Page:Raymond Spears--Diamond Tolls.djvu/73

 head, meditatively. "You see the market might drop!"

"That's right," she approved. "Three cents a pound ain't to be sneezed at. Feller sold some copper down there for twenty-three cents; probably you know him, José Macrado?"

"Sure I know him. He a junker now?"

"No—just picked some copper up some'rs."

"Well, s'long." Frest backed out of the eddy, adding: Member me to Delia—I seen 'er above Cairo, droppin' down!"

"Yes, she was saying she seen some awful tough-lookin' fellers up there." Mrs. Mahna laughed, and Frest felt that he had been paid a fine compliment.

He went on down to Mendova, never tying line night or day. He ran into Shanty Boat Ridge, at the foot of Ferry Street, and sought the local wholesale junk buyers.

"Vat!" Mr. Isaacsten exclaimed. "Six thousand pounds! Mine Gott—vat you think I am? Vell, I pay you six dollars to haul all dat up to mine yard. It is too much! I can pay you but eighteen cents."

"Oh, come now, Isaacsten; when the market is twenty-four cents a pound! You think I don't know the quotations, don't you?"

"Twenty-four cents?" Isaacsten repeated. "I