matter if he would turn
over to me eleven hundred dollars' worth of goods.

"I'll take fifteen hundred dollars' worth, and drop it; that amount will
pay me for all my trouble and expense."

"But I haven't got only thirteen hundred and fifty dollars' worth. I'll
give you all I have, and the stock consists of the choicest line of
solid gold jewelry and watches."

I accepted his offer, of course. The goods were as he represented, the
very choicest line of watches and jewelry.

I then selected a handsome present for my new girl, and returned with
it to her house. Before letting her know just how I had fooled her, I
determined to ascertain, if possible, the whereabouts of the former
proprietor of the store, as I wanted a bill of sale from him fearing
that the ex-manager's title might not be good, and the acceptance of a
bill of sale from him would be taking chances.

Upon arriving at the girl's house I told her of my success, and asked if
she would not see her brother at once, and try and get the information
desired. She surprised me by saying that her brother had left the house
but a few moments before, and had told her that the man I wanted was at
Salina, Kansas. I then surprised her by the information of the fact that
I had been playing detective.

After assuring her that no one in town knew or should know from what
source I got my information, I atoned for all the deception used, and
for what prevaricating I had done, by handing her the gift of jewelry,
which made her eyes fairly pop out of her head. She seemed to have
instantly forgotten all about our previous love-making, which convinced
me that she was better satisfied with the present than she would have
been with me.

On my way home I stopped off at Clyde to visit my folks, staying one
night. I carried the watches and jewelry with me; and having telegraphed
that I was coming, Mr. Keefer met me at the train with a horse and
carriage, and we took the goods to the house. I had a nice visit with
the old folks and my little son; and after showing them the watches and
jewelry, related the incidents of my trip, how I got possession of the
goods, and "just how it all happened."

My mother said she had always thought I would make a better detective
than anything else. Mr. Keefer said "it did beat the devil."

That night we reviewed the past eighteen years, with much interest. We
recalled the many ups and downs I had met with; and my parents
congratulated me, not