Mr. Atkins let out a groan and came back as meek as Moses. The way Catty watched him and bossed him was a caution to cats.
That afternoon Catty and I walked around by Jim Bockers’ shop to take a look. He was getting ready to open up to-morrow. He had a big stock of everything in his line, and a new sign, and just as we were getting there he was tacking up a big piece of white cloth with something painted on it. We waited to read it. It says:
The Best and Cheapest
Get your painting and paperhanging done here
We Guarantee To Do Work Cheaper
Get prices elsewhere, and then come to us. We will do any job for five per cent. less than any competitor. We positively guarantee this
I looked at Catty and Catty looked at me. “If he guarantees to take any job for less than you’ll take it for, how do you calc’late ever to get a job?” says I.
“Maybe folks won’t b’lieve him,” says Catty.
“They’ll try, anyhow,” says I, “and if he’s tellin’ the truth, he’ll git the business.”
“Maybe so,” says Catty, but he didn’t seem as worried as I was. “Dad and me is doing business as cheap as it can be done. If this feller knocks off five per cent, off’n our prices, he’ll lose money every time he takes a job. He won’t last long at that.”