be. ga
The woman then called in her
"chief" and he asked me, "Do you
understand that under no circum-
stances are you to let pity for the
offender keep you from giving q cor
rect report of your investigation n
Since l wanted to do a little ''investi-
eating" on my own hook, it is need
less to, say that my answer was an
emphatic eyes"
Nine o'clock the next morning
took my place amongst twenty other
intelligent" young women for my
first lesson in Investigating"
f..
My fellow spies were curious col
lection of individuals ranging from
theatrical "has-beens" to ex-country
school marms. Besides these "intel-
ligent" young women were a group
Of men, our screw managers" who
took care of all the money expended,
were heavily bonded and hardboiled.
later found out that these men
started at salary Of twenty-five dol
lars weekly, and that the oldest en-
ploye here, who was considered quite
a dick" received forty dollars. The
crew managers were also required to
do any 'third-degreeing" necessary
in getting the goods on a doubtful
suspect.
Our instructions that first morn
ing consisted Of a general outline on
the kind of "buys" to be made and
we newcomers were placed in the care
of experienced shoppers who were to
show us the ropes. -t
drew as my instructress an ex-
chorus girl who had lost her pep and
figure. She told me that she had
been with the - Service Company
for two years. She was now earn
ing twenty-five. dollars and had been
on the road for the company for
about year. learned that being
out on the road meant more pay and
travelling expenses, also living ex-
-penses paid; naturally the girls were
very anxious to get out of New York.
Our crew manager happened to own
a flivver so we travelled more COM
fortably than usual that first day.
Generally the subway is used in go
ing to and from stores.
4
Upon arriving just around the cor
ner to the store in which we were to
work." the crew manager counted
out the money to his shoppers and
warned, "For Gods sake, don't you
James come outa tn stores loaded up
like Kriss Kingle." My shopper com.
panion told me that the bundles welt
to be as small as possible for big
packages attract attention and that
is exactly what is not wanted.
My friend and l entered store
and walked up to the neckwear de-
partment. She whispered, "Watch
this, kid. I'm going to make a single
buy. Hope | nick somebody today
Haven't had detection since Adam.
My friend looked over the neckwear
and picked out a. collar priced fifty
cents. She handed the clerk an even
half dollar, the clerk wrapped up the
package with the receipt and nothing
happened. On leaving the counter
| asked the shopper whether the
"single buy" brought in many detec-
tions. She said that they did some
times, but most department store de-
tections were gotten on the "double'
and Combination" buys.
"The next buy is going to be q
DOUBLE" she said. "Singles are soft
but you've gotta use your head or
doubles"
We went over to a hosiery counter
where a sale was going on. My
friend looked over the articles non.
chalantly then called me away to an
other counter. l asked her why she
didn't buy there. "Don't be a horses
corset" she kidded, "Can't you sec
they only got one price there
They're havin' sale"
Sufficiently squelched by this time
I meekly I. followed her to the
il. -. u.