“About nine o’clock. I’ll take a look at the place first. Will you be around there early?”
“At seven o’clock.”
“All right.”
From the Benning home, Frank hurried to the place where Mr. Peterson, the other rival, boarded.
“I’m sorry for your father,” said Mr. Peterson, who was a young man and rather pleasant. “I might buy him out if he’ll sell cheap enough.”
“He’ll sell at a fair figure.”
“Do you know what he has on hand?”
“Yes, sir, in a general way.”
“Very well. I’ll go up with you now and see him.” And in a minute more the two were on the way. When they reached the Hardy home the rival flour and feed man shook hands cordially with Mrs. Hardy and also with the sick man.
“So you are going to sell out,” said he to Frank’s father. “Well, I thought one of us would have to give up pretty soon. The town can’t support three dealers.”