The Washington times., 1936-12-18

manager dismissed the gift shop
buyer. Knowing the lack Of
method on most charity commit
tees, and particularly with the
juniors up and down Park Ave
nue., he knew that it was unfail
to blame Ann Delafield entirely
for the fault Of the too opti'
mistic committee of the carnival
He explained this fact to Her
man Weiss when Brenda Selz hac
departed. Seeing the owner still
dubious, he added that the gift
shop buyer had been stuck with
her own order till the new "com
parison shopper" had thought OF
this plan to help her out.
Mr.. Weiss had few illusions
and knew human nature on its
Seamiest side. He bracketed Bren'
da and Ann together as needing
watching" but confined himself
to saying curtly that ncompe'
tence had no place in a depart
ment store.
AS a matter Of fact, and with
good reason, he loathed society,
having suffered indirectly there.
by. Hadn't his wife and daugh-
ters the most absurd social ambt
tions, and had nagged him into
moving from the comfortable old
house on Riverside Drive to an
elaborate apartment that cost him
a pretty penny? Didn't they force
him to give large sums to charity,
hoping to buy their entry among
the "elite!" word he abso-
lutely detested?
And every time the bluebloods
snubbed them, which was often,
wasn't he compelled to listen to a
chorus Of complaints?
CHAPTER XI
When he had gone, that dy-
namo Of energy, Paul Bradley, sat
curiously still at his desk. It was
a sparkling morning in the third
week of November. A tang was in
the air to fire ones blood and
ones Imagination. The discussion
anent m asks and dominoes
brought recollection Of his witty
little partner at the Carnival.
Who was she? Was it possible
that it was Ann Delafield herself?
For one who was confirmed
bachelor, his life dedicated to his
business, it had been disconcert-
ing that during the weekend in
tervening between now and the
Ice Carnival, thoughts of the I'm.
known girl, as lovely as a flight of
bluebirds, had fitted continuously
through his mind.
He had driven to Sleepy Hollow
for air and exercise and golf. He
had played badly on Sunday
morning-off his game, he was
and ridden horseback during the
afternoon through WOO dland
glades that were like fairyland.
Autumn leaves fingered on the
trees. The sense of fleeting beauty
filled him with bitter-Sweet nos.
talgia.
For what
For happiness in life! For some.
thing, in this world Of change,
that one could cling to.
After dinner at the club that
night, sitting before a log fire,
pipe in hand, a highball at his
elbow, it was curious that a girls
face rose in the blue smoke, nebu.
lously...
But romantic love was a flop,
these days. 1t didn't last. Wit
ness the marriages Of everyone
about him!
Even outside Of marriage 1t
didn't mean anything for long.
Who, in the impermanent atmoS-
phere of today, had a claim on
the affections Of anybody?
Work was the one Solidity In
life. It never failed one.
But obstacles to overcome were
granted. whetting ones zeal.
If it weren't for the petty annoy
ances..
Like Brenda Selz, who had al.
ways seemed a charming woman,
he had thought, having it in for
the little comparison-shopper.
And Renita Parrish, head Of
stock in the dress department,
who had been extremely compe-
tent until she saw Ann with Cor.
don Favin. Since which time it
was only too obvious she had been
drinking too much.
The dress department was lag.
ging in figures, getting behind.
He must call the dress buyer, and
Renita, and plan a promotion
campaign to bring figures up to
par, to show the necessary in
crease expected.
Changing the window might do
the trick. Putting brighter dresses
in. He would hold a meeting of
the girls in the dress department,
popping them up, perhaps giving
them prizes for doing q certain
amount of business.
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