He knew that everything has an intrinsic value.
As a loss assessor for a major company where he dealt with all manner of loss-related insurance claims, he was used to placing a value on things. That’s why he gave serious thought to the fact that the box of oddments that was taking up room in the shed, would have to be worth something to somebody. There weren’t enough items to make it worthwhile paying to be a seller at the local flea market. In fact, when he thought about it, he didn’t want money for any of it. He just wanted to get rid of it. He balked at the temptation to literally tip it all into the rubbish bin. No, someone would find some of it useful, he felt sure. He took everything out of the cardboard box he had been accumulating it in, one thing at a time. There were at least two dozen items.
It occurred to him that he could put them all out on the front verge with a sign saying they were free and telling people to help themselves. He spent half-an-hour making up a sign, opening up a small picnic table and arranging all the bits and pieces neatly for people to see. His street usually got busy during the afternoon. He went in and waited.
A short time later he heard a car pull up. He watched through his front window, pleased to see that somebody was interested. He stepped back, not wanting to be seen. He’d go out later to see what was taken.
When he did, he found the bric-a-brac had been tipped into a pile, and the table was gone!