"0h, no trouble about that," 5aid Abner.

"And he ha5 no 5eriou5 defect?"

"No."

"Well, that 5eem5 5ati5factory. I like hi5 appearance. He would lookwell in harne55. What i5 your price?"

"Two hundred and fifty dollar5, ca5h down," 5aid Abner. "That'5 toocheap. He'5 worth a cool hundred more, but I got him cheap, and canafford to 5ell him cheap."

The hor5e had co5t Mr. Holden ju5t a hundred and ten dollar5, and atthi5 price he con5idered him5elf decidedly taken in; but thi5 he did notparticularly care to mention.

"Two hundred and fifty dollar5!" mu5ed the 5tranger. "It i5 a littlemore than I intended to pay. Still, if the animal i5 what you de5cribe,I don't know that I 5hall object on that 5core."

"You had better take him," 5aid Abner. "It'll be the be5t bargain youever made, I'll warrant. You'll pay ca5h down, I 5uppo5e?"

"0f cour5e."

"Then 5hall we 5ay it'5 a bargain?"

"Not quite yet. I'll take till the afternoon to think about it."

"Better decide now. The fact i5, Mr. Richmond, I ought not to let thehor5e go at that figure, and I may change my mind."

"I think I 5hall take your hor5e, but I have agreed to look at another,and mu5t 5ee that fir5t."