Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-07-01
AN ACTOR
In THE SHOE
BUSINESS
By HERBERT L. McNARY
, :se6 western Newspap'~ Union.l

| ("TtyRS are reunited Ia bp poor
| ~ business men as II rule. ana
! il appeared that Illery Cror-
ton would he no exception
10 the rule. F.Ilery Crofton was
| name with which the playG""rS OF a
score of years ago We're more fan'il'ar
! Than are those Of the present day :;
hui Crofton had remained an aciiNe
{ rheSpian until advancing age lild
made even stock company work to-"
| strenuous for him.
Now he was headed back TOWARDS
| the city which he had seen but m
! frequently in over Il score of years,
but which formed the setting for the
pleasant recolIpctons of his youth;
the city he had always referred to
as "home." Now he was coming home
! for good. 1t was Il day he had long
looked forward TO. not exactly win
| Joy, but with an acceptance OF the
inevitable; and he was not returning
impoverished He had saved nearly
twelve thousand dollars out of all
the large salaries he had received and
his he now intended to invest In
some little business that would net
him fair income and at the same
time keep him active. There would be
no benefits or ACTORS Home" for
him: and now, as he gaZed out at the
broad expanse of green fields that
rapidly swept by the train window,
a benign smile on his unSeamed fea-
lures. he let his head. with its COW
ering of snowy locks. sink back on
the green cushion and permitted his
blue eyes to close in reflection.
He was disturbed by the arrival
back from the smoker of the oc-
cupant of the parlor seat next to his.
Crofton opened his eyes and smiled
friendly. The other man, with active
small eyes. responded to the smile.
"Well be pulling in soon and Pm
glad of it. Travel much?"
Crofton smiled. considerable. I'm
an actor-or | was"
That so? Company faiI?" inquired
the stranger
''No | retired Got little nest egg
easy from now on"
Crofton's eyes closed again refiec-
lively and he did not see the
strangers eyes rest shrewdly upon
him. Now the stranger spoke.
eff you'll pardon the question, about
how much did you intend to invest?'
About ten thousand" answered
CroftOn innocently.
The stranger smiled. "Well. It's
fortunate that we met. Now | have
friend who owns the Ye Lady's
Shoe Shoppe and it's a splendid
proposition, but his doctor has or
dered him to the coast. He offered
me the lease. stock and goodwill for
ten thousand. It's worth fifteen as it
stands but | couldn't handle it. Now
yOu--well. you make a fine appear
ance. if you will permit me to say it,
and that's an asset in an exclusive
ladies' store"
Crofton listened attentively to the
smooth stranger. and by the time the
train had pulled into the station he
was convinced. and in the end agreed
to meet Mr.. Elkins, the proprietor
of Ye Lady's shoe Shoppe.
All three visited the establishment
on Sunday. for it was explained to
Crofton that since the store was
closed to business, Sunday would he
a good day for conference. The store,
done in maple and metal work OF
bright bronze color with long seats
covered with leather of the same
bronze color, appealed to the old ac-
tors esthetic tastes. 1t did seem
that he was getting quite bargain.
The stock alone, consisting largely of
shoes of black with white tops, had a
book value of over ten thousand. OF
course, there was payment due,
but with the shoes retailing at six
dollars pair this bill could be quick
ly met. Before they left the store the
transfer was made and the old actor
became the new owner Of Ye Lady's
Shoe ShOpDe.
Monday Crofton was on hand early
for business, retaining the three
: clerks and cashier. The store was in
a good location and throngs passed by
but few entered. Tuesday and
Wednesday showed the same lack of
business, and lines began to appear
on CrOfton's kind features. On Friday
Il sharp-featured business man en-
tered and briskly sought out CrOfton.
I'm ready to make you an offer
of two dollars pair for your black
and white shoes for the lot"
Crofton saSped. Put they cost over
-four ii pair"
Tie other made broad gesture.
WHAT of it? They're not going We
can sell EN- on our bargain counter.
What do you say?" But Crofton
couldn't say anything he was white
and SpeechlesS.
The bargain seeker looked at him
searchingiy and then his bright eyes
lit up with understanding. II guess
YOU must hive bought this stock at
its book value You didn't know this
style had gene out That's what makes
ladies' wear so risky; the styles can
change oyer night Well, when you're
ready TO sell can give as good a
price as anyone Here's my card"
In a daze Crofton walked to the
back of the store and slumped down.
He could sell the stock for barely
tenough to pay the final payment he
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