"
A month later Abner rushed into the store.
"Say, Strout, they're putting up a new sign on the Hawkins House.
Come and see it."
Mr. Strout walked leisurely to the window and put up his hand to
shade his eyes. Great white letters on a blue ground.
THE SAWYER GROCERY COMPANY
"By George, Strout, there's going to be another grocery."
Mr. Strout did not speak, but walked back behind the counter. Abner
went to see the sign raising.
Mr. Strout soliloquized: "So, he's going to fight me, is he? Well,
I'll spend every dollar I have, and borrow some more, before I'll
give in. He'll cut prices--so will I."
Then a troubled look came into his face.
"Confound it. My commission as postmaster runs out in a month, but
our Congressman is a good friend of mine."
Opening night came at the new store, Saturday being selected. Over
the doorway was an electric sign--
WELCOME TO ALL
Mr. Strout's store was nearly deserted. About ten o'clock Abner came
in.
"I say, Strout, it's just scrumptious. They got three times as many
goods as you have. An' there's a smoking room back of the store with
a sign over the door _'Exclusively for Loafers. Loaf and Enjoy Your
Soul.'_ They say a poet feller named Whitman writ that last part.
Saturday morning is to be bargain day and everything is to be sold at
half price. And, say, isn't the hotel fine? Everybody was invited
upstairs, an' there was a free lunch spread out.
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