The Washington times., 1937-01-12

"4AlAC JOd AZ 5hNNAA "ASAS 49, ~N@@
Signment?
81 knew that special line hasn't
been doing well in my department
this past ten days, but the reason
was beyond me-" replied Ann. "The
silks worth the money-the lace
and embroideries likewise-and
the cuts excellent. It's news to
me that a rival store has it at re.
duced prices. Perhaps a Sale?"
mo"
Then why" She broke off.
Why was he staring at her so, with
accusation in his eyes?
You've been favoring O'Halla-
han to the exclusion of other tex
tile manufacturers. That's bad
policy. 1t lays one open to criti-
cism."
I'm terribly sorry. I bought
from him because I considered I
got the best value from him for
the store"
And now you're stuck with
goods you can't get rid Of. Mr..
Weiss is very much upset about it,
especially as we've given such
space to this line in the advertis-
ing-fruitless lay-outS and all"
What can I do?" asked Ann
helplessly. "Shall I offer the
salesgirls a commission? Take a
markdoWn? Or what?"
THE rent Of your department is
far from being negligible, ap-
praised as it is at so much per
square footage. 1t occupies con-
siderable area in the best location
in the store. You have extra
lights, as in this SALON., whichmake
expenses higher. Recently, too,
some of the other buyers have
been feeling that you have been
favored in the matter of space in
the advertising. Therefore, legiti-
mately your running schedule has
no margin for costly mark-downs
or for Shop-lifting," he added.
Now Ann already knew there
was a certain margin for stealing
in the store. Despite the detec-
tives and their vigilance, merchan-
disc sometimes failed to tally in
the various departments. and
losses of that sort were put down
to shop-lifters.
But she had never experienced it
in the lingerie section.
"Shop-lifting?" she echoed.
He said, almost irritably: "Oh.
know you haven't had troubles yet
in the matter of theft" He was
thinking of Brenda Selz in the
Gift Shop, and how she was con-
tinually complaining things were
being stolen. Much of her more
expensive wares were small enough
to be accidentally CD caught in a
cuff sleeve, to be slipped into a
glove opening or covered with a
handkerchief. The worries Of a
merchandise-manager are as the
sands of the Sahara. And he was
worried. this morning.
SO Mr.. Weiss wants to see me?
Is he here now? Shall / 60 right
up to his office?" asked Ann.
He isn't in yet. He'll send for
you when he wants you. I came
to prepare you for an interview
that may be-unpleasant. He was
almost choleric yesterday about
what he considers is an ineXcus-
able blunder on your part. In
fact" said the Northumberland
ager worriedly, ''it's only fair to
tell you he was quite prepared to
let you out yesterday. had a talk
with him, however. Not that it
apparently has had much result"
AIMS quiet dignity did not de.
Sert her in this situation, even
though the whole world seemed to
be topping about her ears. To ce
fired from the job that meant so
much to her and to her family!
Worse still to lose contact with the
man who had told her that he
loved her-whom she loved ach-
ingly-and who now was treating
her as though nothing beyond the
ordinary civilities of store life hao
ever passed between them. It was
as though he had a dual person
ality. But pride helped her. She
summoned it forcefully.
Where a weaker or more design.
ing character would have traded
or attempted trading-on their
more delicate relationship outside
the store, AIMS manner was com.
pletely buSineSS-like, detached, as
she told the acknowledgements
that certainly she would resign il
her services were no longer
wanted.
Don't do that" The first hu.
man gleam came into the fine
eyes. "Mr Weiss is Temperament
tai. He gets exaggerated notions
in his head as to the reasons mott.
waiting his executives. In moments
Of anger. or of worry, his imagi-
nation flies off at a tangent. His
suspicious run ahead Of him"
This was cryptic information.
Exactly what was he trying to con-
vey to her?
She was suspected Of something
over and above being an incompe-
tent buyer! He was skirting round
1t, heSitatlng to come out in the
open!
Why?
Because Of his feeling for her?
!. Or because of the transient emo.
tion that filtration with a pretty
girl had brought out?
Ann felt that she hated every.
body. Specially loathed Paul Brad.
ley at that moment. His maxim
as to business and love not mix
ing came back to her forcibly.
LlIE NJ. HII.;.. IL