“I don’t understand, Nelson—Mr. Floyd. You mean——?”
“I mean that I’ll have your entire account charged to me and you can take your time about paying it—next fall or the next, or any time it suits you. I’ll not press you for it, if you never pay it. I passed your place the other day, and your crop looks very promising. You are sure to get out of debt this coming fall.”
“Oh, Nelson—I—I don’t know what to do about it. Mr. Mayhew says——”
“But I say it’s all right,” Floyd broke in as he laid his hand softly on her shoulder. “Go down in front and buy what you need to run on. I’ll assume the risk, if there is any.”
Mayhew turned suddenly; his face was white and his lip shook.
“Do you mean to say that you are going to step in and——?”
“Step in nothing,” Floyd said calmly. “I hope I won’t have to remind you, sir, of our clearly written agreement of partnership in which it is plainly stated that I may use my judgment in regard to customers whenever I wish.”
“You’ll ruin us—you’ll break us all to smash, if you do this sort of thing,” Mayhew panted. “It will upset our whole system.”
“I don’t agree with you, sir,” Floyd answered, “but we won’t argue about it. If you don’t intend to abide by our agreement then say so and we will part company.”
Mayhew stared in alarm for a moment, then he said: