The Washington times., 1936-12-12


beginning. It's up to you to N
what is a comparison shop
per- please?"
Someone who looks around the
other stores and brings back the
newest ideas to us. One who COM
pares quality, style and price OF
our goods against those of our
competitors. When thing seems
attractive to you, you purchase
it and bring it to me or to the
buyer of that particular depart
ment." He pressed the buzzer on
his desk and a secretary appeared.
To the latter he said: will you
take down the name and address
of Miss Delafield, who is our new
comparison shopper, and send a
memo to the personnel depart
ment to that effect?" He turned
to Ann. What reference can you
give us, Miss Delafield? It's
question of form, you understand"
Now was the time to produce
her letter of introduction. She
took it from her handbag. "ThiS
is from Mr.. Tom Barclay. I was
to give it to the merchandise
manager"
I'm the merchandise manager,
Paul Bradley. I'm glad I engaged
you without the letter, because I
prefer to use lunches. I'm rather
good at lunches" He scanned
the letter, then rose, as did Ann,
too.
He smiled kindly at her. Unex-
pectedly he shook her by the
hand. A warm current flowed
from the point Of contact through
her whole being, so that sud-
denly she felt vitalized from top
to toe.
CHAPTER V
Brenda Selz, the dark, good
looking buyer in the Gift Shop,
had been in love with Paul Brad
ley for number of years.
Not that he encouraged her.
Her invitations to intimate little
dinners in her apartment had been
politely but firmly declined by
him. Definitely, he did not believe
in mixing business with social re-
lations, In so far as the latter
could bS avoided, and most GER
tairly 6ever with the women
executives and employees in the
store.
But Brenda was the aggressive,
go-getit type, and at % years of
age she knew what she wanted.
Innumerable conferences with
Paul Bradley over a long period
had drawn them closer together,
she considered. In a great store,
everyone working there knows
everyone elSe'S business, by kind
Of grapevine telegraph. The very
walls have ears. Believing in the
mighty power of Sug geStion,
Brenda was not averse to Subtly
letting it be known that one of
those days, there might be an in
teresting announcement concern
ing herself and the handsome
merchandise manager.
On this morning of late October,
when she saw him step out of the
elevator to the main floor with a
smartly attired young girl who
might well have sat for picture
entitled "The Promise of Spring"
her face clouded.
For the merchandise manager
looked gay, attentive. Shaken out
of his protective armor as the
burst Of bulb in April sunshine,
or chrysaliS into butterfly, or what
have you?
He came directly tow ards
Brenda with the young girl.
Jealousy
"This Is Miss Ann Delafield who
has Joined us as a comparison
shopper, Miss Selz. We must prove
her originality. I rely on you to
give her pointers" His voice,
thought Brenda, had a lifting quail
ity as he turned his handsome
gaze on the new arrival.
Assuming false sweetn ess.
Brenda murmured that she would
be delighted.
But when he had gone, her
stare, sharp as a gimlet, flicked
Ann from shoes to pert little hat.
It seemed to say: Here's a new
Adversary" though what Brenda
did say was that she supposed the
newcomer was full of high-falutin'
ideas, but the only thing that
counted in this game was profit!
"You have a long way to go,
Miss Delafield. A hard road" She
added tartly: "You understand
that Mr.. Bradley is starting you
practically at the bottom?"
"a comparison-shopper-" began
Ann.
I'VE call It a girl-spy"-with a
wry smile. "You run from store to
store, finding if they're undersell-
ing us. It's practically leg-work. 4"
"Cat!" thought Ann. "The Park
Avenue crowd has nothing on a
department store when It comes to