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Show 246 "Gordon Cope, " he read. "I guess I am. What do you want?" Two can play at that game. "Your piano, " I said. "You can have it, " he said. "Thank you, " I said, and walked off, calling his bluff. "Hey! " he said, when I was nearly back to my work. I thought so! "Hey, what?" "It isn't tuned. " "I'll have it tuned. " "I can't have it moved for you. " "I'll pay the drayman. " "The piano is yours. " "Don't you want to know where I live? I want to buy it. " "It's not for s a l e ." "Then may I rent i t ?" "It's not for rent. That was my mother's piano, a wedding present to my parents. So it is not for sale, and it's not for rent. " When I told Mr. Knaphus about the transaction he looked alarmed. "That piano is covering a large break in the plaster, " he said, but I didn't care. He could get something else to cover it up, an easel, maybe. Anyhow, a large area of cracked plaster would finish off the decor appropriately. I kept the piano, had it tuned, stripped the paint off it, had the broken keys replaced, the missing strings, and it was a good piano with a beautiful tune. |
