Page:Girls of Central High on the Stage.djvu/22

12 rules I have, I wouldn't have been here selling you goods for years," returned Mr. Closewick, grimly. "The sheriff would have sold me out. I'm sorry for your mother, and I don't want to lose her trade. But business is business."

"And you cannot favor us for this single occasion?" choked Jess.

"It would lead to others; I can't break a rule," said the grocer, stubbornly. "Come now, Miss Jess! You go home and tell your mother how it is. I'll keep this basket right here for you, and you come back with the two-seven, and it will be all right."

"That would be useless," said Jess, clinging to the counter for support, and feeling for the moment as though she should sink. "We haven't any money—at present. If we had I should not have asked you for any extension of credit. Please give me back my basket."

"So?" returned the grocer, frowning. "Very well," and he deliberately unpacked the parcels and handed her the basket—making a show of so doing in the presence of the newly arrived customer. "And what can I do for you, this evening, Mrs. Brown?" he asked, blandly, speaking to the new arrival while he handed Jess her basket without a word.

"And that woman will tell about it all over