and in a very short time the business
"collapsed." The only thing I had from the wreck was an old
billiard-table which he turned over to me. As I had had quite a sad
experience in the billiard business only a year before, I now thought I
saw my only chance to get even. I therefore rented a room and opened a
billiard hall.

This was a regular bonanza, for about three weeks. Indeed, too much so,
for then, to my regret, the "City dads" passed an ordinance prohibiting
the running of billiard rooms. As I had commenced housekeeping about the
time I opened the billiard room, and had gone in debt for my furniture,
I found myself in a sad plight. The sale of the outfit enabled me to pay
but a small portion of my indebtedness.

I was now stranded, and ready for something else, but was completely
non-plussed to know what to do next. Of course I realized by this time
that I had a wife, and a "mother-in-law," and it began to look as though
there must be some genuine "hus'ling" done.

About this time the whole country thereabouts was thrown into the
wildest excitement over the supposed mysterious murder of Almeda Davis,
for which a young man named Bunnell was arrested, tried and acquitted.
Deputy-sheriff Dennis, who made the arrest, came to me the next day
after the young lady's death, and asked me to write it up for some of
the leading City Dailies. I agreed to do so, and to always give him a
good "send off," if he would furnish me with the minutest facts during
the whole case. He did so, and I guess would be surprised to learn that
I made more money out of that trial than he did, if it was a new
business to me. But it made us a comfortable living until about the
middle of winter, when I decided to move back to Ohio. Before arranging
to leave, I called on my creditors at Bronson--there were five of
them--and explained my position. They each agreed that I could do
nothing there, and might better make a change, and that they would
gladly wait till I could make a raise before asking or expecting me to
pay.

We then proceeded to Ohio, arriving home "broke," where I explained to
my folks "just how it all happened."

My mother said she thought I had done splendidly "for a married man."

Mr. Keefer said "It did beat the d----l!"

CHAPTER XII.

MORE HELP FROM MR. KEEFER--SIX WEEKS AS A HORSE-TRAINER--A MYSTERIOUS
PARTNER--COLLAPSED--HOW I MADE A RAISE--HOME AGAIN--FATHER TO A BOUNCING
BOY.

Soon after my arrival home I r