Delia Dean Butts In

This issue of The Argosy features the opening of a serialized story titled "Delia Dean Butts In." The protagonist, Delia Dean, arrives in the suburban town of Midvale as a traveling demonstrator for the Filigree Biscuit Company. She sets up at the Home Grocery operated by proprietor Orchard, who is engaged in price-gouging local customers—charging inflated prices on cream, cocoa, and various staples under the pretext of wartime scarcity. When Delia hands customers Federal Food Board bulletins showing fair wholesale and retail prices, a woman customer discovers she's been overcharged by fifteen to fifty percent. She publicly confronts Orchard, causing him to lose customers. Enraged, Orchard blames Delia for interfering in his business. Delia defends her conduct and her contractual right to remain for the full week, refusing to be intimidated.