an old-fashioned desk. Here it was that he transacted his business,
and in the desk he kept his papers. It was into this room that he
introduced Mr. Walton.

"Set down, set down, neighbor Walton," he said. "We'll talk this
thing over. So you've got to have a cow?"

"Yes, I must have one."

The squire fixed his eyes cunningly on his intended victim, and
said, "Goin' to buy one in town?"

"I don't know of any that's for sale."

"How much do you calc'late to pay?"

"I suppose I'll have to pay thirty dollars."

Squire Green shook his head.

"More'n that, neighbor Walton. You can't get a decent cow for
thirty dollars. I hain't got one that isn't wuth more, though I've
got ten in my barn."

"Thirty dollars is all I can afford to pay, squire."

"Take my advice, and get a good cow while you're about it. It don't
pay to get a poor one."

"I'm a poor man, squire. I must take what I can get."