The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-21
CHAPTER x

CHAPTER x
 Budget fashions, in the basement consisted of a huge amount of fiool space bounded by built-in case! filled with dresses of every size ant color imaginable.
 In the center of the department four iron racks of mark downs proved an irresistible attraction which lured even the most casua of passing customers from tho nearby children's department Housewares. with pots, pans, elec' trio appliances, were on the other side of Budget Fashions.
 Miss Bee Davis. who had been working In Budget for whole week now, supposed that the housewives who purchased double boilers and little boys pants were the logical customers for Budget dresses, and probably that was why they had put 1t so con- veniently between the two depart ments.
 [ It had been hectic and eye opening week. She had learned to make out sales slips; she had learned the difference between what you did when customer wanted a purchase charged and delivered, and when 1t was cash and carry. She had learned to walk up to woman lingering mark downs under the blue Re duced for Clearance" sign, and ask, May help you, Modom?" Every customer in the store was ''Modom." The lady in charge of the training department had crisply corrected her when she pronounced 1t Madame
 Beatrice had learned too that you never turned a hair when n woman who weighed 200 pounds paved around in the size l4's; and no matter how broad of beam she happened to be, If she wanted 8 print with immense flowers that was sure to make her look like a slip-covered elephant, you let her buy 1t.
 See how well 1t fits across the shoulders" she had learned to point out, If the dress was too long. And, it's just the color for you If the dress was too tight.
 Sho did not feel happy about those things. They seemed a little dishonest. But Tommy Masters told her cheerfully, That's the way to make the quota sing, honey"
 Rignt now, Beatrice was stand ing beside 0 thin young girl who was trying on black crepe with q white lace collar. T think that looks very we'll on you; it's quiet, but 1t isn't the sort of dress that's easily catalogued." At the strange look in the young girls eyes, Beat rice hurried on, No one could tell whether you'd spent $5 or $50 - do you sec what mean? You could wear this dress to work, to din- ner party"
 T want 1t for special date said the girl, uncertainty. T don't know. It's nice, but it's sort of .-sort of"
 Quiet" said Beatrice firmly "Yet it's becoming. If you bought a dress that was more noticeable, people would remember it, don't you think? This dress will give you so much wear; you could change the collar you might wear a plain white linen one for the office. and blue neckerchief with Q blue belt for some other occasion"
 She knew that this was the wrong technique. Toby would have reached promptly for some red horror with an imitation rhinestone buckle. But somehow, in this week she had worked here, Beatrice found herself rebellious This child simply needed someone to explain things to her. For the same amount of money, she'd get so much better results! So many customers hadn't the fainteSt con- ception of how their slim resources could be stretched to make them look smarter.
 Tt doesn't cost money to exer- ClSC kOOd JhOC, oilC biiOubliV' "Why should this girl walk out of Huntington's with dress that's a poor advertisement for us and a disaster for her?"
 But the thin girl trying on the black dress was stubborn. T want something well more stylish" !" she said. "One of those prints, maybe. I -I want 1t to look dressy."
 Beatrice sighed and went obe- diently to the marked-down rack for couple of prints.
 
 MT. Bradley, the section man. ager, crossed the floor swiftly to-" ward her. "Oh, Miss Davis.'
 "Yes, sir?"
 Something about MT Bradley invariably amused her. She didn't quite know what 1t was. Perhaps 1t was because he was so earnest. He stalked through Budget Fash