The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-11-26
a Soul Above.
Potatoes"
r GA<D H',"..
By PAUL HAMILTON

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Copyright. 1919. b. the wsstsrn. News.
paper Union.)
"You1l stay in Clifton, won't. you,
/ Harney?" a....... Il. ' "
l. Mrs. Ross looked all, motherly anx-
iety as she addressed her son. With
them on the garden seat was Harney's
sweetheart Alma Reeves, whose
bright, pretty face reflected the solicit
tude of the older woman.
The son: and lover affected quite a
lordly air, A, week previous his uncle,
Mark Leaton, dying, had bequeathed
him a neat sum In money and a
grocery store he owned in the village.
'Tell you," pronounced the young
man, almost grandly, tive got soul
above potatoes" .,.@. .,~
"But, Harvey, dear" interviewed
Alma, "you know how pleased you were
at first with the idea Of being your
own master and running a business
for yourself"
"That's all right" acknowledged
this ambitious favorite Of fortune, "but
I've met my old chum since then. You
know Ned Dallas came down to see
me when he learned Of my big luck.
Well, he's a clerk in a brokers' office
and he says that with his experience
Of the money market. If I will supply
the capital, he will 90 into partnership
with me and will make regular Ma
poleon Of finance Of me-" #Er$
Before leaving Harvey made an ar
rangement, with Warren Doane, an old
clerk In local store, to place him in
charge Of the one he had inherited on
basis Of equal division Of profits.
The day after Harney's departure Mr..
Doane called at the Ross home. *
II am going to surprise Harvey" he
told Mrs. Ross, who was an old friend.
"He has agreed to let me have full,
swing with advertising and specially
wrinkles and am going to build up a
grand trade. Alma, shall need some
one to take charge Of the cashiers
desk. Can I count on your" and Alma
acquiesced in the arrangement and the
enterprise started out under most
promising auspices. .,....... n
The young adventurer across the
shoals of finance wrote almost daily
the first month Of his absence. he
was all anticipation, ambition, enthu-i
siasm. Then he became less effusives
in his epistles and during the second
month of his absence only two brief
letters reached home. NJ +.
1--WE must not expect too much at.
tention from the poor boy, immersed
as he Is in business cares" Mrs. Ross
told Alma, who, in her faith and in
nocence, pictured 'the poor boy" ham
ding the monetary destlnies Of ma
lions. The merest "All well-love to
ALL" about comprised. the substance OF
subsequent letters from Harvey. Mean
while, Alma and Mr.. Doane begudged
no thought or care that would tend to
place the despised grocery business
upon firm and growing basis and
keep 1t there. The idea that she was
doing something that benefited the
business interests Of her lover Kept
Alma animated and glad. How she
worked, and planned, and hopedl She
had, however, received an inkling from
something she overheard between two
local business men that Harvey "was
cutting a wide swath in the city,,
making daring speculative investments
and going beyond his depth. /,
b It was one Saturday night and Mr..
Doane had closed the store an hour
earlier than usual on account Of a
rain storm, and Alma had decided TO-
remain for an hour or so and balance
the books and was engrossed at her
task when the knob of the store door,
ratified, and then there was d quick.
sharp tapping on its glass panel. Alma
could make out the visitor against the
glare Of the street lamp. It was Har-
ney Ross and she uttered q cry Of Joy
as, unlocking the door, she led him
into shelter and chung to his arm, ut
tering fervent words Of welcome. Then
as he CdIQc WllAAu LILO AouAuo "a 1AAS
desk lamp her heart smote her.
"I've tramped 1t from the trolley.
Alma" he said. II ran out Of money
and I'm about furnished. You've got
a neat and inviting layout here" and
he went over to counter which held
tempting array Of cheeses, dried
beef, boiled ham and some pickle rel
ishes, on the way drawing a liberal
handful from the cracker box, and set
about eating with an enjoyment that
both gratified and saddened Alma. for
this returning lover of hers dreadfully
suggested the penitent prodigal. Il
'aThis is sure land Of plenty" said
Harvey, with sigh Of satisfaction IS
he completed lunch sufficient for two
men. "Alma, I've come back with
nothing but a hard, costly lesson
learned. Those city sharks took my
money away from me SO easy, ! won-
der how they did it. I'm through as
financial Napoleon. I'm glad to creep
home humble and glad to come back
to the store, and mother-and you"
"And, oh! Harvey" jubilated Alma,
"such business the store, has done
w., ~oor hov fpHoodf Hotv yvo1oOvno