“Aht, aht,” pleaded the woman, repeating her gesture.
“She wants a mop. That’s what she wants,” nodded one of the women, a tall, stout blonde, whom Teddy had privately named “The Gobbler,” on account of her loud voice.
“Yes, show her a mop,” echoed the third saleswoman.
The mop was duly shown. A carpet-sweeper was next paraded forth. It was followed by a broom. The Italian woman seemed highly appreciative of the display. She continued to smile broadly, although she still shook her head and repeated her monotonous, “aht, aht.”
Gradually a dozen persons drifted to the scene of action. As they stood viewing the brisk demonstration of brooms, sweepers and mops, into their midst strode a rather slender, blue-eyed man, with a close-lipped, resolute mouth and a distinct air of business about him.
“What does this woman want?” he asked sharply.
“We don’t know,” blared forth the saleswoman whom Teddy had wickedly named the Gobbler. “We’ve showed her everything. She keeps going like this and saying, ‘Aht!’”
“Give me that carpet-sweeper,” ordered the man. He ran it back and forth in front of the smiling customer.
“No—no; aht!” The misunderstood daughter of Italy made a desperate sweep of her arms.
Suddenly, a wide smile irradiated Teddy Burke’s freckled face. Stepping directly up to the woman he said, “Come along. I know what you want. You want to get out of the store. Out—out,” he emphasized.