A pale young woman was behind it.

I was just about to ask her the fatal question when a young man
wearing a ragtime expression on his face rushed up and said to the
young lady behind the counter, "I am looking for a suitable present
for a young lady friend of mine with golden brown hair. Could you
please suggest something?"

The saleslady showed her teeth and answered him in a low, rumbling
voice, and the man went away.

Then came an old lady who said, "I bought some organdie dress goods
for a shirt-waist last Tuesday and I would like to exchange them
for a music box for my daughter's little boy, Freddie, if you
please!"

The saleslady again showed her teeth and the old lady ducked for
cover.

After about fifty people had rushed up to the saleslady and then
rushed away again, I went over and spoke to her.

"I am looking," I said, "for a birthday present for my wife. I
want to get something that will give her a great amount of pleasure
and which I can use later on as a pipe cleaner or a pair of
suspenders!"

The saleslady fainted, so I moved over.

At another counter another young lady said to me, "Have you been