Riding High Page #4

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"Yes, J.L. Yes, J.L."

- Good evening, Mrs. Early.

- Good evening, Johnson.

- Good evening, Johnson.

- Mr. Early.

- J.L.'s in the study.

- Thank you, Johnson.

Well, right on the dot.

"Never Late" Early, they call me.

No more stale jokes.

And don't be so scared of him.

Who's scared?

Good evening, J.L.

- Evening.

- Father.

Well, right on the dot.

"Never Late" Early, they call me.

Henry.

Hi.

Evening, Father.

Don't scold me. I'm on time.

- Good evening, Mrs. Winslow.

- Good evening.

- Mr. Winslow.

- Good evening, Johnson.

- J.L.'s in the study.

- Oh, thank you, Johnson.

You may not be the smartest, Arthur,

but you're the best-looking.

Thank you!

- Good evening, Father.

- Evening.

J.L. Evening.

- Good evening, Johnson.

- Good evening, Miss Margaret.

J.L. Is in the study.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Dan.

- Hello, Dan, I see you made it.

- Oh, she went to the whip on me. Hi.

- Father.

- J.L.

- We're late.

- Well, that's my fault.

There was sort of a hassle

down at the box factory.

You see, we had this big box...

- We'll get started.

- We...

- How do I get out of this box?

- Leave Higginsville.

Still in there punching, aren't you?

What's on the agenda for this evening?

Oh, soup, cold lamb

and the financial report.

Sounds exciting.

Say, would there be such a thing as

- a slug of whiskey around the house?

- In this house?

Isn't anything ever changed

around this mausoleum?

- Yeah, bedspreads and underwear.

- The daily double.

Any of you got ulcers yet?

Well, here's hoping.

The purpose of this meeting is to elect

him permanent member of this board.

Now that he's to become

a permanent member of this family.

But first, some good news.

Acme Lumber Company.

Bought it today at our own figure.

- Very good, J.L. Very good, J.L.

- Fine, fine, J.L. Fine. Fine. Fine.

10:
05 this morning, it became the

Higgins Lumber Company. Approved?

- Why, of course, J.L. Splendid!

- Seems like a wise move, J.L.

- You approve?

- Huh?

Oh, naturally, J.L. Top-hole, J.L.

Of course, J.L.

Present has no active head.

It shall remain so.

Courage, men.

It'll remain so until empty chair

is suitably occupied.

If you mean me, Dad,

you're wasting your time.

- What's that?

- You might as well forget it.

The man I marry won't care

for the lumber business.

- Don't be impudent, Alice.

- I'm sorry.

That's OK, J.L.

You're still batting...

...750.

- Maybe only 500.

Dinner.

Meeting's opened.

Higgins Enterprise is doing fine,

except the Higgins

Paper Box Company.

Sales, way below normal.

Higgins Special, nationally known,

off 22 percent.

- Mr. Brooks, any explanation?

- Maybe paper bags are catching on.

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