He could sell all of his soap to the family grocer, surely; or, if not, to other grocers.
Other people were anxious to get this soap at this price.
Why not he?
The auctioneer paused.
"Thirty-two once!
Am I bid thirty-three?
Thirty-two twice!
Am I bid thirty-three?
Thirty-two three times!
Seven fine cases of soap.
Am I bid anything more?
Once, twice! Three times!
Am I bid anything more?"—his hand was up again—"and sold to Mr.—?" He leaned over and looked curiously into the face of his young bidder.
"Frank Cowperwood, son of the teller of the Third National Bank," replied the boy, decisively.
"Oh, yes," said the man, fixed by his glance.
"Will you wait while I run up to the bank and get the money?"
"Yes.
Don't be gone long. If you're not here in an hour I'll sell it again."
Young Cowperwood made no reply.
He hurried out and ran fast; first, to his mother's grocer, whose store was within a block of his home.
Thirty feet from the door he slowed up, put on a nonchalant air, and strolling in, looked about for Castile soap.
There it was, the same kind, displayed in a box and looking just as his soap looked.
"How much is this a bar, Mr. Dalrymple?" he inquired.
"Sixteen cents," replied that worthy.
"If I could sell you seven boxes for sixty-two dollars just like this, would you take them?"
"The same soap?"
"Yes, sir."
Mr. Dalrymple calculated a moment.
"Yes, I think I would," he replied, cautiously.
"Would you pay me to-day?"
"I'd give you my note for it.
Where is the soap?"
He was perplexed and somewhat astonished by this unexpected proposition on the part of his neighbor's son.
He knew Mr. Cowperwood well—and Frank also.
"Will you take it if I bring it to you to-day?"
"Yes, I will," he replied.
"Are you going into the soap business?"
"No. But I know where I can get some of that soap cheap."
He hurried out again and ran to his father's bank.
It was after banking hours; but he knew how to get in, and he knew that his father would be glad to see him make thirty dollars.
He only wanted to borrow the money for a day.
"What's the trouble, Frank?" asked his father, looking up from his desk when he appeared, breathless and red faced.
"I want you to loan me thirty-two dollars! Will you?"
"Why, yes, I might.
What do you want to do with it?"
"I want to buy some soap—seven boxes of Castile soap.
I know where I can get it and sell it.
Mr. Dalrymple will take it.
He's already offered me sixty-two for it.
I can get it for thirty-two.