Jacob Abbott

Peter the Great Jacob Abbott

Oskar Hedin, head of the fur department of old John McNabb's big store, looked up from his scrutiny of the Russian sable coat spread upon a table before him, and encountered the twinkling eyes of old John himself. "It's a shame to keep this coat here-and that natural black fox piece, too. Who is there in Terrace City that's got thirty thousand dollars to spend for a fur coat, or twenty thousand for a fox fur?" Old John grinned. "Mrs. Orcutt bought one, didn't she?" "Yes, but she bought it down in New York-" "An' paid thirty-five thousand for a coat that runs half a dozen shades lighter, an' is topped an' pointed to bring it up to the best it's got. Did I ever tell ye the story of Mrs. Orcutt's coat?" "No." "It goes back quite a ways-the left-handed love me an' Fred Orcutt has for one another.