Each person selling fruit from a fruit stand, store, or other established place of business shall pay a license tax as follows: In cities or towns of over 10,000 inhabitants, $10; and in all other places, whether incorporated or not, $5. This section shall not apply to regular merchants carrying fruit as a part of their stock of merchandise who do not display same in front of their place of business and whose ad valorem assessment on the stock of merchandise at the place where such fruit is sold is in excess of $100.