The Department Store; A Novel of Today (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 Excerpt: ...counters pricked up their ears. Most of them pitied the deathly pale young creature, struggling with her tears--some looked as if about to intervene... At this moment, Rosen passed by. IWhen he heard the loud, angry voice, he stopped and made Ludwig explain matters to him. He had often already noticed the slim, pale, lovely child. A connoisseur in female beauty, he perceived that the young and charming creature would develop ere long into a delicate, rare beauty of the most exquisite type--his special type ... Now, with a kindly smile on his lips, he listened to Frau Ludwig's much softer-toned report of the proceedings. "Oh, we must not be too strict, dear madam A dying foster-mother is a good reason for a two-hours' dispensation." He nodded to Karen. "Frau Ludwig grants you permission to go." Rosen knew that it was good policy to make some concessions to the feelings of the customers who had witnessed this "drama of the interior," and, moreover, he had already taken Karen's part on an occasion of this kind, for she genuinely interested him. When they got outside, Tom asked Karen who the dark man was. She told him. "They call him 'the Almighty.' He is very nice to me. They're all afraid of him, except Frau Ludwig, but I quite like him." "Do you know, Karen, I had rather old Ludwig scolded you than that Rosen championed you," said Tom thoughtfully. "I don't like the look of the man. I should say he was one of those who would take the Host from the Altar if he happened to be hungry. Be on your guard against him." Tina Ribbeck had got well over her attack when they reached home, and was delighted to have her beloved foster-daughter for the evening. But from that day forward, Karen suffered even more ...