"How much do you want for the stand?" asked Dick, while he and Jimmy waited anxiously for the answer. "Well, I'll take two hundred and fifty dollars cash, and not a cent less." The figure was so high, and the announcement of it caused the partners such a surprise, that, for a moment, they did not know what to say. CHAPTER XVIII BULLDOG THREATENS DICK Dick was the first to recover his composure. He had to admit that he had no idea of what a news-stand in New York might be worth. His previous notions, as well as those of Jimmy, had evidently been wrong. "I'm afraid that figure is too high for us," spoke Dick slowly. "High? That's dirt cheap," declared the young man. "Why you can make the stand pay for itself in six months. I'd never give it up if it wasn't that my health has failed." "But we haven't got that much money," said Dick frankly. "Can't you get it somewhere?" "I'm afraid not. You see we are in partnership. We haven't been at it very long, but we've managed to save up twenty-five dollars." "Oh, I couldn't think of taking that and waiting for the rest," declared the stand-owner. "No, I wouldn't expect you to." "Maybe you could borrow the rest somewhere. I'd be willing to take two hundred in cash and a mortgage for the balance." "That would mean we'd have to borrow one hundred and seventy-five dollars somewhere," said Dick. "No, we can't think of it. We'll have to look for a cheaper stand or wait until we have more money saved up." "You'll never get a cheaper stand. I know something about them, for I tried to buy one when I first went in the business." "I haven't any doubt but what this stand is worth all you ask for it," went on Dick, "but it's beyond our means. I'm sorry." "So am I," frankly admitted the young man. "I'd like to sell out to a couple of young fellows, but, of course, if you haven't the money you can't do business. And I need cash to go away with." "Well, we'll have to look somewhere else," remarked Jimmy, much disappointed. They bade the young man good-bye and started back to resume the selling of papers, which they had interrupted in order to make their inquiries. "Did you think he'd want so much as that?" asked Jimmy, as they walked up Barclay Street. "No, I hadn't any idea stands were worth so much." "Me either. I guess we'll never get one now." "Yes, we will," declared Dick firmly. "I'm going to have one. If we can't find a cheaper one, we'll save up more money. A stand is the only way to make a good living in this business." "Oh, we've done pretty well," observed Jimmy. "I've made more money since I've been with you than I ever made before." "Yes, but it's not enough for a firm like ours," and Dick laughed. "We want to do three times as much."