“Well, seeing how bad these girls want the calf, I’ll see if I can get her over to your place for a dollar!”
Mrs. James started for the roadway without saying a word in return to the farmer’s inuendoes, and the girls feared lest the calf be lost to them. But they had never traded with farmers before, so they were not versed in the various customs of trade.
The farmer followed them to the car but just as Mrs. James was stepping in, he said: “When do you want the calf delivered at Green Hill?”
“Tomorrow or next day,” was the reply, as if there had been no question of the man’s delivering the calf.
“If Saturday would do I would prefer it, as I drive to White Plains every Saturday, and can drop the calf on my way there.”
“All right, Saturday will do for us, too. Remember the price you quoted to me—I have several witnesses who heard what you said.”
“But I didn’t say this sale was C. O. D.!” cried the farmer. “I thought you wanted it to be a cash sale.”
“I didn’t expect to buy a calf when I started out today, but I need a cow, and I have to keep my money for that. If I get the cow cheaper than I am ready to pay, I will stop here on my way home and leave a deposit for the calf,” explained Mrs. James.
“Can’t you pay ten or five dollars down now?” asked the farmer anxiously.
“I’ll do exactly as I said—stop here on my way back, even if it takes me miles out of the way. I’ll either leave some money then, or you will be at liberty to sell the calf to some one else.”