NABOTH’S VINEYARD 287 
fur market for twenty years. If it should fall 
to half its present price, you would feel safe in 
buying a lot. You know that it would make 
just as good hats as it ever did, and that the 
hats, in all probability, would give you the usual 
profit. It’s the same with corn and oats. I 
know their feeding value; and when they fall 
much below it, I fill my granary, because for 
my purpose they are as valuable as if they cost 
three times as much. Last year I bought ten 
thousand bushels of corn and oats at a tremen- 
dously low price. I don’t expect to have such a 
chance again; but I shall watch the market, and 
if corn goes below thirty cents or oats below 
twenty cents, I will fill my granary to the roof. 
I can make them pay big profits on such prices.” 
« Will you sell this plant, Williams?” 
«“ Not for a song, you may be sure.” 
«“ What has it cost you to date?” 
«Don’t know exactly, — between $80,000 and 
$90,000, I reckon; the books will show.” 
« Will you take twenty per cent advance on 
what the books show? I’m on the square.” 
«“ Now see here, old man, what would be the 
good of selling this factory for $100,000? How 
could I place the money so that it would bring 
me half the things which this farm brings me 
4 now? Could I live in a better house, or have 
_ better food, better service, better friends, or a 
_ better way of entertaining them? You know 
ia that $5000 or $6000 a year would not supply 
