"A—have you some young person about, whom you could send with me to inspect it, and thus save yourself the trouble of tramping through the snow?"
Grandpa Walker looked at his visitor curiously before replying.
"No," he said, after a moment, "I ain't. I've got a young feller stoppin' with me; but he started up to Henry Cobb's about two o'clock. How fer beyond Henry's he's got by this time I can't say. I ain't so soople as I was once, that's a fact. But when it comes to trampin' through the woods, snow er no snow, I reckon I can hold up my end with anybody that wears boots. Ef ye're ready, come along!"
A look of disappointment came into the colonel's face. He did not move. After a moment he said:
"On second thought, I believe I will not take the time nor the trouble to inspect the tree."
"Don't want it, eh?"
"Yes, I want it. I'll take it on your recommendation and that of my agents, Messrs. Morrissey and Campbell. If you'll name your price I'll pay you for it."
Grandpa Walker went back and sat down in his cushioned chair by the window. He laid his cap aside, picked up his pipe from the window-sill, lighted it, and began to smoke.
"Well," he said, at last, "that's a prime tree. That tree's wuth money."
"Undoubtedly, sir; undoubtedly; but how much money?"