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Inventorying the store, Abner has trouble spelling, so he substitutes asparagus for beets. Why are they even taking inventory? Lum wants to sell his half of the store. How will Lizabeth take the news? Who will the new partner be? The new mercantile king, Abner, has work to do.
Showing off his shark skin suit, Lum tells he was bought out not in money, but in 500 barrels of sauer kraut juice from Charlie Redfield. Lum sets off to become a millionaire if he has to go broke doing it. Visiting Cliff Arquette, Lum asks for his help to look for a job. Maimie the phone operator shares gossip, and connects them to Ed Grubber, who does his Ronald Coleman impression. Folks on the other end take turns talking to Cliff, running up Lum’s phone bill, and not getting to talk to the one he called. Lum turns down a job to play saxophone in a band, but accepts a store clerk job.
Visiting the Gibson employment agency in person, Lum discovers his new boss is Abner. Abner puts his former partner to a formal interview before making his decision. Lum discovers his job duties are too much and he walks off before he gets hired. Later, Opie pops into the store to talk with Abner, and learn about the new job arrangement. Lum would rather flip burgers in the lunch counter than go back to work for Abner. Opie is more than willing to help him get a job at the bowling alley setting pins.
Lum still refuses to work for Abner, and is content to draw unemployment of $25 a week, and stay in bed. In doing so, Zazu Pitts helps Lum with a government form. He goes to complain to Mr Fishfass. wHo sets Lum straight on how unemployment works. Lum may not qualify for receiving unemployment, but he might get a job playing saxophone. However, An opening as a store clerk is also open… at the Jot Em Down store. Home again, the clerks get their store back from Charlie Redfield, and they all break even.
Bonus Tracks:
Keith talks about how this plot line appeared in the 15 minute shows, and we have more readings from the Jot Em Down Journal. From the edition of February, 1985, Donnie Pitchford reads the beginning of a series of articles Lum And Abner In Hollywood, Part 1.
