"So you got it; did you, young man?" snarled a voice behind the two youths, and there stood Professor Spink.
He was much heated, his boots and trousers were muddy, and his frock coat had a bad, three-cornered tear in it. Evidently he had come across lots--and he had hurried.
"Why--were you interested in that old desk I bought in?" asked Harris with a grin.
"I'll give ye a dollar for your bargain," blurted out the professor.
"I tell you honest, I didn't pay but two dollars for it," replied Harris.
"Five," snapped the breakfast food magnate.
"No, sir," responded Harris, turning away.
"Good work! keep it up!" Lyddy heard Lucas whisper to the other youth. "I bet I kin tell jest what dad told him. Dad's jest close-mouthed enough to make the professor fidgetty. He begins to believe it all now."
The next moment the anxious professor was at him again.
"I want that desk, Colesworth. I'll give you ten dollars for it--fifteen!"
"Say," said Harris, in apparent disgust, "I'll tell you the truth; I bought that desk--and these other things--to give back to old Mrs. Harrison. She seemed to set store by them."
"Now, the desk is hers. If she wants to sell it for twenty-five dollars----"
"You hush up! I'll make my own bargain with her," growled the professor.
"No you won't, by jove!" exclaimed the city youth. "If you want the desk you'll pay all its worth. Hey! Mrs. Harrison!"
"I made up my mind," said Harris, hurriedly, "that I'd give you these things here. You might like to have them in your room at Hillcrest."
"Thank you, young man!" returned the widow, flushing. "I don't know what makes you young folks so kind to me----"
"Hold on! there's something else," interrupted Harris. "Now, Professor Spink here wants to buy that desk."
"And I'll give ye a good price for it, Widder," said Spink. "I want it to remember Bob by. I'll give you----"
"He's already offered me twenty-five dollars for it----"
"Oh, then, you don't want it, after all," returned Harris, coolly. "I thought you did."
"Well! suppose I do offer you twenty-five for it, Mis' Harrison?" exclaimed Spink, evidently greatly spurred by desire, yet curbed by his own natural penuriousness.
"Take my advice and bid him up, Mrs. Harrison," said Harris, with a wink. "He knows more about this old desk than he ought to, it seems to me."