For Love or Gold? The Story of a Great Department Store — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ey 120, Coe Mr. Denton’ S Otummakans ae Winckdlstein for ten cents less per garment than 1 hace: been getting them from Goidberg. They are very well made, and the quality is satisfactory. No one will ever guess that they are not exactly what we advertise. [ or- _ dered this lot for closer inspection. If they are satisfac- tory to you, sir, I will give him a stock order.” mec) Mr. Day mused a little before he replied. Meanwhile he was fingering the garments in a critical manner. “Umph! Isn’t there a peculiar odor about these gar- ments, Smith?” he asked, after a minute. “I am sure - there is! Really, I wish you hadn't brought them in here!” “T will take cherh away immediately, sir,” said the buyer, apologetically. “They were made in a ‘sweat- | shop,’ you see, so it is quite possible they are permeated with unpleasant odors, but I will have them aired betore they are put on the counters.’ ‘Are vou sure they are not permeated with diseaae we asked Mr. Denton, suddenly. ‘I am told that those ‘sweat-shops’ are disgustingly dirty places.” “Oh, the Board of Health looks after that,” said the yer quickly, “and, besides, I saw a good many of. _ Finckelstein’s hands—they were mostly clean, respectable looking women. “How much do they get apiece for these?’ questioned Mr. Denton again, as he picked up a garment and held it at arm’s length to inspect it. - “Oh, about forty cents, I guess; and they can make two in a day. There's a good deal of work on them,” was the buyer’s answer. “What do they cost us? The question was asked pa sharply. Mr. Smith consulted his notebook before he answered. “Fifty cents in gross lots, and sixty by the dozen. We use a great many; it will ruin Goldberg to lose us.’ ‘‘And what do we get for them?” | Mr. Denton was reaching for the price tag now. His brow was almost black as he asked the question. Mr. Smith looked at him anxiously—he could not quite comprehend him. | “Two dollars, sir,’ he answered, smiling— ‘and they i Lt eee | ; com cboo cS. com