We can't be paying storage charges, and our orders won't eat it up.

We're short on grain.

Maybe you could trade out the flour to some of those brokers and get me enough grain to fill these orders." "I'd like to try," said his employee.
He knew from his books where the various commission-houses were.

He knew what the local merchants' exchange, and the various commission-merchants who dealt in these things, had to offer.

This was the thing he liked to do--adjust a trade difficulty of this nature.