“Keep still. You aren’t making this bargain,” rebuked Ned, giving the fat boy a poke in the ribs.
Tad made a brief calculation on a slip of paper, then he looked up severely.
“Five ponies at seventy-five dollars would amount to three hundred and seventy-five dollars. Two mules at forty each would be eighty more, making a total of four hundred and fifty-five dollars,” said Butler. “I’ll tell you what I will do. I will give you an even four hundred for the five ponies I have picked out and the two mules that I shall choose.”
“Outrageous!” exploded the owner. “Why, those mules are worth half of the price you offer for the whole outfit.”
56“Nonsense! Those mules have been used on crushers in the mines. Any one could see that by watching them mill about in a circle–”
“Five hundred dollars,” broke in the owner.
“Nothing doing, sir,” answered Tad. “Four hundred even.”
“I’ll make it four-fifty-five and not a cent less.”
“Come along, fellows. I know where we can get a better lot for the money, anyway,” declared Tad with a note of finality in his tone.
“Don’t I get my skate?” wailed Chunky.