The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-06
THE Higher BASIS
BY HOPE AIkSlIE.

1t was big concession to duty
when Earl Finley went into his fathers
grocery store Even East Grosscup
recognized this much. Earl had been
fortunate so far in his earthly pilgrim
age Even If Fate had not handed
him its spoils on a golden plate it had
been a first-rate imitation. Earl had
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 habit"
Like enough it is, Earl. but sorter
like it," old Finley answered pleasant
ly, fitting back in his favorite arm
chair on the little porch in front of
the store. IF 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 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 a 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 its favorite citizen as 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 little" he said that
| night at dinner. Even a country town
grocery can be run on-well, high
er basis than pop realizes. just took
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. l always let your
father run his own affairs and | run
mine. He seems to get along all
right Somebody must pay"
"Oh, | suppose they all pay in time.
But store like that should be run on
a strictly cash basis. think I'll speak
about it to some of the worst cases"
The next day Judge Everitt came
into the store. The Judge was a 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,
"How's 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. "I1l
talk it 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 q
woman, and he heard she was to teach
school up at the central division after
Christmas.
I'm glad can do it," she told him
as they sat together eating pink ice
cream and chocolate cake. Were go
ing to take Uncle Walter home with
us TIE rest of the winter. He hasn't
been a bit well since he lost so much
in the street-railway- bond deal"
Father was one of the hackers OF
that. He believed in it,"
IL guess he must Of" laughed Dor
othy, for he made everybody else be
lieve in it, too. and it just slumped
They say Doctor Purdy lost lot and
SO did the Jennngses.
Earl gave the books second going
over the next day. The Purdy and
Jennings families both were heavy
customers on the side. He said nc
more about the old bills.
There seemed to be a good reason
why the grocery store should not press
any of the old debts against old mar
Finley's town folks.
Fathers coming back today" Mrs
Finley said happily, week or tive
later, stopping IL at the store. Ear
; was busy shifting some soap powder
stock from the currant and raisir
shelf. He stepped whistling and smiled
down at her This seemed too fal
away, anj he jumped off the ladder
and over the counter beside her.
Land, Earl, how rough you are,
she laughed, as she smoothed her hail
from. his quick hugging. What ails
J you, child?"
Want to know, munster" he slipped
back to the childhood name for her
"Dorothy promised she'd marry me
last night You were asleep when
got in 50 / didn't want to call you.
Her eyes shone with love for hin
, and pride, too.
"Oh, Earl, can't believe it! Why
you're just two children
mo. we're not We're grown up,
he squeezed her again joyously. AND
here's another thing. Going down t;
meet dad, aren't you? You just tel
changed his mind-about TIE stree
railway. He is willing to take ovei
the lew road ard make good the
losses"
DO you think your father1l keel
the store?"
. IF he doesn't | WILL Earl declared
Dorothy says she'll be married at Eas
ter, and ] want a steady job"
copyright, 1916 by the Mcclure Newspa
per SynGicate.)