“Your sight is defective, Mr. Folsom,” retorted Mrs. James.
“Oh,—was it the calf you want to pay for?” he spoke rather disappointedly.
“No, we stopped to tell you that we bought Susy’s mother not half an hour ago, and we know what you paid for the calf not twenty-four hours ago. Had we paid your asking price you would have cleared two hundred per cent on the deal. As it is you made one hundred per cent profit. Rather a good transaction for no cost or labor to you.”
“But you thought you had a good calf for a fair price!”
“I am not gainsaying that, but I am here now to say we do not want Susy, at all, unless you agree to bring the cow at the same time, on Saturday, without charge to Miss Jipson or to us.”
Ed Folsom shook his head and smiled. “Nope! I could have sold that calf after you left for more than you offered, but I am too honest for my own good, so I refused because I knew these gals were crazy for Susy.”
“That’s too bad—that you lost a sale. Because we now have a cow, and that is what we came for today. The calf is a toy. We can get along without the toy unless you want to act fairly in this matter,” said Mrs. James.
“You told us that you had to drive to White Plains on Saturday, so it is not far out of your way,” added Miss Mason.
The farmer see-sawed back and forth on his toes for a few moments as if considering the case, then he said: “Well, if you pay spot cash for Susy I’ll bring the old cow along for two dollars.”
“Sorry to have wasted our time and yours. Good day,” was Mrs. James’ answer. “Drive on, Frances.”