like elizabeth, i'd say its a misheard expression.

in the days of railroad shipment, you could 'pay' the railroad for the goods, as well as the frieght, and things were shipped to distant towns

once there, you could see and inspect the goods, (and many goods were shipped in barrels besides food goods) if the good met your approval, you paid right then and there (using the barrel head as a 'cash desk/work table'.

portand cement is still sold (in most masonary yards) in 90lb bags--why 90 lb and not 100? cause 90 lbs is 1/4 of a barrel! buy (for cash) when you see it, not mail order (send me the money, and i'll send you the good) was the commonest way to buy good in the 19th century.

my other obsession