The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-11
The HIGHER BASIS
BY HOPE AlNSLIE.

1t was a 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 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 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 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 little" he said that
night at dinner. Even a country town
| grocery can be run on-well, a 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?"
II don't know. | 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
strictly cash basis. think I'll speak
about it to some of the worst cases"
The next day Judge Evcritt came
into the store. The judge was priv.
lodged character all around East Gross.
cup. He was about seventy-three, with
a 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,
''Iiow's things? When do you expect
your pop back?"
Next week, sir Earl gathered up
you could let us have Il little cash on
that old account"
Like enough" said the judge. on
talk it over with your father, though,
| guess, SON.
That night at 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 a
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-raiway- 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 Jcnningses."
Earl gave the books a second going
over the next day. The Purdy and
Jennings families both were heavy
customers on the side. He said no
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 man
Finley's town folks
Fathers coming back today" Mrs.
Finley said happily. week or two
later, stopping ir at the store Earl
was busy shifting some soap powder
stock from the currant and raisin
shelf He stepped whistling and smiled
down at her This seemed too far
away, AMI he jumped off the ladder
and over the counter beside her.
Land, Earl, how rough you are, "
she laughed, as she suloothed her hair
from his quick hugging. What ais
you, child?"
Want to know, mumsie?" he slipped
back to the childhood name for her
Dorothy promised she'd marry ne
last night. You were asleep when
got ir SO | didn't want to call you 4"
Her eyes shone with love for him
and pride, tco.
"Oh, Earl, / can't believe it, Why,
you're just two children"
mo, we're net. We're grown up
he squeezed her again joyously And
here's another thing. Going down to
meet dad, aren't you? You just tell
him from me that Senator Lathrcp has
changed his mind-about the street
railway. He is willing to take over
the aew road ard make good the
losses"
do you think your fatherIl keep
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-