"I did," he answered, "looked pretty good to me too."
He went on telling me the prices quoted on each lot, describing the leather so accurately I knew I had passed by some mighty good things.
Gee! Ted, I could feel myself all shrivel up like a red toy balloon after a kid sticks a pin in it. I'd eaten a mighty good supper, but I felt hollow inside, and I guess my face looked as though I was seasick, for as near as I could figure I'd paid $12,000 more for my leather than I needed to have done.
Old Hiram let me squirm until the train reached Georgetown and we had stumbled off on to the platform.
"Thought maybe you'd like to know I bought those odd blocks," he said as I started for home.
"You did!" I replied, for I couldn't see how we possibly could use them along with what I'd purchased.
"Yep."
"What about the lot I bought?" I asked.
"I just stepped in and cancelled your order ten minutes after you'd left."
I was so happy I could have yelled for joy and at the same time I felt like two bits and a nickel.