The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-07

VatOr now, ZOOmlnS upWdlu' oiA'" floor. Southern wear. Beach um- brellas and cork sandals, peach colored jersey suit on a bronzed mannequin, .olling elegantly on sand beach under brilliant slmulat- ed daylight. Boots caught her breath. She would buy just such a bathing suit as that before she left to join Russ. She had $S saved toward her ticket Last week she had hoped to save more but she had a cold and had to buy medicine-a throat astringent and some rubbeTs.
 The dressing room smelled of wet wool and cheap scent. Girls mill ing around, touching up their hair, slowing boots into lockers. A jum- ble of words.
 And I just said to him, I said, What do you take me for?' -. We went 10 Radio City Oh, the ballet was lovely" Its Coty's Paris; dyou like it." "A double decker at the Barrel Bar" they give you a dill pickle
 A gong boomed somewhere and the chip-chip of feet in the corridor outside swelled to symphony. Clerks from the ware. clerks from the furniture depart ment, from the shoes, the ribbons, the linens, the underwear, the mill linery shop were all hastening to their posts.
 A few girls nodded to Boots. That tall Miss Apfel from the avn ing materials gave her pleasant smile Boots had lunched with her one day. She was from upstate. She had, she confided, taken nurses training, but hadn't been able "to stand the gaff". She was plump but not overly strong. Very neat was Miss Apfel, in her dark wool, with the crisp organdie frill at the throat.
 Going to be a big day, dear" she whispered as they swung along toward their posts on the seventh floor.
 Boots nodded. Monday was al- ways terrible evn with a long, lazy Sunday behind. At five o'clock on Mondays your feet ached with a slow. steady. blinding ache
 The rush began. It seemed to Boots she did not really draw breath until 11:3O. She had been so busy she had actually forgot ten the IS minutes relief which was due her. This last customer rendered $10 Dill.
 'I'll take the package with me-"
 Lacy's still used the antiquated change !conveyer system. The cus- toner's money was deposited in sort of metal cradle along with the sales slip and dispatched in the pneumatic tube which shot to the neither regions where cashier made the proper change.
 The customer tapped her foot with nervous impatience and Boots. answering questions, throwing out bolt after bolt, measuring, cutting, was conscious of the narrowed eyes and frown, of the waiting woman.
 Where on earth is my changer" Black eyes snapped angrily.
 "IH see. Just moment. madam"
 Boots clicked the tube several times. There was no response. She went to the telephone and called the operator below stairs. The customers impatience grew, deep ened.
 "There-there seems to be some difficulty" Boots explained.
 'So I see." The woman bit her lips furiously. Gall the depart ment manager please"
 Mir Bliss, his white carnation proclaiming him one of Lacy's trouble busters" came up, smiling urbanely.
 T gave this young woman a s10 bill ages ago." snapped the irate customer. ''The change hasn't come back.
 MT Bliss questioned Boots, tele- phoned, came back drowning. Miss O'Toole, he said, reported no $1O bill had been sent through the tubes from his station for the past half hour.
 But" Boots protested "you saw me put it into the tube along with your sales slip" She turned her white face toward Mir Bliss.
 T saw nothing" The woman lifted arrogant shoulders.
 It will be made good" Mir Bliss assured her. He lifted his eye brows in Bt ots' direction-a very aloof, assured. impeccable young man. He went off with the cus- toner in tow
 "Go to lunch, dear" said Mary Asterson, one of Boots counter mates moment later.
 But what's going to happen now?" Boots stammered, Her head ached, her mornings hunger had settled like kind of black sick ness at the very core of her being
 "Oh, nothing much," Mary said airily. The worst they can do is to take 1t out of your pay. Those things happen sometimes"
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