“Folks getting things on ‘strap’ (credit), and never paying for them,” said one.

“The members buying their stuff at other shops, and not supporting their own,” said another.

“Just so,” said Howarth, “and my plan will do away with these difficulties. We will have no ‘strap’ at our shop; every customer must put his ‘brass’ down when he takes his goods away, then there will be no bad debts.”

“But that won’t prevent members from going to a cheaper shop whenever they can,” said another objector, “and women like big, smart shops, which we can’t have.”

“Not at first, but we will have, some day,” replied this hopeful pioneer; “and I am going to tell you of a plan I have in mind to help us all. You, John, have a big family, and at the end of six months will have spent, say, £10 at the Store, while I have no children, and will have probably spent only £5. Who has made most of the profit, you or I?”*

“I have, to be sure,” said John.