The Devil and Miss Jones

Oh, George.

Yes, sir?

Has he seen it?

Oh...Thank you.

The richest man in the world hung in effigy

outside his own store on 38th street

Morning, J.P.

Morning.

I thought I sold everything

below 38th street three years ago.

That store is right on 38th street

J.P. so we kept it.

Neely Department Store.

N, N, N, N...

Natural Foundry, Napex Corporation....

National Radiator, yes Neely Department Store

You still own it.

This dummy doesn't look like me.

Maybe it's supposed to be one of you.

There's a sign on the dummy with your name on it.

Where?

M-E-R-R...That's all you can see.

What's been done about this?!

We had a talk with the manager of the department store.

He fired the ring leader...

and half-a-dozen of the employees

who participated in it.

Have this picture enlarged!

And everybody, even watching it, fired.

Out!

An excellent suggestion, J.P.

I pay you a great deal to take care

of my interests and my privacy

I want privacy.

I haven't had my photograph in a newspaper in 20 years.

This is temporary, J.P.

Who could have gone to all the trouble of finding out

I own this piddly investment?

Our detective will ferret the whole

thing out in no time.

What detective?

We have a man who is an expert.

If you care to speak with him...

He'll show you this is a simple little disturbance

that really has no significance.

The Boston Tea Party was a little disturbance.

I want to talk to this...detective.

Good day, gentleman.

Good day, JP. Goodbye.

Good day, JP. Good day, sir.

There's a detective here for you to interview.

This way, sir.

Thank you.

Sit down.

Thank you.

What's your name?

Thomas Higgins.

What progress have you made, Higgins?

I uh, I've gotten a job in the store.

Nobody in the whole store knows

I'm a detective except the personnel head.

Not even the general manager

To Whom It May Concern:

Thomas Higgins is employed in a confidential capacity,

and is accountable only to me.

Arthur Davis - Personnel Head.

Neely's Department Store.

I see.

I'm a salesman in the childrens show department.

That's the hotbed.

The whole fifth floor.

Will you have the graham crackers individually...

or shall I crumple them in the bowl?

Individually.

Yes, sir.

No. Crumple them for a change.

Yes, sir.

Tell me. How soon could you find out

who these employees are? The troublemakers?

Not more than two or three weeks.

Why not two or three days?

I have to worm my way into their confidence.

Become one of them.

How do I know what they are going to do

in the next two or three weeks?

I'm not going to hang from every lamppost in the city

while you worm your way into their confidence.

It's a very difficult assignemnt.

There's nothing difficult about it!

Fire anyone that's even suspicious.

You don't have to be accurate.

Is there anyone you suspect yet?

Well I...I haven't really started.

I thought I'd begin the day after tomorrow.

What's that?

My wife's having a baby in Philadelphia.

That's where I live.

And I thought I'd go home tomorrow.

Mr Higgins, I don't think you ought to be separted

from your wife while you're having a baby.

I'll get someone else for this assignment.

That's very considerate of you, Mr Merrick.

My wife...

Nothing at all. I'll just keep this

card for the next fellow. Good day.

I'm very grateful to you for your kindness.

Perfectly alright.

Go back to Poughkeepsi and forget about it.

Poughkeepsie? Yes, sir.

Good day, sir.

George!

Yes, sir?

Come here.

I want you to tell me the truth, George.

Yes, sir.

What would you like to see changed in the world?

In a business way?

Well...

Yes?

I have a few shares of steel stock.

I would be happy if it went up a little.

If anyone asks you George.

You're not a typical working man.

No sir.

Dr. Schindler made up your pepsin

into sticks of chewing gum sir.

He thought that you would like the change.

You are to have one every hour on the hour.

You will find them in your lower left breast pocket.

Huh? It's time for one now.

Look at their faces.

Moron! Sheep.

No wonder you can convince them of anything.

How I'd like to hear one of

those troublemakers talking.

I'd show him.

Mr. Merrick!

Why not?

I'd like to see them operate.

Your stomach.

I'll be one of them.

Mix with them. Let them talk to me.

Why these idiots.

I'd play with them like a cat and mouse.

Oh my....

George, my name is...Thomas Higgins.

Young lady, could you direct me

to the section manager.

He's right over there. See?

Standing at the little desk?

Thank you.

There you are, madam.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

And what can I do for you sir?

Oh, uh. I'm working here.

I'm a new salesman.

You're Higgins?

Hm-hmm.

"Yes, sir"

Yes, sir.

Higgins...

Harrison...

In the intelligence test you took

this morning your rating was 66.

That's one point over...

the lowest passing grade.

66?

There must be some mistake.

I answered all the questions.

You might have answered some of them wrong.

That's possible isn't it?

I said that's possible, isn't it?

Yes it is.

Sir.

We never make mistakes, Higgins.

Neeleys is always right.

This is the lowest intelligence rating

in my department.

I hope you have other qualities

to compensate for it.

For your own sake.

Miss jones.

Don't lean against my desk.

And remove your hat.

Please.

Miss jones, I'm assigning Higgins to slippers.

Show him your duties.

Welcome to the shoe department Mr. Higgins.

You come right along with me.

Now. This will be your counter Mr. Higgins.

Bedrooms, Lounging, and House slippers.

You know, this is really the best job.

No bending down for try-ons,

no running back-and-forth for different models.

Everything is right here.

I wish that I had this counter.

He doesn't think that I'm good enough

to sell shoes, Is that it?

Now don't be silly. This is just the same.

It's even better.

You have to be more clever selling

slippers than you do shoes.

Don't forget people can always do without slippers.

They have to be convinced.

How could he tell I'm not a good

a salesman as the next one?

It's just your vanity that's hurt.

And you can sell shoes

when you relief for lunch.

Show him then what a good salesman you are.

Your lunch hour will be from 12:00 to 1:00.

That's in 30 minutes.

I'm not going to eat lunch.

You're not?

I'm going to stay here selling slippers.

I'm going to make a good impression.

Why aren't you going to have lunch?

I'm not hungry.

I never have lunch anyway.

You go to lunch at 12:00 sharp.

I uh...No arguments.

You don't mind waiting on me do you?

What can I do for you madam?

1. Intelligence test out.

2. Pay Miss Jones 50 cents.

3. Fire Section Manager?

Mr Higgins?

It's time for lunch. I'll take over the counter.

I'm really not hungry.

Why do you argue so much?

You go to lunch! And hurry up about it.

I don't know where to go.

Well, you...um

Oh Elizabeth!

Yes.

Miss Ellis, this is Mr. Higgins.

How do you do?

How do you do?

Elizabeth if you're going to lunch will you show

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