The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-01-14

work in this delightful village was al
most too much happiness for Lucit
Moore, who had spent the first bloom
of her youth in caring for others.
Il want to know" muttered Eben
ezer to himself as he went back to hiI
desk; Il want to know what Keystone
folks II say to my hiring lad!
clerk?"
Keystone chartered away In the hab
it of country villages. when Lucie
Moore's sweet face appeared behind
the counter Of Ebenezer DORIS store
That first morning trade increased
with astonishing bounds It kept Eb
enezer and Lucie running here and
there waiting on the good housewives
of Keystone, who had momentarily
! deserted the more up-to-date store of
Klein & Benziger on the hotel block,
Business must be picking up, Eb, y
volunteered Miss Calista Steele. rub
bling her bony chin thoughtfully. II
I'd known you was going to put in
help Id have bespoke place for my
niece"
The idea came to me suddenly"
explained Ebenezer wiping his moist
pink forehead with snowy linen
handkerchief. Yes, Mrs. Mills, those
jabots are twenty-five cents each
Miss Moore here says she's seen some
in New York for fifty cents that amt
a mite better"
Mrs. Mills transferred her attention
to the clerk from New York. who ad-
vised explained and sold several js-
bots to the customer, who had merely
sauntered in to look around.
1T certainly looks as II you'd make
the store pay, Eb." remarked Calista
Steele as she turned toward the door.
Its always paid enough for me-"
muttered Ebenezer guiltily.
That's as it may be, but you ought
to had that mortgage paid OF long
ago." said Calista serenely. Maybe
you can do it now!"
Shouldn't wonder IL | could" as
sented Ebenezer with unexpected en-
thusiasm. Don't be surprised at any
thing you hear, Calista
Il won't short Of you're getting
married" retorted the spinster archly.
Seems to me, Eb," she added. III you
was going to hire help you might have
picked out home talent. There's plenty
in Keystone would like this job"
Yes, l reckon there are, but there's
mighty few that are willing to work to
hold 1t down. retorted Ebenezer grim
ly. There wasn't any job till this lady
came and asked for one and | prom
Used to give her trial"
Calista Steele shifted scornfully. Il
shant be surprised at anything hear,
Ebenezer-not even the news that
you've married designing female"
"Impossible." cried Ebenezer, but
the door had closed on Calista
After the first morning Ebenezer
DORIS trade increased; people came
III W Uuy opool vi luiSdu ucItiy W
note what an astonishing change had
taken place in the store during the
past twelve hours.
Lucie Moore worked like bee, dig
ging out old boxes Of forgotten stock
and arranging them tastefully in the
windows or on the central counters Of
the store 1t was wonderful the things
ihat Lurie could dispose of at alluring
bargain prices
Gbenczer Dorr opened a separate &C
count for the credit OF sales from this
l,r-otten AID apparently Worthless
acck that slterpd his shelves and
E.s storcrcoI.
One day it WAS q sale OF pa. green
hosiery that sonu interruptions sales.
nan had unlo,d.d upon him. they
~cat like hot cahos at seven cents
pair, and for months thereafter the
ladies OF Keystone dashed around in
green stockings rs they accomplished
the prosaic daily tasks.
Another time il MAS laces. again il
was mems neckties and shirts, until
there came a day when all the surplus
stock WAS sold cut and the freshly
painte! Whit shelves were neatly ar
ranged with fresh stock carefully Sc
lected by Lueie Moore herself And
the rearrarscmpH. u the store was
much appreciated by the shoppers Of
the village. Here,Cicre when one
wanted buttons shs searched until she
found the heap of button boxes where