Then the owner of the wagon began to descant glowingly upon the many advantages of going on a road hike aided by the service that such a specially constructed wagon would give. In fact, Mr. Titmouse dwelt so enthusiastically upon the value of his wagon that Dick shrewdly told himself: "He's very anxious---unusually so---to rent us that wagon. I've already found out that he hasn't used the wagon in two years, nor has he succeeded in renting it to anyone else. The wagon is so much useless lumber in his stable." "I wouldn't rent that wagon to everyone," Mr. Titmouse wound up. "No, sir," Dick agreed heartily, yet with a most innocent look in his face. "Not everyone would want the wagon." "I---I don't mean that!" Mr. Titmouse exclaimed. "In fact, sir," Dick went on very smoothly, "I have learned that you have been offering the wagon for sale or hire during the last two summers, without getting any customers." "Eh?" demanded Mr. Titmouse in some astonishment. "Naturally, sir," Dick went on, "before coming here to see you I made a few inquiries in Tottenville. I discovered that in this vicinity the wagon is something of a joke." "What's that?" questioned the other sharply. "My camping wagon a joke? Nothing of the sort. And, if it is a joke, why did you want to get it?" "Oh, all of our fellows can stand a joke," laughed young Prescott "So I came over to see just what terms we could make for the use of your wagon during the month of August." "Well, I'll be as fair with you as I can," Mr. Titmouse replied. "From men---grown men---I would want at least thirty dollars a month for the wagon---probably thirty-five. Of course I know that money is not as plentiful with boys. I'll let you have the wagon for the month of August at the bottom price of twenty-five dollars." Dick smilingly shook his head. "I've named the best price I could think of taking," insisted Mr. Titmouse. "Come into the wagon shed and have another look at it." "Thank you, sir, but there is no use in looking at the wagon again, when such a price as twenty-five dollars is asked for a month's hire," Dick answered promptly. "Come inside and look at it again, anyway," urged Mr. Titmouse. "Thank you, sir, but I must get back to Gridley at the earliest possible moment." "If you didn't want to hire the wagon," asked Mr. Titmouse testily, "what was the use of taking up my time?" "I do want to hire it," Dick admitted, "but since hearing your price I have realized that I don't want the wagon half as much as I did at the outset." It was notable about Mr. Titmouse that he would gladly talk for three hours in order to gain a dollar's advantage in any trade in which he was interested. He was a small man, with small features and very small eyes which, somehow, suggested gimlets. He bore about with him always an air of injury, as though deeply sensitive over the supposed fact that the whole world was concerned in getting the better of him.