There were in Farmdale about a dozen stores to rent. I had no thought of renting them; but I was going to see the landlords of those places and see what they would charge me to rent the _windows_ for a week! and then I'd ask Barlow to let me hire his men for an evening to trim each of those windows with the better-class kitchen goods, and then I'd put a big sign in each window something like this: "If you want kitchen goods that wear, you'll find them at Dawson Black's." I'd have smart little talking signs worked up and put on the goods, saying why they were better than cheap articles, and asking customers to come to my store at 32 Hill Street, and we would demonstrate why it paid to get the best. "It pays to get the best." That was to be the slogan, and I would print it on the bottom of all price tickets and talking signs! I began to feel rather pleased that Stigler was starting that five-and-ten-cent store next to me! It seemed to have shaken me into action. I believed that, with a good window display in those empty stores for a week, I could work up a lot of business and get a lot of valuable publicity into the bargain. When I mentioned the idea to Betty, she didn't say anything for a few seconds, and then she said very demurely: "Dawson, you can have two more buckwheat cakes this morning." CHAPTER XXIII TRADING STAMPS Bulder, the Garter trading stamp man, called according to arrangement. "_Good_ morning, Mr. Black," he said heartily, as he entered the store. "Well, I _don't_ think we'll have much difficulty in getting this little matter fixed up to-day. It is going to mean a _big_ thing for you, and you can be _quite_ sure that the Garter Trading Stamp Company is going to be at the back of you to make this thing a _big success_." He spoke quite confidently, as if he were sure I was going to take them up. And indeed I had been all along practically decided to adopt them. "That's fine," I said in response to Bulder's greeting. "I want you, however, to meet Mr. Fellows, who is waiting in my office." I saw a faint change take place in Bulder's manner. He seemed at once to become a little suspicious and on his guard. "Fellows? Fellows?" he replied. "Oh, one of your men?" "Well, yes and no," I returned with a laugh. "He is connected with the Flaxon Advertising Agency and he does all my advertising, and I like to get the benefits of his ideas." "Mr. Black," said Bulder, "I am doing this business with you, and while I am _sure_ that Mr. Fellows is a _mighty_ fine man, you could hardly expect me to want to talk this matter over with him--at any rate, with the idea of helping you to decide what to do; for, you see, he is an advertising man and _naturally_ wants to spend all your appropriation himself." "Fellows isn't that kind," I replied, somewhat curtly. Bulder saw that he had been tactless, so he put his hand on my shoulder, and said, soothingly: