"Why, up here in the woods," says Milo, "at the house of a queer old
stick, name of Rogers. I forget his front name--'twas longer'n the
davenport."

"Not Adoniram Rogers?" says Cap'n Jonadab, wondering.

"That's him," says Thompson.

Now, I knew Adoniram Rogers. His house was old enough, Lord knows; but
that a feller with a nose for a bargain like his should have hung on
to a salable piece of dunnage so long as this seemed 'most too tough to
believe.

"Well, I swan to man!" says I. "Adoniram Rogers! Have you seen the--the
davenport thing?"

"Sure I've seen it!" says Milo. "I ain't much of a jedge, and of course
I couldn't question Rogers too much for fear he'd stick on the price.
But it's an old davenport, and it's got Sheriton lines and I've got the
refusal of it till to-morrow, when Mrs. T's going up to inspect."

"Told Small yet?" asked Peter T., winking on the side to me and Jonadab.

Milo looked scared. "Goodness! No," says he. "And don't you tell him
neither. His wife's davenport hunting too."

"You say you've got the refusal of it?" says I. "Well, I know Adoniram
Rogers, and if _I_ was dickering with him I'd buy the thing first and
get the refusal of it afterwards. You hear ME?"