m if they knew of any
who had a harness for sale, as I had become so interested in the
spectacle deal.

"Why bless you," the old man replied, "I have got a nice single harness
up stairs that I will sell cheap." He brought it down, and I traded the
spectacles, a very nice pair of sleeve-buttons, and a handsome set of
jewelry for it.

I was now ready to start with my newly completed torn-out, which I lost
no time in doing.

I traveled in the direction of Kirkersville, where I arrived a few days
later and promptly exhibited my horse, harness and buggy to my late
partner and his acquaintances.

After a careful scrutiny of the turn-out, and a look at the goods I had
left in stock, he remarked that "some one must have been taken in."

I continued peddling for some time, meeting with splendid success on the
average, with occasionally a poor day.

I never lost an opportunity of trading horses, and as a rule, preferred
to keep trading for a better one each time where I would be obliged to
pay boot, which I invariably manipulated so as to pay the difference in
jewelry, instead of the cash. I also traded buggies frequently in this
way, and in a very short time I was driving a first-class turn-out.

My early boyhood experience with horses had given me a fair knowledge of
them, and the blemishes they were subjected to, which enabled me to pass
reasonable judgment on them, when making trades.

My best deals were always made with professional horse-men, who
generally seemed to think they had a "soft snap," and I never attempted
to convince them differently, except when I could do so at their
expense.

Peddling jewelry and spectacles was the business I gave my special
attention to for sometime, and it proved a very satisfactory one. With
the exception of a few disagreeable features which are sure to attend
any business of that nature, I found it very pleasant.

One day I drove into a small country village and stopped at a
blacksmith's shop to have my horse shod. While waiting, I happened to
drop into a large general store, and very soon entered into conversation
with the proprietor, who was a jovial, good-natured fellow. He told me
his latest story, when I thought to try and amuse him with one or two of
mine, which I was very successful in doing.

In a few moments I mentioned that I was in the jewelry business, and
before I had time to ask him to look at my goods, he said: "Bring in
your truck, let's see what you've got,