QUEER CLIENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24009, 5 July 1941, Page 16

QUEER CLIENTS

Beauty Salon Attendant Tells of Strange Happenings IIFE in a hairdressing and beauty culture salon is any. a thing but humdrum. Each day brings new faces 8 writes Roma Sproll in Seven Magazine, London. Few, ? everyday people would credit the extraordinary happenings in an average Mayfair salon.

FOR instance: Not Jong ago a Rolls-Royce drew up at the door, and out got a little bent old lady, dressed in a shabby black coat you might expect the poorest person to look at contemptuously. On her head was an old black hat. Her white hair hung in untidy wisps round her frail, delicate face. I stepped forward and inquired what 1 could do for her. ' "They're After Me" To my surprise, she glanced furtively around * and, with linger to lips whispered: "Sli! they're alter mo, the cats, but I'll heat them yet." She clutched my arm. ''They take everything from me, all my beautiful lotions, my brushes, everything.'' Well! I'm fairly used to handling queer people, so 1 placed a chair for tier, and entered right royally into the spirit of the game. "Look! You just sit there with your hack to the door, and they won't, see what yon want to buy," 1 coaxed. "I'm so glad you are sensible, Miss. I want the largest bottle of hair tonic you have," she stated. I went to the ease and brought out a bottle ol mild Rosemary tonic at 10s. 6d. "Will this do''" I asked. "Yes. ves! I'll take three like that. Quirk, Miss, pack it up before they eatcli ' me," 'he said agitatedly. I chanced to glance at the car, and saw the chauffeur beckoning to me. Seeing the client was engrossed in opening her shabbv bag. I. slipped out to the car. ''For God's sake, miss, don't sell her anything poisonous. She drinks everything she can lay her hands on. She's dippy." He touched his forehead significantly. I hastily returned, and

knowing the lotion was (unshed packing it. I hat II be 31s 6d., Shall charge it, or do you wish to 1 inquired. v F J y "I can't pay. I've no money—theX. taken all my beautiful money #«? given me these stupid things insteadS she grumbled. producing a large velope containing quite £.50 worth hf new crisp £1 notes. She held out * handful ot notes and 1 took two nf them. . ™ "It's a shame they «tole your boautU IMI money, but I think these will da instead." I consoled her. "And, ivhatfi, more, I'm going to give you some redmoney as change," 1 promised, goiiw toward the cashier, "Are these note! 0.K., .Miss r" 1 whispered. 1 Never Saw Her Again ,'\j She nodded and gave We chane®, which I took to the client, who, after delightedly counting the coins into her bag, rose, clutching her. parcel and tottered obediently out to her «ar! For six months she came regularly for her lotions. She always had a larg» envelope full of new notes. Then, one day I was at lunch when she arrived. A hairdresser got hold of her and sold her two rdgs for £2O each. He took all ' her envelope oj money, and I never saw her again.