70 Gem Trader
love
or so dear to her, but at least they were precious stones. Whereas
these lines in—she did not say "gimcrack", but her lips trembled on the
word—semi-precious stones were not for her at all.
"There
is good money in my lines," said Herr Grahle, and as he oozed
prosperity from every pore of his fat body, his statement seemed
justified.
"No
doubt," said my mother politely. "But perhaps not for me. I can't risk
diverting my energies from what I understand. I am sorry, but I cannot
buy from you."
"Ah, but you will buy something, at least, gnädige Frau" he insisted, "for yours is the first office I've called at and for good luck you must give me a start."
"If you put it that way," said mother, "I will take a dozen of those black onyx rings—assorted sizes."
"Thank
you," said Herr Grahle, "that is at least a beginning. But when all is
said and done, what kind of profit can you expect to make on a paltry
dozen onyx rings. Take the whole parcel!"
"How many in the parcel?" asked mother.
"Five gross, more or less," he replied. At this stage I plucked at my mother's sleeve and tried to make her step apart.
"Now, young fellow," exclaimed the German, "don't you go and spoil business for me!"
"What is it?" demanded my mother, when I had got her to the other end of the room.
"If you buy that junk at all, buy all he has and as much more as you can get from him in the next few weeks."
