“No.”
“My firm says that bill has got to be paid inside of the next ten days.”
“Very well; we’ll try to pay it.”
“If you don’t they will sue.” The young man leaped down from the counter. “Sure you can’t pay it now?”
“No; I haven’t the money.”
“I’ve heard your father is in a peck of trouble over some bond he went on. I’m sorry for him. But that bill must be paid, remember that. In ten days, or it’s a suit at law.” And lighting another cigarette, the dapper young man hurried out as quickly as he had entered.
CHAPTER VI
THE RIVAL MERCHANTS
When Frank went home to dinner he expected to tell both his father and his mother about the visit from the dapper young man; but he found both of them so much worried that he did not say a word. He ate his meal in silence, and hurried back to the place of business as soon as he could.
“I’ll tell them to-night or to-morrow,” he thought. “One thing is certain: we can’t pay that bill, for we haven’t the money on hand with which to do it.”