“We'll get her to find Strout after he leaves Fernborough. Give me that check to-morrow early. I'm going to Fernborough with an architect to have plans made for the alterations.”
Mr. Strout could look from his window and see what was going on at the Hawkins House.
“Who's bought the hotel, Abner?”
“Well, Mr. Strout, they do say it's Mr. Quincy Adams Sawyer, an' that Sam Hill and his wife Tilly are going to run it.”
“I won't sell them a darned thing.”
Mr. Stiles grinned. “Can't they buy in Cottonton, or Montrose, or Eastborough? Mr. Sawyer's got stores there.”
“Well they'll want things in a hurry, but they won't get them from me.”
A month later Abner rushed into the store.
“Say, Strout, they're putting up a new sign on the Hawkins House. Come and see it.”
Mr. Strout walked leisurely to the window and put up his hand to shade his eyes. Great white letters on a blue ground.