Mr. Sommers picked up the little table and examined it close. He opened and shut it, and looked under it, and then sat back in his chair and thought.
“Are you manufacturing tables like this?”
“Not yet. I figgered it would be safer to find out if folks would buy them.”
“They would,” says Mr. Sommers. “There isn’t a table on the market that can touch this. If you can manufacture it at a decent price you can make money. Is it patented?”
“Patented? What’s that?”
Mr. Sommers explained about patents and why folks ought to have them.
“I see,” says Catty. “It hain’t patented yet, but you kin bet it’s goin’ to be, right off. How do I go about it?”
“I can send you to a good patent lawyer, if you like.”
“Thankee,” says Catty. “If this table was being made, would you order some to sell in your store?”
“I would give you an order right now for ten gross.”