Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 11, Number 10, DeMotte, Jasper County, 23 January 1941 — SELLING OUT! [ARTICLE]

SELLING OUT!

By JANE OSBORN

(McClure Syndicate—WNU Service.)

HP HEY were selling out at Erick’s. A So Tuesday afternoon Madame McPherson said to Rose Hope that she thought they’d close the shop for the morning on Wednesday. , “They’re selling out at Erick’s,” she told Rose, “and I want to get a lot, of things—like to do it before the things are picked over. The only appointment I had was a permanent for Mrs. Clair—and she said she’d just as soon have it in the evening.” Rose had changed from her white uniform to her trim little blue street frock and stood before one of the mirrors jn Madame McPherson’s beauty shop smoothing down her soft brown hair, i “Maybe I’ll go to Erick’s too. Aunt Sue gave me a hundred dollars for my birthday—to buy some clothes. Maybe I’ll spend a little of that.” ‘TU tell you what I’ll do,” said Madame McPherson, vigorously applying the powder puff to her round, rosy cheeks. “I’ll call around a little before .pine for you with my car and take you down.” So it was agreed, and Rose and her buxom employer were waiting the next day at the entrance of Erick’s store when the doors opened fer the first day of the sale. Rose started in the basement —just to see the bargains, all spread out on tables and counters with $1.98, or $7.56. $1.74 or 9c written on large signs in the center. The old price tags were left cn the various articles offered for sale, so you could see for yourself just what tremendous bargains you were getting. There were some gleaming white enamel saucepans and double boilers -on one of the tables that were selling far below the visual price and after Rose had visited all the tables in the basement she decided that she cou’d save money if she bought some of these utensils. Laden with her awkward bundle she got out of the crowd and went back upstairs and out to Madame McPherson’s car where she put the things safely in the back seat. Then she went back: She noticed t the large crowd gathered round the table-linen counter. When it was her turn* she purchased two small dinner sets, and three sets of runners. Why, just bn that purchase alone, Rose quickly figured, she was saving four dullars and thirty-nine cents. So Rose spent an hour and a half in Erick’s store and when at last she and Madame McPherson met in the car the whole back section was fairly well filled with Rose’s purchases. “What did you get, honey?” said Madame McPherson. Then she turned to the things Rose had bought and saw the handle of a white saucepan and the end of a carpet sweeper. “Say—what did you get those things for? You’re boarding—” Then she laughed. “Say, you must be going to be married and you never told me.”

Rose looked confused as she and Madame McPherson settled down in the front seat, but she felt mat she must somehow explain. “Honestly, I’m not'bngaged,” she said. “Only—-well, they were such bargains I couldn’t miss them. Maybe I’ll give them away.” ‘ “You’re an awful fool not to get married,” said her employer as they drove on. “That is if you’ve got a good steady fellow that wants you —and I dare say there are plenty.” While she was eating her meager boarding : house luncheon she was called to the telephone. It was from Walter Drew, who sometimes got up courage to call her, knowing that he could find her in at this time. “Hello, Rose,” he said in a rather discouraged tone, “I don’t suppose you’d want to go out with me tonight. I’ve had that second-hand car I-bought all fixed up. It looks like a thousand dollars—and it’s a nice night. Come out for a little spin with me and I’ll promise not to ta k to you the way I did the last time. Honestly, Rose. It’s such a nice day and I thought maybe you’d enjoy it.” It was clear from Walter’s tone that he was quite prepared for a curt refusal of his invitation. To his surprise Rose said: “I’m awfully glad you asked me. I’d love to go, not so much for the ride as just to see you.” The next morning when Rose was putting on her white uniform at the beauty parlor Madame McPherson did not notice the queer little twinkle in her eyes and the warm glow in her cheeks. “Say, Rose,” she said, “I was talking to a girl at the cafeteria where I went to get a bite to eat last night before I did that permanent. She said everything was sold out in the household departments before three in the afternoon. And she was awfully disappointed she didn’t get there in time. She’s going to get married —and she told me she’d be glad to take anything you had off your hands. I told her about the enamel things and the carpet sweeper and that you wanted to get rid of them. I got her name and phone number in my purse. You can call her up—” ‘But I don’t believe I want to,” said Rose with a blush that Madame McPherson cculd not fail tp observe. “I got to thinking things over —and Walter Drew happened to take me out—and—l promised in a way that I’d marry hirn next month. Maybe if I hadn’t bought those things I wouldn’t have done it.”