"Hell!" roared Mr. Budlong. "Get on your hat and coat. We'll go
down and buy everything that's left in town."




XII

AN AMAZING CHRISTMAS

Holiday bargains in Carthage were not brilliant. After being pawed
over for several weeks, they were depressing indeed. When the Budlongs
strode into Strouther and Streckfuss's, it was nearly ten o'clock at
night. The sales-wretches, mostly pathetic spinsters of both sexes,
were gaunt and jaded. They yawned incessantly and held on to the
counters.

Even Messrs. Strouther and Streckfuss had the nap worn off their plushy
sleekness. They were surveying the wreckage, and dolefully realizing
that some of the Christmas bills would not be paid by the Fourth of
July.

When the Budlongs made their irruption, they were not received
cordially. Word had gone abroad that the Budlongs were buying all
their Christmas presents out of town. They must be, for they bought
none in. This treachery to home industry was bitterly resented. Then
Budlong galvanized everybody with a cry like a flash of lightning:

"I want to buy nearly everything in the shop. Get busy."