“Oh!” she cried in delight. “Indeed, yes! We are very fond of them. I
will take the basket, and divide with my sons. You are sure you have no
poisonous ones among them?”
“Quite sure,” said the Harvester faintly.
“How much do you want for the basket?”
“They are a dollar a dozen; I haven't counted them.”
“Dear me! Isn't that rather expensive?”
“It is. Very!” said the Harvester. “So expensive that most people don't
think of taking over a dozen. They are large and very rich, so they go a
long way.”
“I suppose you have to spend a great deal of time hunting them? It does
seem expensive, but they are fresh, and the boys are so fond of them.
I'm not often extravagant, I'll just take the lot. Sarah, bring a pan.”
Again the Harvester stood and watched an entire basket counted over and
carried away, and he felt the robber he had been called as he took the
money.
At the next house he had learned a lesson. He carpeted a basket with
leaves and counted out a dozen and a half into it, leaving the remainder
in the wagon. Three blocks on one side of the street exhausted his
store and he was showered with orders. He had not seen any one that even
resembled a dark-eyed girl. As he came from the last house a big, red
motor shot past and then suddenly slowed and backed beside his wagon.
“What in the name of sense are you doing?” demanded Doctor Carey.
“Invading the residence district of Onabasha,” said the Harvester.
“Madam, would you like some nice, fresh, country mushrooms? I guarantee
that there are no poisonous ones among them, and they were gathered this
morning. Considering their rarity and the difficult work of collecting,
they are exceedingly low at my price. I am offering these for five
dollars a dozen, madam, and for mercy sake don't take them or I'll have
no excuse to go to the next house.”
The doctor stared, then understood, and began to laugh. When at last he
could speak he said, “David, I'll bet you started with three bushels and
began at the head of this street, and they are all gone.”
“Put up a good one!” said the Harvester. “You win. The first house I
tried they ordered me to the back door, took a market basket full away
from me by force, tried to buy the load, and I didn't see any one save a
maid.”
The doctor lay on the steering gear and faintly groaned.
The Harvester regarded him sympathetically. “Isn't it a crime?” he
questioned. “Mushrooms are no go. I can see that!----or rather they are
entirely too much of a go. I never saw anything in such demand. I must
seek a less popular article for my purpose. To-morrow look out for me.
I shall begin where I left off to-day, but I will have changed my
product.”
“David, for pity sake,” peeped the doctor.
“What do I care how I do it, so I locate her?” superbly inquired the
Harvester.
“But you won't find her!” gasped the doctor.
“I've come as close it as you so far, anyway,” said the Harvester. “Your
mushrooms are on the desk in your office.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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