usiness when we open our
store," Fred said, with a smile.

"Of course. It will never do to give credit to strangers. But while
speaking of stores, let me inform you that I have made a few
arrangements in your behalf. I have secured a fine location for you, and
spoken to a man who is desirous of selling a suitable building."

"And the price?" we asked.

"Is reasonable beyond all my expectations. The owner is homesick, and
will not haggle about a few pounds."

"Why cannot we look at the store this afternoon, and decide whether we
will take it or not? It will save time."

"Come, then; I have no objections."

We followed the inspector through the most thickly-settled part of the
town, and at length stopped before a good-sized frame building, with the
roof and sides covered with sail cloth and common cotton. The man who
called himself the proprietor, was an Englishman, suffering under a
severe attack of rheumatism, and therefore inclined to exclaim loudly
against the mines, and Ballarat in particular. The few articles which he
had in his store were old and unworthy of purchase.

We examined the premises, and found, according to our California
experience, that we could take up our quarters there, and with a little
trouble, make the building water proof. There was room also for an
addition to be made in case it was necessary, and as the place was easy
of access, we concluded we could do no better than strike a bargain, and
secure the building as soon as possible. This we were the better able to
do through a few suggestions which Smith let fall concerning the
severity of a wet season, and the danger of rheumatic people remaining
at the mines during its continuance.

For a hundred pounds in cash, we were put in complete possession of not
only the store, but all it contained, including a very good stove, of a
Massachusetts man's make, and sent to Australia on speculation--three or
four pots and kettles--a number of cracked dishes, very dirty--weights
and scales, both large and small, and which, we afterwards found, were
so arranged that the buyer got about two-thirds of what he paid for,
while the weights for purchasing gold dust were a little too heavy to
accord with strict honesty--barrels containing remnants of articles of
not much use to any one, besides other things which we did not make any
account of.

We made a bargain that we should take possession of the premises on the
next day, and after taking a bill of sa