The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1916-05-05
THE HIGHER BASIS
BY HOPE AINsLIE.


him its spOils on golden plate 1t haC
been a first-rate imitation. Earl haC
always objected to the grocery store
the same as his mother before him.
you don't need to run it, pop" he
said, the week after he had arrived
from Dartmouth Its just a habit
Like enough it is, Earl, but sorter
like it," old Finley answered pleasant
]y, fitting back in his favorite arm
chair on the little porch in front of
the store. IF l shet down where in
town would the boys play checkers?"
They all came to play checkers there
and had for years. If the old man
happened to be absorbed in a game
and a customer came into the store,
he'd finish his game first. Long ago
the Finleys had lived in the rooms be-
hind the store, but as prosperity
| dawned they had bought house upon
the hill, and Mrs. Finley and Earl
had done the honors of the family
while pop played checkers.
But that summer East Grosscup had
sent it's favorite citizen as a delegate
to state convention down to Boston,
and Earl gave up his camping plans to
take hold in the store.
''You know, wish had authority to
change things a little" he said that
night at dinner. Even a country town
grocery can be run Orwell, high
er basis than pop realizes. just took
a look at one of his books this after
noon. Why, marmie, nearly everybody
in town runs an account with him
and there's bills back for three years
and more. Doesn't he ever collect?"
Il don't know. / always let your
father run his own affairs and I run
mine. He seems to get along all
right. Somebody must pay"
"Oa, suppose they all pay in time.
But store like that should be run on
strictly cash basis. l think I'll speak
about 1t to some of the worst cases"
The next day Judge Everitt came
into the store. The judge was privi- |
lodged character all around East Gross |
cup. He was about seventy-three, with
mop of curly white hair and twinkly
blue eyes. He lived alone in the old
Everitt homestead, with about six cats
for company and all kinds of old
clocks
Hello, there, boy" he said genially,
Flows things? When do you expect
your pop back?"
Next week, SIR" Earl gathered up
his courage. Do you think, judge,
you could let us have little cash on
that old account"
Like enough" said the judge. "Ill
talk 1t over with your father, though,
guess, son.
That night at a church supper he
met Dorothy Winthrop, the judges
niece. He had always known Dorothy,
it seemed to him, but since his last
year at college she had grown into
and he heard she was to teach
school up at the central division after I.
Christmas.
I'm glad l can do it," she told him,
IS they sat together eating pink ice
,ream and chocolate cake. Were 60 i
ng to take Uncle Walter home with +
Is the rest of the winter He hasn't
,een bit well since he lost so much {
n the street-railway-bond deal" n
Father was one of the hackers of v
hat. He believed in it,
Il guess he must Of" laughed Dor. r
thy, "for he made everybody else be-
ieve in it, too, and it just slumped
hey say Doctor Purdy lost a lot and
o did the Jenningses."
Earl gave the books a second going
yer the next day. The Purdy and
ennings families both were heavy
ustomers on the side. He said no a
lore about the old bills.
There seemed to be a good reason
ny the grocery store should net press
ny of the old debts against old man
inley's town folks.
Fathers coming back today" Mrs
inley said happily, week or two
ter, stopping in at the store. Earl
as busy shifting some soap powder
,ock from the currant and raisin
lelf. He stopped whistling and smiled er
own at her. This seemed too far Be
way, and he jumped of the ladder ar
Id over the counter beside her. re
Land, Earl, how rough you are"
10 laughed, as she smoothed her hair "a;
ON his quick hugging. What ails be
~, child?" pc
Want to know, munster" he slipped &c
ok to the childhood name for her ice
Dorothy promised she'd marry me
st night. You were asleep when | ca
t In so l didn't want to call you" lea
Her eyes shone with love for him
d pride, too. dis
"Oh, Earl, can't believe it! Why, the
u're just two children" RET
NO, we're not. We're grown up" air
squeezed her again joyously. And
res another thing. Going down to VIII
set dad, aren't you? You Just tell wa
n from me that Senator Lathrop has ion
anged his mind-about the street DEL
lway. He is willing to take over sta
, new road and make good the bet
ses." Sta
DO you think your father'll keep
} store?" SIZE
If he doesn't, WILL" Earl declared. sue
orothy says she'll be married at Eas- wol