Evening star., 1934-06-02

That's SWELL" came the hearty
voice. Come in in the morning. That
o. K? Welch's store =. walk straight
down Main street; you can't miss it!"
A direction which Rose found to be
literally true when, leaving the en-
crossed Kitten III Bertha Harris will
ing hands, she set out for the prom
ised meeting. Welch's store was a
single-story wooden structure, sporting
new false front, painted a blistered
and jaundiced yellow, dazzling in the
morning sunlight. 1t stood in a small
business center which Rose had en-
tirely missed the day before, since it
lay across the railroad tracks, beyond
the grouped buildings OF the silk mills.
Nothing here of Casselle's glass
front; none of the Bon Tons severe
exclusiveness THE two small show
windows were jammed with cotton
house dresses-large sizes-children's
d,nim rompers, slightly light-struck
straw hats, women'S rayon bloomers,
displayed unabashed in their ample
ness, cheap silk stockings with cotton
tops. white knit berets, and canvas
bathing sandals.
From behind wooden rack.
crammed with voile and rayon dresses,
its proprietor emerged. She was all
that her voice had suggested on the
telephone last night; large woman,
in her middle forties. with fine
figure grown too ample, and a round
face which plumpness and skin OF
baby-like texture endowed with GER
tain prettiness. Her eyes were China
blue, in a setting of sparse blond
lashes. Her hair had been hennaed
and bleached so many times 1t had
almost ceased to resemble hair at all.
1t was in that interesting stage which
every woman knows as growing out"
She was rather startlingly dressed in
beach pajamas, of an optimistic pink.
Even Rose could not resent the live
ly curiosity which looked out of Lottie
Welch's eyes as she talked, for they
were such friendly, childlike eyes.
so you didn't make the grade yes
terday, eh?" was her opening gun.
Say, amt it funny how Ritzy small
town can act till they know you?
Country folks are that way till they
see you a few times; then they're
o. K. In spite Of all the stuff they
write, they don't put out the glad
hand right away like us city people
Oh, sure to Roses look of sur
prise, ". I came from the city.
Worked for the Sylph Corset Co. for
years. Out on the road, demonstrat-
ing Sylph Silhouettes for Stylish
Stouts. I know I don't look 1t
now" Her eyes went over her ample
curves in cheerful response to Roses
instructive glance. 'Oh, boy! was it
a struggle to live up to those Sylph
Silhouettes! l darn near had to
starve myself to keep my job till I
had money enough put aside to start
up my own business here"
This was accompanied by such a
look of pride about the small shop
that Rose felt called upon to speak
praise:
1T is nice store. How long have
you had it?"
Three years. always had my eye
on Catherwood when I was on the
road. A good, lively town. I told my
self, where you got not only the farm
ers' trade but the mill trade as well to
draw on. Three years. =. I've worked
like dog, but I'm maxim the grade
now and nobody can fire me and 1
don't have to turn down pie and
cheese for dinner!"
She smoothed the pink pajamas.
Say, listen, I guess you're wondering
whether I always wear these? 1 don't
but some smart salesman talked me
into a big order: and now I got to
move them. With you wearin' 'em,
too-a different model every day-we
can educate these hicks. The women'll
see you looking good and they'll think
they'll look just as good If they buy
them. It's dumb, I know, but that's
how their minds work"
BY this last, Rose figured she was
hired. Il reallysd need some one in
the store" Lottie went on. tapping her
large teeth with a stub of lead pencil,
1.-The way business has picked up this
last year. I can't pay much-I'm
really ashamed to tell you'll told that
to Mr.. Morgan last night, but he said
to give you crack at it anyways"
"Mr. Morgan!" Roses voice, in as
tonishment.
Lottie WEIGH looked guiltily crest
fallen. Now. amt that like me? :.
He said not TO let on he spoke to me.
Well anyway, 1t. was Larry
Morgan came to see me last night
said you was just the person needed
in here ;. :"
In the goodness of her heart Lottie
WEIGH was slightly modifying the con-
versation. This poor kid needs a
break, Lottie," was the way Larry