“Quincy, I want to borrow fifty thousand dollars. Can you spare it?”
“Twice as much if you need it. I'll give it to you. It's yours anyway.”
“No, I want to borrow it at six per cent.”
“Are you going into business?”
“Yes.” Then Quincy told him of his conversation with Mr. Strout.
“How are you going to beat him?” asked young Quincy.
“I'll tell you. I'm going to buy the Hawkins House. I shall have it lifted up and another story put underneath. There will be room for a store twice as large as Strout's, and a hotel entrance and office on the ground floor. I'll put Hiram Maxwell in charge of the store.”
“Who'll run the hotel?”
“'Zeke says Sam Hill is the man for the place, and his wife Tilly will be the housekeeper, chief cook, etc.”
“Do you mean to run Mr. Strout out of town?”