"And for the rest might we have bread and chicken?"
"Oh, sure! I'll get it right now!"
She ran into the kitchen, lingered a few minutes, and returned with a
large package, one almost as large, and a small parcel. Jeff smacked his
lips. The largest package could contain nothing less than the better
part of a roast chicken, the one nearly as large must be a whole loaf of
bread, and she pressed all three on him.
"Some butter for your bread, an' here's the dollar. You comin' through
again?"
"When I do, ma'am, you have an honored place on my list of valued
customers."
"Then you will stop?"
"Most certainly."
"Be sure now."
"Ma'am, you have the word of Tarrant Enterprises, Ltd."
Jeff strode happily down the road, and he had cheated his customer in no
way. Tarrant Enterprises was always ready to barter, for Jeff had long
since learned that money must be spent. Now he had a meal as good as any
the best inns served and he had it for half of what he would have paid
in cash. But the woman was happy too, and that always made for a fair
deal.
When he came to where the two valleys made one, Jeff left the road and
sought the railroad tracks. Last night he had slept in a haystack, but
it was far from an ideal bed. Jeff had not resented the mice, for he
thought mice were interesting. The hay itself had been old, filled with
seeds and thistles, and tonight he wanted a better camp. It was always
possible to find one along a railroad.
As it always did when he sighted potential customers, Jeff's interest
quickened when he saw two men with a handcar beside them, working on the
tracks. He came abreast of them, two sweating, bewhiskered men who, even
on this bright day, managed to look sullen.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen."
They glowered at him from beneath bushy eyebrows, and looked meaningly
at each other.
"Beat it, peddler."
Jeff laughed merrily. "What a refreshing sense of humor! Such an
intelligent bit of wisdom! You are just the men I hoped to meet! I
represent Tarrant--"
"Beat it, peddler."
"Now just think about that! Reconsider! If--"