Smyrna times., 1930-07-30
Marie Antoinette of
the Soaps
By JOSEPHINE DUKE


sess a name which began SO rOman-
tically and ended so p1osaically.
But perhaps that 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 a 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 a shadow. Three times
that week he had been customer
at soaps, but his attention had ap-
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.
whats this about the cash reg
lister shortage?" Ann Winston, the
girl, who stood next to Marie,
asked later as they busted and ar
ranged their stock.
"Shortage?"
H. Il, TDI
body's been playing the machine
again."
"They can't blame me-" laughed
Marie. 81 didn't do anything"
"That's it." persisted Ann. MAY
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
pleted the sale, "if you'll show me
something in an ivory manicure
set.''
I'm sorry" explained Marie, but
l don't go down to that end of the
counter unless there's a rush."
''I'll ask the floorwalker 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 floorwalker granted the
customers request. Back and
forth Miss Skinner stalked behind
Marie, endeavoring to make her
presence as 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" announced Miss
Skinner, ''Ill wait on 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 at
tached to ivory sales. When lunch
time came, she was still humming
a gay little tune under her breath
as she pulled her purse from the
lower drawer beneath the soap
counter and hastened to the locker
for her wraps.
But hand detained her. The
owner of the hand, weaZened lit
tie floorwalker, spoke gruffly.
''Come along with me to the Of
fee"
.'To 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"
"Oh, if that's all" Marie was
suddenly relieved, followed him
willingly.
"Your purse first" growled the
fat man at the mahogany desk.
Marie pushed it 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 strong masculine
voice penetrated the chaos. "See
here, you've got this thing all
wrong. I've been watching that
blond at worries for more than a
week now. | saw her remove the
compact from the stock this MORN
ing and put it 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 it would be to the blond's cred
it to oust her from the department.
Do you get meT'
Through a 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 that he was a
detective.
Il say, Miss Kelly" grunted the
fat man, II guess we've made a
little mistake. There's going to be
a vacancy at the toilet counter
after Saturday. How'd you like to
take charge Of ivories from then
on?"
Marie Antoinette did not notice
the shop windows that noon. She
was too busy talking to a hand
some young detective who had
saved her neck and rescued her
from soaps.
tCopyright.)