The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-12-11

= explained all the differences IN
quality to me. I assure you this
silk is excellent.
The tall, good-looking man cor
roborated her opinion. The Gus
toner was convinced. She FOL
lowed the salesgirl down the
counter to the wrapping depart
ment. Looking at Ann with
handsome dark eyes that seemed
to bore right through her, the
man said: Thank you. It isn't
usual to find among customers the
cool competence of the young
woman executive"
She blushed, and hated herself
for blushing. She managed to
stammer out: But that's exactly
what 1 would like to bel"
Breaking the Ice
There was a pause. The blood
hummed in her ears. mingling
with the vast buzz of the store
that was as busy as a beehive.
She thought: Hes somebody of
Importance" His look was so
magnetic, so disturbing, that she
forgot all about the letter Of in
PRODUCTION in her handbag. She
said quite humbly: II want a job
if you will give me one"
He asked her to go with him
to his office, which was on the
sixth floor. He was silent in the
elevator. She studied his profile
surreptitiously. Determination in
his chin. Arrogance in his nose.
Sensitiveness in his well-cut
mouth. Intelligence in his fine
forehead. Strength in every line
of him. She decided he was about
80, and a complete, overwhelming
contrast to the ilk of Captain de
Freyn and Freddy.
A real man, in fact.
Two secretaries sat in his outer
office. The inner room was small
and rather bare. He motioned Ann
to sit in a chair directly opposite
his desk, with light from a very
tall window falling full upon her.
His handsome eyes scrutinized her,
as if now somewhat dubious, or
critical. After a brief silence, he
raped out: what qualifications
have you to offer?"
Under that quizzical gaze she
thought: HE was kidding me
when he spoke Of my cool COM
petence!"
She said: 1--WE the customers
point of view. I'm sure know
what women like. I've been around.
I've been abroad. You'd find I
have initiative-and style sense"
Indeed? Have you ever worked
before?"
ooh no. Except-"-she STAN
mered-"at the Junior League, I
mean. I've had selling experience
at the charity bazaars-and selling
programs at ben efits-and
chances, raffles at balls last
winter, and this summer at Bar
Harbor at charity fetes-"
Him. How old are you, Miss"
"Ann Delafield. I'm nineteen"
II take it you're completely un-
aware that work in big organi-
zation such as this is vastly diff
ferent from the amusementS you
have just referred to? AS a mat
ter of fact, I'm rather averse to
engaging girls Of your-er-hack-
ground"
But I have to work. We've lost
our money. Don't you see L"
He said coolly: "This is not a
philanthropic institution"
But you need new blood" she
flashed, Don't new ideas mean
anything to you? Can't you realize
my friends would come in and
buy? That what you call my back
ground would be an aSset?"
"One can't bring ones elegence
into a department store. To get
ahead, Miss Delafield, one must be
hard boiled"
Her First Job
Then I'll be hard-bo1led. I'm
boiling now. I'm a dynamo for
work. Give me q chance" she
pleaded.
AL What?"
GAS a stylist," she said desper-
ately.
Couldn't he see she was we'll
dressed? That the very hat she
wore, forecast the trend in mil
linery of ultra design?
He smiled. Not agreeably.
you fail to realize that depart
ment store like this has too big an
investment at stake to experiment
with amateurs in its style bureau,
Miss Delafield. Moreover, even if
you did give satisfaction, there
would be no permanent spot for
you there, since you would be
bound to run out of ideas sooner
or later"
"Then as a salesgirl," she cried
out. Let me learn from the
ground up"
His smile grew slightly warmer.
That's better"
Can I start now" Dark blue
eyes were fixed on magnetic
brown ones.
(Tn IA Nnoa&IuuaSA