The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1930-07-24
Marie Antoinette Of
the Soaps
By JOSEPHINE DUKE

but perhaps thai was the way OF
things-of dreams, for instance
What had she not dreamed of do
ing? What she really did was to
stand behind soaps at the toilet
counter of the Twentieth Century
department store.
The morning was bright with
spring sunshine; the shop windows
featured clothes for debutantes,
sweet girl graduates, and brides.
Marie Antoinette gazed wistfully
at display of tulle and lace.
"Some girls graduate, some get
married, and others go to work."
she thought.
Just then the familiar figure of
tall young man crossed the pic
ture like shadow. Three times
that week he had been u customer
at soaps, but his attention had APP
parently been riveted on Miss Skin
ner, the blond with the hard boiled
eyes who sold ivory toilet articles
at far end of the counter. Marie
turned from the window and saw
him vanish among the crowds
thronging the sidewalk.
sWhat's this about the cash reg.
lister sh0rtage?' Ann Winston, the
girl, who stood next to Marie,
asked later as they busted and ar
ranged their stock.
"Shortage?"
"Umhum,n drawled Ann. Some
body's been playing the machine
again.
"They can't blame me-" laughed
Marie. Il didn't do anything"
THAT'S il" persisted Ann. inlay.
be you didn't do anything, but
could they blame you anyway?
What with all these rackets and
the like"
An old lady stepped up to the
counter and inquired for a certain
make of soap. Now WONDER
she asked when Marie had com
pieted the sale, IF you'll show me
something in an ivory manicure
SET"
I'm sorry" explained Marie, but
don't 90 down to that end of the
counter unless there's a rush."
"rfl ask the Hoorwalker If we
can't pretend there's a rush." smiled
the persistent old lady. you're
more accommodating than that
blond
Fire blazed from Miss SINNERS
eyes as the tloorwaller granted the
customers request. Back and
forth Miss Skinner stalked behind
Marie, enieav0ring TO make her
presence us confusing as possible.
Then another customer appeared
at the soaps, the young man whose
reflection Marie had caught in the
shop window on her way to work
"Never mind,n announced Miss
Skinner. I'LL wait OH him
The old lady purchased the most
expensive manicure set in stock
Marie forgot about the young man
Her spirits scared suddenly. There
was an attractive commission III
tached to ivory sales. When lunch
time came, she was still humming
gay little tune under her breath
as she pulled her purse from fine
lower drawer beneath the soap
counter and hastened to the locker
for her wraps.
But hand detained her. The
owner of the hand a weakened Ill
tie lloorwalker, spoke gruffly.
Come along with me TO the Of
fee"
ITO the officer" Marie's face
went white.
Ivory and mother of pearl com
pact missing from toilettes. We're
searching the clerks belongings as
they leave"
sOh, if THAT'S all" Marie was
suddenly relieved, followed him
Willingly
"Yonr purse first" growed the
fat man at the mahogany desk.
Marie pushed il toward him. He
opened it. The missing compact
fell out Heads, windows, walls
whirled dizzily around Marie. She
sank in confusion to the nearest
bench,
Suddenly a strong masculine
voice penetrated the chaos. See
here, you've got this thing all
wrong. I've been watching thai
blond at worries for more than
week now. saw her remove the
compact from the stock this morn
ing and put Ii in this very purse,
and that's not all the evidence I've
got against her, either. This girl
happens to be a good saleswoman.
and il would he 70 the hlonGs cred
it to Dust her frnm the department.
Do you get me?"
Through blur of tears, Marie |
recognized the handsome young
man who had been a frequent Gus
toner at the toilet counter lately |
and from other conversation that
followed she found thai he was a
detective.
Il say, Miss Kelly grunted the
fat man, Il guess we've made a
little mistake. There's going to be
a vacancy al the toilet counter
after Saturday, How'd you like tc
take charge of worries from then
on?'
Marie Antoinette did not notice
the shop windows that noon. She
was too busy talking TO hand
some young detective who had
saved her neck and rescued her
from soaps.
tCopyrightl
Long Island Waterway
There is a so-called inland wa