“About as long as it will take to weigh the dust,” I replied.
He remarked good-humoredly, “That’s played out.”
“As I can buy for cash only, I must of necessity require immediate payment on all sales,” I said, by way of explanation.
Slade immediately called to the teamster to return and unload the lumber, remarking, as soon as it was replaced upon the piles,
“Well, I can’t get along without the boards anyhow; load them up again.”
The man obeyed and left again with the load, Slade insisting, as before, that he must have time to pay for it, and I as earnest in the demand for immediate payment. The teamster returned and unloaded a second time.
“I must and will have the lumber,” said Slade; and the teamster, by his direction, was proceeding to reload it a third time, when I forbade his doing so, until it was paid for.
Our conversation now, without being angry, became very earnest, and I fully explained why I could not sell to any man upon credit.
“Oh, well,” said he, with a significant toss of the head, “I guess you’ll let me have it.”
“Certainly not,” I replied. “Why should I let you have it sooner than another?”