owd. "I'll give you just five minutes to give me back my goods."

The restaurant-keeper began to bluster and threaten, and even sent a
waiter out, ostensibly to call in a policeman. But Matt was not
frightened, and in the end another waiter was sent to gather up the
sample goods, wipe them off and restore them to the boy.

"Good for you, boy!" said one of the customers, as he followed Matt
out upon the sidewalk. "Always stick up for your rights," and he
nodded pleasantly and passed on.

When Matt reached the wagon he found Andy had not yet come back. He
accordingly looked around, and seeing another restaurant about half a
block further down the street entered it.

He found the proprietor behind the desk, laughing quietly to himself.
He had heard of what had happened in his neighbor's place, and was
immensely tickled thereby.

"Hullo! ain't you the boy that had the row with Mattison?" he
exclaimed in surprise.

"I had some trouble with that man," said Matt. "But it was not my
fault, I can assure you."

"You came out ahead, didn't you? Ha! ha! ha! It does me good to hear
it. Tell me how the row started."

Matt did so, and was compelled to go into all the details, to which
the man listened with keen interest.

"Served him right! He can get along with nobody. But you are a clever
one, too."

"Thank you," replied Matt.

And then he began to talk business, showing up his somewhat bedimmed
samples to the best possible advantage, and quoting prices in a manner
that made the restaurant-keeper think he was an old hand at the
business.

The man was not particularly in need of anything, but he liked Matt's
way, and thought it was worth something to have a good story to tell
to his rival's discredit. He bought four dozen triple-plated spoons
and a carving-knife, and then Matt persuaded him to invest in a new
toothpick holder, and a match holder of aluminum, which were both very
pretty and cheap.

"Just an even seven dollars!" thought Matt, as he hurried back to the
wagon. "I don't think that so bad. Our profits on that sale ought to
be at least two dollars."

Andy was waiting for him. He had sold, after a good deal of hard
talking, a dozen knives and forks, upon which he had been forced to
make a slight discount. He listened to Matt's story in amazement.

"Seven dollars' worth! That's fine, Matt! You must be a born salesman.
Keep right on, by all means."

"But I don't expect any such luck every time," returned