Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-01-06


this dollhouse of femininity with it's
gilded chairs and sofas, its pink velvet
carpet, it's window draped with blue
and rose and golden tassels in the Du
Barry style.
Ann blinked, halted.
1t was Paul Bradley, the merchan-
dise-manager, rising from rose vel
vet couch, coming towards her.
Waves of lovely color swept into
her face.
He had come here for quick stol-
en- moment? The faint aroma of the
dainty garments all about them gave
an added touch of femininity. Quiet,
secluded, perfumed, wasn't it an ideal
setting for kiss :. :?
"Good morning. This is an early
meeting" smiled Ann.
But there was no smile on the lips
of the acknowledgements. His
mouth looked tense as, for moment,
he stared at her silently. Was he re-
GREETING the taxi ride in the early
hours of Sunday morning? Already,
in sane and sober mood, was he regard
ing it as an indiscretion?
What did she really know about
him? Perhaps after party it was
his habit to make love to pretty girls ?
They'd all drunk plenty Of champagne
at II Rocco. Perhaps he only re-
garded the aftermath as an incident?
Had she cheapened herself? She
couldn't bear it if he thought so.
"You-you look terribly serious. Is
anything the matter?" Ann stammer-
ed.
"I'm afraid so. You were wanted
yesterday afternoon by Mr.. Weiss in
his office"
She thought: "Calamities never
come singly! AS though it weren't
bad enough about poor Claire!"
She said aloud: 81 had to go home
on an urgent family matter. Sud-
den Illness" She hated fibbing, but
never must Paul Bradley know Claire's
narrow escape. Whatever trouble
might be brewing for herself, her
family must be protected, cost what
it might.
"Did you know" asked Paul, chat
our competitors are offering at a
much lower price, the identical line Of
lingerie that you purchased through
O'Hallahan? That it's selling hand
over fist, while you're stuck with
your consignment ?"
81 knew that special line hasn't
been doing well in my department this
past ten days, but the reason was be-
yond me-" replied Ann. "The silks
worth the money-the lace and en-
broideries likewise-and the cuts ex-
cellent. It's news to me that a rival
store has it at reduced prices. Per-
haps sale?"
"No."
''Then why" She broke off. Why
was he staring at her so, with accusa-
ton in his eyes?
you've been favoring O'Hallahan
to the exclusion of other textile manu-
facturers. That's bad policy. 1t lays
one open to criticism"
"I'm terribly sorry. l 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 advertising-fruitless lay-outs
and ALL"
"What can I dog" asked Ann help
lessly. "Shall 1 offer the salesgirls
a commission? Take a markdown?
Or WHAT"
"The rent of your department is far
from being negligible, appraised as it
is at so much per square footage. 1t
occupies a considerable area in the
best location in the store. You have
extra lights, as in this salon, which
makes expenses higher. Recently, too,
some of the other buyers have been
feeling that you have been favored
in the matter of space in the adver-
Using. Therefore, legitimately your
running schedule has no margin for
costly mark-downs-or for shop-lift-
ing," he added.
Now Ann already knew there was a
certain margin for stealing in the
store. Despite the detective and their
vigilance, merchandise sometimes fail
ed to tally in the various departments
and losses of that sort weresput down
to shop-lifters.
But she had never experienced it
in the Lingerie section.
"Shop-lifting she echoed.