e was nothing in it. She claimed
there was a living in it, which I admitted, but declared if I kept
"hustling" I would accomplish that much anyhow.

She gave me to distinctly understand that Mr. Keefer would sign no more
notes nor loan me a dollar in money thereafter. Mr. Keefer held a note
of fifty dollars against a man, not yet due, which he handed to me that
same morning, saying if I could use it I could have it.

A young in our village had just patented an invention for closing gates
and doors. He offered me the right for the State of Illinois for this
note, which I readily accepted.

In a few days I traded my right in this patent for six counties in
Michigan and Indiana in a patent pruning shears, an old buck sheep, a
knitting machine, an old dulcimer, a shot-gun and a watch.

I traded all of the truck except the watch, for an old gray mare. Then
commenced a business of trading horses and watches.

In this I was quite successful during the summer and fall. I had paid my
board and clothed myself comfortably, and was the owner of a horse which
I had refused a large sum for, besides an elegant watch which I valued
highly.

My mother said it was a regular starved-to-death business.

Mr. Keefer said he knew I would make it win.

CHAPTER V.

SWINDLED OUT OF A HORSE AND WATCH--MORE HELP FROM MR. KEEFER--HOW I GOT
EVEN IN THE WATCH TRADE--MY PATENT RIGHT TRIP TO MICHIGAN AND
INDIANA--ITS RESULTS--HOW A WOULD-BE SHARPER GOT COME UP WITH.

One day as I was passing the house of a neighboring farmer he came out
and hailed me.

"How's business?" he asked.

"O, first-class," I answered.

"Don't you want to trade your horse and watch for a very fine gold
watch?" he asked, confidentially.

"Why, I don't know."

"Well," he remarked, "I have owned such a watch for three years, and
have no use for one of so much value. A cheaper one will do me just as
well, and I am ready to give you a good trade."

I entered the house with him, and he said: "Wife, bring me that gold
watch from the other room."

"All right," she said, and brought the watch and handed it to me,
saying as she did so, "I have been in constant fear for three years of
having that watch stolen from us, and I hope my husband will trade it
off, and relieve me of so much anxiety."

I took it, examined it and discovered a small rusty spot in the inside
of one of the cases. I called their attention to it and said, "I don't
really like the looks o