He said that a lot of toys had been sold because he had them working. I had intended to do something of that kind myself, only I had felt too sick to attend to it. I remembered the big success we had had with electrical appliances when we demonstrated them in actual use.
There were only six days to Christmas! Still, if we had a good week we ought to clear those toys out.
Larsen told me Stigler's five-and-ten-cent store was packed. He thought it was a good thing for us.
"Lots of folks go there," he said, "for 5- and 10-cent things. We're next door. They come to us for better stuff."
Perhaps there was something in that, after all.
CHAPTER XXXI
A NEW COMPETITOR
The New England Hardware Company were to open their store on Macey Street on January one. I knew because I had received the following letter from them, which evidently they had sent to every house in town:
Dear Sir:
The New England Hardware Company open their Farmdale Store January 1, at 62 Macey Street. This store will be in charge of Mr. Roger Burns, who for many years was in charge of the kitchen goods department at the Bon Marche.