Part 12 (1/2)

Hiram having finished his work and dispatched the team, the three partners went into the private office, which was monopolized by Mr.

Strout. It contained one desk and two chairs. Hiram brought in an empty nail keg and closed the door.

”We've done twenty per cent. more business this month than same time last year.” Mr. Strout opened a desk drawer. ”Will you smoke, Guv'nor?”

Quincy accepted the cigar, and Strout, without offering one to Hiram, was returning the box to the drawer when Hiram, by a quick movement, gained possession of it, and taking out half-a-dozen put them in his pocket.

”That'll even matters up a little, I guess,” he said. Mr. Strout scowled, but catching Quincy's eye, said nothing.

”Would you like to look over the books? I'll have them brought in.”

”Don't trouble yourself to do that,” said Quincy. ”I'll examine them at the bookkeeper's desk.”

”Oh, very well,” said Strout. ”You'll find them O. K. But now's you're here there's one thing I want to say. Hiram don't agree with me, but he ain't progressive. There's no _crescendo_ to him. He wants to play in one key all the time. He's--”

Quincy interrupted, ”What did you wish to say about the business? We'll drop personalities for the present, at least.”

”Well, our business is growing, but we can do ten times as much with more capital. What I want to do is to start branch stores in Cottonton, Montrose, and Eastborough Centre. We send our teams to all these places, but if we had stores there we'd soon cut the other fellers out, for buying in such large quant.i.ties, we could undersell them every time.”

”I'm rather in favour of the branches, but don't go to cutting prices.

The other fellow has the same right to a living that we have.”

”Why not let him have what he's got then and not interfere with him?”

said Mr. Strout, chewing his cigar vigorously.

”For the reason,” said Quincy, ”that we don't keep store to please our compet.i.tors, but to serve the public. I believe in low prices in sugar, tea, and coffee, to draw trade. But general cuts in prices are ruinous in the end, for our compet.i.tors will cut too, and we shall all lose money.”

”I ain't agin the new stores,” said Hiram, ”but I'm teetotally agin chopping prices down on everything and tryin' to beat the other feller.”

”How much money will it require?” asked Quincy. ”Have you estimated on rent, fixtures, stock, horses and wagons, stabling, wages and salaries, and sundry expenses?”

”Yes, I've got it all down in black and white, it's in the safe. My estimate, and it is as close as the bark to a tree, is six thousand dollars spot cash.”

”I'll look over your figures,” said Quincy, ”and if they seem all right, I'll advance the money on the usual terms, eight per cent., but I must have a four thousand dollar mortgage to cover your two-thirds, for I don't suppose you can put up two thousand apiece.”

”Not this year,” said Strout, as he proceeded to relight his cigar.

The door was thrown open violently and Alice rushed in.

”Oh, Quincy, Maude's horse has run away with her and I'm afraid she's thrown and perhaps killed. I tried to catch up with her but I could not, and I saw nothing else to do but to come and let you know.”

”Which way has she gone?” cried Quincy. ”How did it happen?”

”We stopped at 'Zekiel's and had a talk with Huldah, who came down to the gate. Then we went on until we came to the Centre Road. When Maude saw the long straight stretch ahead she cried, 'Let's have a race!'

Before I could remonstrate, she gave her horse a sharp cut with the whip. He took the bit in his teeth and bolted. I rode on as fast as I dared to, but when I reached Mason Street she was not in sight.”

”If she had come this way we should have seen or heard her,” said Quincy. ”She must have gone towards Eastborough Centre. Come, Alice, I will get the carryall. If she is hurt she will not be able to ride her horse.”

Leading her horse, Quincy and Alice went to the Hawkins House.