“Give you two hundred,” said Old Man Penny.

Scattergood picked up his mop.  “If you fellers really mean business, talk business.  I’ve figgered my profits in this store, countin’ in low prices, wouldn’t be a cent under a couple of thousand the first year....  And you know it.  That’s what you’re fussin’ around here for.  Now fish or git to bait cuttin’.”

“Five hundred dollars,” said Atwell, and Old Man Penny moaned.

“Tell you what I’ll do,” said Scattergood.  “You men git back here inside of an hour with seven hundred and fifty cash, and lay it in my hand, and I’ll agree not to sell groceries, dry goods, notions, millinery, or men or women’s clothes in this town for a term of twenty year.”

They drew off and scolded one another, and glowered at Scattergood, but came to scratch.  “It’s jest like robbery,” said Old Man Penny, tremulously.

“Keep your money,” retorted Scattergood.  “I’m satisfied the way things is at present.”

Within the hour they were back with seven hundred and fifty dollars in bills, a lawyer, and an agreement, which Scattergood read with minute attention.  It bound him not to sell, barter, trade, exchange, deal, or in any way to derive a profit from the handling of groceries, dry goods, notions, millinery, clothing, and gent’s furnishings.  It contained no hidden pitfalls, and Scattergood was satisfied.  He signed his name and thrust the roll of bills into his pocket....  Then he picked up his mop and went to work as hard as ever.

“Say,” Old Man Penny said, “what you goin’ ahead for?  You jest agreed not to.”

“There wasn’t nothin’ said about moppin’,” grinned Scattergood, “and there wasn’t nothin’ said about hardware and harness and farm implements, neither.  If you don’t b’lieve me, jest read the agreement.  What I’m doin’, neighbors, is git this place cleaned out to put in the finest cash, cut-price, up-to-date hardware store in the state.  And thank you, neighbors.  You’ve done right kindly by a stranger....”

To this point the history of Scattergood Baines has been for the most part legendary; now we begin to encounter him in the public records, for deeds, mortgages, and the like begin to appear with his name upon them.  His history becomes authentic.

Seven hundred and fifty dollars is not much when put into hardware, but Scattergood had no intention of putting even that into a stock of goods.  He had a notion that the right kind of man, with five hundred dollars, could get credit to twice that amount, and as for farm machinery, he could sell by catalogue or on commission.  His suspicion was proven to be fact.