“Three dollars apiece!” repeated the merchant, in surprise. “You mean three dollars for the lot.”
“No I don’t,” replied Tom. “I mean just what I said—three dollars apiece—nine dollars for the lot.”
“That’s too much! You surely did not give that price for them?”
“Of course not!” replied Tom. “If I had, I wouldn’t sell them for that. I want to make something, don’t I?”
“Certainly! But you want to make too much. I’ll give you fifty cents apiece for them.”
“No, sir!” said Tom, emphatically. “I can’t sell them for a cent less than three dollars each.”
“What makes them so valuable?” asked the grocer.
“Why, they’re first-class game chickens,” replied Tom. “Don’t you want them?”
“Not at your price. I am not speculating in game chickens now.”
“Well, I am,” said the young trader. “They are worth three dollars apiece to me, and I’ll keep them before I’ll sell them for a cent less.”