ory profit for my year's work.

I now began thinking about opening an establishment of my own. About
this time Mr. Weil, with whom I still made my headquarters, informed me
that he was going to retire from the jewelry business, and offered to
sell his large safe, all the office fixtures and a large stock of
jewelry, to me, and give me all the time I needed to pay for them. As
his prices were low enough, and terms all that could be desired, I
jumped at the chance, and in a few days found myself in his debt several
thousand dollars.

When I saw his shrewdness in picking me up--a total stranger--and
helping to push me "to the front," and to where he could make good use
of me himself, I could but admire him for it, and felt more than ever
like patronizing him, as it seemed to me like encouraging enterprise to
do so. I have never had reason to regret my dealings with him, and as he
is a man of large means and wide influence, and has repeatedly given me
to understand that he stood ready to back me for any amount, I have
reason to believe that he has no complaints to make of my business
transactions.

After buying him out I rented an office and store room of my own at 243
State street where I am still located, and began a genuine wholesale
jewelry business.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

EMPLOYING TRAVELING SALESMEN--DEPRESSION IN TRADE--HEAVILY IN DEBT--HOW
I PRESERVED MY CREDIT--I TAKE TO THE ROAD AGAIN--TRAVELING BY
TEAM--DECIDING A HORSE-TRADE--MY BOOK-KEEPER PROPOSES AN ASSIGNMENT--I
REJECT THE PROPOSITION--COLLECTING OLD DEBTS BY STRATAGEM.

While traveling in Northern Michigan I came across a young man clerking
in a dry-goods store in a small iron-mining town, who expressed a desire
to go on the road for me as traveling agent. His employer said:

"Oh, Bert is thoroughly honest and trustworthy, and naturally a capable
fellow; but I think he is rather too unsophisticated to act in that
capacity, as I don't believe he has ever visited a town of over three
hundred inhabitants in his life."

I replied that he was just the sort of chap I was looking for. I wanted
a man who would be likely to listen to my advice and instructions, and
a man of wide experience would not be apt to do so.

I made arrangements with the young man to return to Chicago with me. His
manner at once convinced me that he meant business, and was determined
to succeed. But for all that, and with the most kindly feelings towards
him, I must admit that