Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04


Look at this, Al. The stock
yards removing downtown"
Al laughed, then he put on his best proteS-
sional manner, clasped his hands in front OF his
stomach inclined his head slightly, and walked
up to Blue.
What can do for you sir?"
Blue was short and stocky His legs were thin.
his waist small, but his shoulders were wide
enough for man feet tall. His face was req
and beefy and his cheekbones were SO prominent
that they stuck out of his face. He looked at Al.
I'm buying an outfit, see," he said. I'm
: gonna shed these rags and climb into something
slick"
Eyes, sir" said AL "How about one of our
new Spring models?"
HE wants gray suit" said Birdy, adjusting
her new fur neckpiece.
Double breasted" said Blue.
eyes, SIR" said Al.
sBut first 1 want some silk underwear" said
Blue "Im dressing from the hide out"
The store manager came over and smiled.
take good care of this young man, won't
you, Mr.. Johnson"
eyes, SIR" said Al
'sWarm, isn't it?" the store manager said to
Birdy.
yeah. amt it?" said Birdy, taking of her
neckpiece and dangling 1t over her arm Ike the
women in the advertisements.
The store manager walked to the back Of the
shop and talked to the cashier
There's boy that's got big hunk Of money
it the same way"
"Yeah?" said the cashier. well, wish my
rich uncle that haven't got would die. Take q
look at that neckpiece his girls wearing. He
didn't get that for S."
A l. spread out the silk underwear on the
counter, and Blue looked through it. Birdy
held up a lavender shirt.
Here you are Blue. Here's what you ought
to get
''say +. !" said Blue.
Eyes, SIR" said Al; we're selling lots Of that.
Just had an order for q dozen suits from gen.
tleman out in Lake Forest"
That's where the swells come FROM" said
Birdy.
Blue looked at the lavender shirt and the
lavender shorts and said:
"All right I'll take q Dozen"
AL glanced up from his order book, caught
the managers eye, and winked. The manager
came up to Blue, put his hand on his shoulder
and said:
my dear sir, since you seem to know real
stuff when you see it, I'll let you in on some
thing We got new shipment Of cravats that
we have only just begun to unpack But If
you'd like to look at them, I'll send down to
the stock room for them"
Sure" said Blue.
THANKS awfully," said Birdy.
TITS our very best stock. Handmade cravats
Of the best material obtainable"
I'VE want the best, don't We, Blue?" said
Birdy.
Sure" said Blue.
While the manager sent for the cravats Blue
bought dozen silk shirts, some collars, a solid
gold collar pin, some onyx cuff links, set OF
military brushes and two dozen pairs Of socks.
Al bent over his order book and wrote in the
items swiftly, computing the possible amount
of this windfall. In a few minutes stock boy
brought up the neckties and stood with his
mouth open while Blue selected dozen of the
most expensive ties. The manager noticed him.
"Just leave the rest of the stock, please" he
said; then he turned his back to Blue and
snarled, "Get out of here!"
The stock boy went back to the basement.
and the manager turned back to Blue. smiling.
Those cravats retail at 81 apiece" he said.
"but because you're giving us such nice or
der I'll let you have them for three fifty"
20. k" said Blue.
"Them sure are swell ties, Blue" said Birdy,
putting her arm through his. Wont we be
lit up thought"
Sure" said Blue.
When the accessories had been selected, Blue
began to try on the suits AL brought him. Blue
strobe up and down in front Of the big triple
mirror, pulled out his chest struck attitudes,
and studied his profile, which he had never
seen before except in one Bertillon picture.
Al stayed at his elbow, offering suggestions.
helping him with the set of a coat, telling him
how wonderful he looked; and the manager
stayed in the background, occasionally making
a remark to Birdy whom he addressed as
Madam"
Blue after long consultation with Birdy,
selected two Of the most expensive suits; blue
serge single-breasted and gray double breast
ed. Then he bought a gray felt hat at $12,
a small sailor at So and panama at $1S.
'Well," said Blue, II guess you guys got about
as much of my jack as you're gonna get"
How about shoes?" Al put in