"Wait a minute," said Billy. "These dishes are worth only a dollar, but
I have fifteen cents I can lend you, Bert. That will make a dollar and
thirty-four cents. That's all we have and if you don't want to sell the
dishes for that, we can go and get 'em somewhere else."
Nan was about to gasp out: "Oh!" but a look from Billy stopped her. She
saw what he was trying to do.
"A dollar thirty-four--that's all the moneys you got?" asked the old
man.
"Every cent we're going to give!" declared Billy firmly. "If you'll sell
the play dishes for that all right. If you won't--"
He seemed about to leave.
"Oh, well, what I cares if I die in the poor-house?" asked the old man.
"Here! Take 'em. But I am losing money. Those is valuable dishes. If I
had more I could sell 'em for ten dollars maybe. But as they is all I
got take 'em for a dollar and thirty-four. You couldn't make it a dollar
thirty-five, could you?"
"No," said Bert decidedly, "we couldn't!"
"Oh, dear!" sighed the old man. "Take 'em, then."
"They're awfully dusty," complained Nell, as she looked at the sugar
bowl and pitcher.
"That's 'cause they're so old and valuable, my dear," snarled the old
man.
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