Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-06
Daily Short Story
ALWAYS Please the Customer
DIV AUSTIN BATCHELDER

WHEN Johnny Underwood wa
w promoted from stock boy 4
salesman in the hat department 81
Bixby's Boston Store, he felt tina
he was really coming up IN th'
world. AA
His salary was boosted s.. anc
ne was 70 get a small commission
from his sales.
This new lease on life helped
him 10 forget the disappointment
of being rejected by the orai'
board.
His poor eyesight had been the
cause.
With good lenses he was able "a
see quite we'll. but the draft board
had seen fit 10 defer.
ADDRESSES NEW BOSS
"Mr. Atwood ." said Johnny,
speaking TO the head man OF the
hat department. II was the
first morning OF his new work.
yes. YES, what IL it," snap
ped Mr.. Atwood impatiently. He
was in q hurry 10 set up the hat
boxes. The store would open its
doors in FIVE minutes.
81 was told TO report to you,
cdr. I'm to be n salesman In
your department" said Johnny
politely.
"Oh, yes. Well. what's your
name. John Underwood, huh:
Umm. Now the frat thing 1
want you 10 do this morning h
60 pile these hatboxes upon the
shelf behind the counter. You
know, arrange them In . nice
way. Make the customers notice
the display"
Johnny spent half an hour fixing
the hatboxes on the shelf. With
painstaking care he arranged them
In a semi-pyramid, one on top OF
the other.
And while he was doing this he
kept thanking his lucky stars for
the new Job and advance in pay.
Living costs were beginning
10 zoom and Jolrnny's younger
brother needed more milk and
fresh vegetables to make him
grow.
When he had finished with the
hStboxes, Mr.. Atwood glanced at
the display, reluctantly nodded his
APPROVAL and told Johnny to wait
on 3 customer who wanted to buy
q mans cap.
WANTS A CAP
YES. madam said Johnny.
sYou would like TO see some
mems cape: We have q nice
assortment. What size, please? ?"
ssSixe 7h, young man." said
the customer. She was we'll
dressed, elderly and rather
plump.
He showed her several caps and
when she told him she didn't like
any of them. Johnny rummaged
around in the drawer and cheer.
FULLY brought out the remaining
ofock.
''Hmmm, ] like this checked
one. Yea that will do, young
man. said the lady.
He got out his salesbook and
said.
'sCharge and send. madam: ?"
mo. III pay for II and take II
with me-"
Eyes. madam. Thank you. I'll
ret your change"
Johnny felt pretty happy about
his hrst sale, even II IL was small.
When he returned to the
counter and handed the lady her
change. he saw her gazing up al
the shatbox display that he'd SC
carefully arranged.
oh. thank you. Fifty-ive
cents, that Ia correct" said the
lady. her eyes once again glued
on the hatboxes.
HOW MANY:
Fl like that arrangement Of
hatboxes very much, young man.
Did you do IL yourseIf:" she
asked .interestedly.
Yes. madam" said Johnny,
pleased but rather puzzled at
her comment. I'm very glad
you like 10, madam"
Yes, indeed. But I'm rather
curious 10 know just how many
boxes are piled up there. How
many are there, young man ?,
Johnny blushed and told her hi
ives sorry, but he hadn't counted
them.
But I would be very glad 10
count them for you II you wish,
madam. No trouble ut ALL"
He was thinking she was Z
pretty balnny old lady. But he al
ways had a soft spot in his hear
tor the lavender-and-old-lace type
at 10 90 hard to count them
from here. And I'm curious.
Would you mind terribly much.
IL h stupid Of me, I know, but
I seem 10 be afflicted with a
strange desire 90 know the
where's and whyfors of silly
fhings."
The lady was apologize but sh,
Kept staring up at the hatboxes sc
steadily that Johnny decided il
would be the simplest solution Il