“Offer him two hundred marks cash down,” said Thad; “and that’s a heap more than it’s worth. The balance is for the accommodation. We’ll likely throw it away after we’ve used it a bit.”
“All right, just as you say, Thad,” remarked Giraffe, and turning to the German owner of the car he started in once more to dicker.
He had hardly gotten part-way through his speech before the others saw a broad smile appear on the red face of the man, who began to nod his head eagerly. At the same time he thrust out his hand toward Thad.
“What d’ye think of that, boys!” exclaimed Giraffe, apparently both surprised and disgusted; “he snapped me up like a flash. Two hundred marks it is, Thad, and the trap is ours for keeps.”
“Oh! why didn’t we set it at a hundred,” groaned Bumpus; “a fine lot of traders we are, I think. No David Harums in this bunch. We’re easy marks.”
“Yes, two hundred of them,” chuckled Allan.
Thad meanwhile, fearful lest the man might change his mind, counted out some bills and handed them over to Giraffe.
“Write out a receipt in German, Giraffe, and have him sign the same before you give him the money,” he told the go-between.
This Giraffe soon did, and the man signed it without hesitation. Then clutching the money, he said something to Giraffe, nodded his head several times to the rest of the boys, and hurried away.
Somehow his actions, coupled with the way he glanced back over his shoulder several times caused the four scouts to look at each other in surprise.