Uncle William looked up. He shook his head slowly. “I won’t take nuthin’.”
The man smiled. “I’ll give you five thousand for it.”
“You will?” Uncle William’s glance was mild. A smile crept into it. “I wish ’t Andy could hear you say that,” he said; “but I can’t sell.”
“Why not?”
“Where’d I live?”
The stranger appeared to ponder a minute. “You could keep enough to live on,” he said at last. “I’d rather have you, in fact.”
“I’ll give you enough to live on,” said Uncle William. “I like your looks. I’d like to have you round.”
“That won’t do for me,” said the man.
“‘T won’t do for me, either,” said Uncle William.
They confronted each other. The stranger’s eyes dropped first. “I’ll give you ten thousand,” he said quietly.