Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 217, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1918 — SHE WAS COUNTING PEANUTS IN BASEMENT [ARTICLE]

SHE WAS COUNTING PEANUTS IN BASEMENT

Hammond Times: This is a story about a ton cent store, a new girl clerk, Bill Fehrman, the semi-annual inventory and carrying out orders to the letter. Bill Fehrman, manager of the Woolworth store on Hohman street, employed a bright young lady with little experience and much enthusiasm. Her duties, he told her, would be to help take inventory. Down to the basement Bill marched the new clerk. Everything in this place has to be counted, he said, with a sweep of the hand, and the number of articles put down on paper. > Two days later Bill asked his assistant what had become of the new girl. The assistant didn’t know so William started a search. He found her in a far corner of the basement where there were several barrels of peanuts. She was starting on the third barrel. “There were 17,982 peanuts in the first barrel, Mr. Fehrman," said the industrious young lady. “Shall I count them twice to make sure I didn't miss any?"