The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-20
CHAPTER TX

CHAPTER TX
 The woman behind the desk reached for Q white blank. Be- fore she handed 1t to Beatrice, she looked her over with cold, experi- enced eyes. She took in the soft, golden euris under the small. mink hat. She noted the thin woolen jacket, the uncbtruSive smartness of the dress.
 Toby didn't spot it," Beatrice thought, unhappily, but this woman isn't missing trick" The suede handbag came In for scru- tiny, and the brown suede shoes with the lucite heels.
 Almost reluctantly the woman handed Beatrice the blank. "Fill this in, please, and come back"
 There was table in the mid- ale of the office. A long table, with pens and Ink and blotters and a list of instructions under the glass top. "Be sure to answer each question. Please do not falsify statements as all references are checked. Give exact dates of prev Sous employment and exact salary"
 Beatrice sat down and picked up 6 pen. Name? Bebe Davis. Ad- dress2 She wrote the street and number of Tobys apartment and carefully included, Care of Mas ters." Experience? None. Edu cationp That was c poser. She couldn't write Miss Spence's School. She bit her lip. Some col- lege - any college. She remem- bered the name of a woman's col- lege at which Grandfather had endowed chair.
 She carried the completed appli- cation to the woman.
 "Sit down." She seemed to take in the information ut Q glance. "Now what makes you think you'd like to work for Huntingtons Miss Davis"
 T need the position,' said Bea- trice quietly. That's the main reason for applying, of course. Then, I I've always thought I'd like to sell. 1--1 believe I could.'
 T gee."
 "A friend of mine-in fact. the girl I live with, works here" plunged Beatrice. Miss Masters. She thought would fit in."
 T gee." The woman was posi- lively frigid. Her eyes, the tone of her voice, the poker face, told nothing.
 Beatrice found herself becoming annoyed with this person. Was this tho way Huntlngton's treated people who asked merely for the opportun. ity of working? People who might some day be valuable to the store? The least they could expect was e reasonable courtesy.
 Out of the past came Q remark Of Grandfather's she had not paid especial attention to at the time. we never know when some world- beating executive may apply to us, in the shape of frightened, shabby boy who never finished grade school That's why Q store like ours can't afford to be exclusive in the per- sonnel department. don't believe in this stuff of demanding q col- lege degree and IA personal refer erces.
 And another thing! A store like Huntington's must never lost sight Of the fact that applicants for posi- tions, whether hired or not, are very likely to be customers, tool Antag- onize 'em, Insult 'em. and you've lost q customer. You've also lost their families and friends"
 The woman behind the desk looked at Beatrice with q quick glint in her eyes. "Did you say something, Miss Davis?"
 No. 1 was merely wondering on what basis an applicant is judged. That is to say--if I have not the qualifications necessary for selling exactly what are theyp"
 NOR EMOREMOREMORE NOR E NOR MORE MORE MORE MORE
 The woman smiled. That's an Intelligent question. But we need not go into 1t. As 1t happens Miss Davis, think you do possess qualifications for selling. At least, we'll give you chance. We hap pen to be forming new training class. Of course, you understand, sometimes most Of e training class doesn't make the grade. It's not a guaranty of full-time position. But we train you, give you the op- portunity of working in various de- y,arfYffents ae a contingent when extra help is needed"
 Beatrice thought swiftly, shed have turned me down If I hadn't bucked herl' She did not know 1t, but she was making the same dis covery her grandfather had made, years ago, when he laid down the first plank of the foundation of his fortune.
 The woman turned her over to