make the Quickenbush rifles $4.60 please omit them.

There was but $3 profit in the item, and I would have omitted them but
for a desire that Blissam should not get ahead of me; so I started for
the store to learn something about it. On the way I met Blissam, and I
put it right at him. "Are you quoting Quickenbush rifles at $4.60?"

"Not by a drum sight! Who says so?"

I handed him Whipper's note.

"Are you going there?" he asked.

I said I was.

"I'll go with you." This suited me. We saw no look of surprise on
Whipper's face. I went straight to the point. "I can't sell the rifles
at $4.60, Mr. Whipper, unless I know some one else has quoted that
price; if they have, I'll meet it."

"Just scratch them off," said he, as calm as a day in June.

"But has any one given you such a figure?"

"Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies. If I can get them at
$4.60 I will take them."

I could get nothing more out of him and we started back. On the way we
met Tom, Whipper's book-keeper. I asked him what it meant. "Oh," said
he, laughing, "I guess the old man thinks he can get them at $4.60,