trade him off for something better later on."

"Now, I'll put down a hundred for the horse. The wagon ought not to
cost over fifty or sixty dollars."

"Make it seventy-five for wagon and harness," said Matt.

"It will foot up to two hundred with rubber blankets and extras."

"I suppose it will. Well, even that will leave us with fifty dollars
for stock."

"Will that be enough?"

"We'll make it do. If we run out I can leave you with the turnout, and
come back to New York and buy more, and have it shipped as freight to
the nearest railroad station."

"I see. I suppose they do not do any trusting with auctioneers?"

"Not with such traveling auctioneers as we will be. I would rather buy
for cash, anyway, for you can buy much cheaper."

"I suppose you can. What would you take along, and where would you
go?"

"My idea for the balance of this summer would be to strike out through
New York State down into Pennsylvania, and then across to New Jersey.
Then we can rent a store in some small town for the winter, especially
for the holidays, and start out early in the spring for the New
England States."

This plan met with Matt's approval, and he asked what goods Andrew
Dilks thought would be the most profitable to take along.

"I have a list here in my pocket," returned the young man, bringing it
forth. "You see, it includes fancy articles and statuary, besides
cheap watches, table cutlery, spoons, imitation gold rings, such
musical instruments as accordions, banjos and violins, albums, razors,
whips, and a dozen others. That ought to meet the wants in almost any
small town."

"Can you play the musical instruments?" asked Matt.

"I can play the accordion--not very well, but enough to show the
instrument off."

"I can play the banjo, and also the harmonica. You had better lay in a
stock of mouth harmonicas."

"I certainly will if you can play them. They will sell readily if they
are shown off. It is good you can play the banjo. We can play that and
the accordion whenever we want to open up, and thus attract a crowd.
Some use a bell, but music, even when it is poor, is better. Sometimes
I used to sing a comic song or two for old Gulligan when we were on
the road, but I didn't much care to do it."

"No, I wouldn't like that," said Matt.

"Gulligan sold lots of what are called 'fake' goods," went on Andrew
Dilks. "But my intention is to sell honest goods and sell them for
just what they are. We will perhaps not