“Yes.”
“Then it’s to your advantage to keep the l-little stores going.”
“Yes.”
“It’s to your advantage to keep Smalley’s Bazar going.”
“That’s another matter. You owe us money you can’t pay. It would be poor business to let you owe us more.”
“It would be if we couldn’t pay,” says Mark, “but if we get a square deal we can p-pay—every cent. Yes, sir, and make money besides.”
“Smalley’s Bazar never did amount to much.”
“It’s going to.... Just lemme t-t-tell you about this Skip and what we’re d-doin’ and what we’re goin’ to do.”
“I don’t think it will make any difference. Our credit man has looked you up and he advises against further dealings.”
Well, Mark set in and began to talk. He told about how we boys started into the Bazar and about how Skip came to town and about the auction Skip broke up and about the threats he made and the chattel mortgage and about his trip to town. He told about his plans and how they were going to work, and then he ended up: