Mark didn’t say anything; he just waited.
“I came,” says Mr. Skip, “to talk business—serious business.”
Right off Mark looked serious. He did it fine. I don’t believe there’s an undertaker can look more serious than Mark when he’s a mind to.
“I came,” says Mr. Skip, “to warn you.”
“Oh,” says Mark, “to warn us? Oh.”
“I,” says Mr. Skip, “propose to sell articles for five and ten cents. In some measure your Bazar will conflict with me—you will be almost a competitor.” He stopped and bent his nose back and forth again.
“Yes,” says Mark, “I calc’late we will—almost.”
“But,” says Mr. Skip, “it will not be a real competitor.”
“Um,” says Mark. “Why?”
“Because,” says Mr. Skip, “I’m here to warn you not to encroach on my business.”