pay for
it."

His wife, a silly-looking mortal, stared vacantly for a moment and then
said: "I can't see what use he would have for the toe, if you did have
it taken off."

We then compromised, he agreeing to stand the results of the corn crop,
and I the consequences of the sore toe. As soon as a new nail grew out,
I made a trip through the country, and brought up one Saturday evening
at Bronson, where "my girl" lived.

I couldn't give up the idea of getting married, and as my prospective
mother-in-law quite agreed with me that it would be the best thing to
do, we lost no time in arranging matters. The marriage took place the
following week, and I immediately returned to Three Rivers with my
bride.

We remained but a short time, until my uncle expressed a desire to
become interested in the business. I then turned it all over to him, as
I felt it was too slow to suit me. I had been there six months, and left
with about that many hundred dollars.

We proceeded to Ohio, and explained to my folks "just how it all
happened." My mother said "she couldn't see how I had managed to live so
long without a wife." Mr. Keefer said "he'd bet it was the best thing
that ever happened to me."

My mother wanted to know what next, and how I expected to support a wife
and pay my debts, when I had never yet shown enough ability to support
myself?

I frankly confessed that during my courtship I absolutely forgot that I
owed any one, and that it seemed to have been a secondary consideration
with me.

However, I called on all my creditors, and, after showing them a nice
roll of money as evidence that I had been "hus'ling," I received their
sanction to my investing the money in jewelry, and going on the road as
a wholesaler. I then opened correspondence with a firm in Chicago who
had been recommended to me as headquarters on jewelry, arranging to call
on them in a few days. They informed me that five hundred dollars would
buy a fair stock, to start with.

We returned to the home of my wife's parents; and the day before I was
to start for Chicago, her father, who was engaged in the grocery
business, called me one side and explained that he had become involved,
and that the money I had would bridge him over; and if I would put it in
his business and help him run it he would give me half the profits and
board myself and wife.

This I consented to do, and had no sooner settled down to business than
his creditors began crowding him,