The Washington times., 1936-12-19

cellent qualities of certain dresses,
the styles and values, and this in.
formation you will repeat to the
customers. The department has
been tagging behind. 1t requires
enthusiasm. 1t needs sales talk.
You understand"
Ann forced herself to smile.
She was being denoted, but an
opportunity was being given her
to show the stuff she was made
of. She would make good.
He flung what was perhaps in
tended as a sop to her vanity (she
wonderedO as she was leaving his
room.
"I should like you to attend the
classes, held Mondays, Wednes-
days and Fridays, from two to
three, in the big stockroom on the
seventh floor. There you will
learn the principles of supply and
demand, of distribution and over
head and profits. Most essential
knowledge for a buyer"
A buyer! He expected her to
work up to be buyer! That was
good news.
She went down to the Misses
dresses and was greeted by quaint
little Miss Shellfish, spinster in
the middle forties.
"Mr. Bradley just 'phoned to say
I'm to look out for you. You
ought to be a real help to us with
your pretty looks, my dear" Be-
hind Miss Shellfish's glasses we're
wistful eyes that drank in beauty.
No one knew better the coquetry
of dresses, despite her plain ap-
pearance. GAS Renita isn't here
just now to assign you your stock,
suppose you take these three racks
of party dreSSes-the organdies,
the taffetas, and the satins-and
see what you can do with them
for a beginning?"
It'd love to-" Ann said enthusi.
astically.
Every morning you have to go
over your stock, first thing, and
arrange it on the stands and hang
ers," continued the Buyer. 1--WE
need a nice young girl like you to
pep us up bit, for the depart
ment hasn't been doing so we'll
lately. I guess that's why Mr..
Bradley sent you to U.S."
"How generous and frank she
isl" thought Ann. Such a COM
plete contrast to Brenda Selz! And
others!
"You know, buyers aren't sup
posed to play favorites among the
girls, but we can't help having our
special likes, and I'm sure we'll
get along famously, Miss Della
field" said Miss Shellfish kindly.
Didn't she read the society col
umns in the papers every night,
and hadn't she often seen the
name of this pretty girl at the
parties?
I'll be ever so grateful" said
Ann, "if you can give me point
ers?"
ooh, you'll pick it up soon
enough. You have the air. You've
been around. guess some of the
young ladies that made their day.
boo the time you did'll be good
customers"
How did the quaint little buyer
know anything about her debut?
Ann was surprised.
But it was charming and peace
full in the misses dress depart
ment, with its grey-carpeted floor,
its softly lighted fitting salons, and
the gowns that were like bouquets
of flowers.
At one end was the de luxe
French Room, with it's expensive
'"That's the stylist from Paris In
there" volunteered Miss Shellfish,
reverently indicating black-satin
clad presence that trailed with a
kind of lazy arrogance among the
gilt sofas and potted palms.
She continued: "And over there's
the Special Order Room. They call
it an Atelier."
With difficulty, the Paris edu-
Gated Ann repressed a smile. Miss
long in kindness and
short in accent, made the word
rhyme with Bedelia.
In the de luxe fitting room, a
cup of tea is served to the custo-
mers or near-cuStomers. AS a kind
of come-on, you know!" Miss Shell
fish laughed. "If your feet get
sore with the standing, I don't
mind if you coax Chang Lo-that's
the Chinese maid-to give you a
cup in the middle of the afternoon,
for that's our busiest time, when
couldn't let you off long enough
to get up to the restaurant.