What was he to do? Thirty-five thousand dollars was a great deal for a poor man to give for a vase....
He removed the vase that afternoon to his own modest apartment and requested Mr. Foster to refer any one interested in its purchase to him.
At ten o'clock next morning, he had an unusual visitor at his flat in West Eighty-ninth Street. John T. Sterling had called to see him. Hooker went into the living-room, visibly embarrassed in the presence of the great man.
"Good morning, Mr. Hooker. I'll state my business quickly. Mr. Foster tells me you purchased yesterday his house and furniture. Now I'd like to buy it, if it's in the market. I think I could turn it into a garage. I need one in that neighborhood. I'll give you ten percent more than it cost you."
"No—not at all. I'll tell you what I'll do. If you give me one hundred and fifteen thousand for the house and its contents, as it is now, I shall call it a bargain. It'll be a quick turn."
"All right. We'll go down to my attorney's at once and draw up a bill of sale. The entire contents of the house as it is this moment, mind you. Come right along. You know I'm a very busy man!"
"That's known everywhere!" said Hooker, with a flattering smile.
On Fifth Avenue, that afternoon:
"Done! by God! and by a mere kid!"
On Eighty-ninth Street, that evening: