"It can't hurt you and it might make you some money. I'll continue to be
frank. This is not something to offer an average customer because he
simply cannot afford it. But there are sportsmen who can, and they come
to Ryerson's. We'll take this, and any other quality merchandise you
have, at a thirty per cent discount."
Jeff thought of Barr's other knife, a few of the rest, the hatchets, the
bridle reins, and made a swift calculation. Not all were equally
valuable, but all were quality. If Ryerson paid him cash, he would more
than make up for everything he had dispensed from his pack, his train
fare, his expenses in Ackerton, and he would still have valuable goods.
He said finally, "It should work to our mutual benefit."
"May we expect some more soon?" Mr. Calworth asked.
"I have a few in my sample case at the Kennard. You may have those as
soon as I've time to deliver them and more in--shall we say three
weeks?"
"I'll send a clerk for what you have," Mr. Calworth promised, "and leave
your check at the Kennard desk. Or would you prefer payment to your
business headquarters?"
Jeff held his breath inwardly, but answered quite casually, "It doesn't
matter."
"We'll leave it at the Kennard," Mr. Calworth decided. "What should the
total be?"
Jeff made a swift mental calculation. Barr Whitney's two knives for
twenty dollars each, one almost as good for fifteen, two for ten and
three for five dollars each. Pete's horsehide thong for four dollars and
the three hatchets at five dollars each. That less thirty per cent. Jeff
gave the total, "Seventy-six dollars and thirty cents."
"Good!" Jeff knew that this keen man would examine each article and see
if the price was suitable. "Are you going back to the Kennard?"
"I must stop in for a few minutes."
"May I send someone along to pick up the rest of the things?"
"Certainly."
"Fine! Don't forget us, Mr. Tarrant."
Jeff walked back to the Kennard with one of Ryerson's clerks, gave him
the merchandise intended for him in the lobby and got a receipt. Then he
returned to his room, looked over the motley collection of knives that
remained, and decided that he could sell or trade them to his advantage.
But he wanted to take care of some of the other articles first and then
give special attention to Granny's tapestries. He examined the pistol
and the set of miniatures. Both were unknown quantities.
About a foot long, the pistol had a metal barrel and ivory handles that
had faded to a soft yellow. On each handle was an elaborate boar's head.
Nat Stancer, who had traded Jeff the pistol for two screwdrivers, had
kept it in good working order. Jeff did not know how much it was worth,
but certainly it would be of use only to a hill man or to someone
interested in antiques.
The miniatures were small but well carved and proportioned, and all of
them consisted of deer in various stages and poses. There were a doe and
fawn, a running buck, a lone fawn, three grazing does, a resting buck
and a doe rearing. They had cost Jeff a yard each of red, blue and
yellow ribbon, but the woman who had traded them had not done the
carving. The miniatures were also old and Jeff thought they had probably
been fashioned by some invalid with nothing else to do.
The pistol in one side pocket and the miniatures in another, Jeff set
out to visit the antique dealers whose names and addresses he had
listed. With no experience in antiques, he had only a vague idea as to
how to go about selling his, so he took the dealers in alphabetical
order and the first name on his list was Joseph Barnerson.
He entered the store, a narrow building sandwiched between two larger
ones, and looked curiously at the objects surrounding him. Jeff
recognized few and wanted none, but looking at them strengthened his own
conviction that, no matter what the article might be, it was desirable
to somebody. Jeff turned toward the man who came to meet him. He had
half expected somebody old and creaking, but this man was only about
thirty and far from decrepit.
"What may I do for you?"
"I have an old pistol," Jeff said, "and maybe I'd sell it if I got the
right price."