Twenty Years of Hus'ling Part 29

He said I could.

I invoiced my stock in trade and found I had just thirteen bottles of polish on hand, and immediately went to work.

The second house at which I called was a new and unfinished one, and I was obliged to enter from the back way. I found three or four very polite and pleasant ladies, to whom I showed my polish,--without effecting a sale, however.

When ready to leave the house I noticed three doors in a row, exactly alike. I was certain that the middle one was the one through which I had entered. Accordingly, facing the ladies and politely thanking them for their kind attention, and when just about saying good-bye, I opened the door and stepped back to close it after me, when I heard one of the ladies scream at the top of her voice.

It was too late.

I had disappeared--gone out of sight--where, I didn't know. But I realized when I struck that I had alighted full weight on my valise of furniture polish. It was total darkness, and I heard voices saying:

"What a pity! What a shame! Do send for some one."

Then the outside cellar door opened, letting in daylight as well as a little light on the situation.

The lady of the house had quickly come to my rescue by this entrance.

She hastily explained that the house was unfinished, and that they had not yet put stairs in their cellar-way, from the inside.

I thanked her for the kind information, but reminded her that it was unnecessary to explain, as I fully comprehended the situation.

I then picked up a shovel standing by, and after digging a deep hole in the very spot where I had struck in a sitting posture, I emptied the broken bottles and polish into it. After covering it up, and shaping and rounding the top dirt like a grave, I said to the ladies, as they stood by watching the proceedings:

"Not dead, but busted. Here lie the remains of my last fortune. If you wish to erect a monument to the memory of this particular incident you have my consent to do so. Good day, ladies, good day."

With my empty valise I then returned to Mr. Hart's drug store, where I had previously bought my stock, and at once ordered a small lot put up, to be ready the next morning.

From there I went to the hotel, and in conversation with a scholarly looking gentleman, learned that he was a lawyer. I told him of my arrest, and the reasons a.s.signed for it, when he informed me that no town in the United States had any legal right to exact a license from me if I manufactured my own goods.

I then decided to remain there as long as I could do well. The lawyer said if I would do so he would defend me gratuitously if I were molested again.

I thanked him, and said:

"My dear sir, it is very kind of you to offer your services should I need them--very kind indeed; and as one good turn deserves another, suppose you loan me two dollars to pay the druggist for my stock in trade?"

"Certainly, sir, certainly. Glad to do so," he answered, as he handed me a two-dollar bill.

He then asked me to "take something."

"No, thank you; I never drink."

"Well, take a cigar won't you?"

"I never smoke, either," I answered.

"The devil you don't! Well, this certainly isn't your first experience in business, is it?" was his next query.

"Hardly; but why should a man drink or smoke just because he may have been in business for some time?"

"True enough," said he, "and had I always let drink alone I could have been a rich man; and I'll never take another drop."

"I hope you won't," I replied.

He then stepped forward, and taking me by the hand, said:

"Young man, I can't remember of ever before asking a man to drink with me who abruptly refused; and I consider yours an exceptionally rare case, considering that I had just done you a favor, and would hardly expect you to refuse. Now, sir, although you are a much younger man than I am, your conduct in this particular instance will do me a world of good; and although you are not worth a single dollar to-day, if you will always refrain from drinking, keep your head level and attend to business, you will be a rich man some day. Now, remember what I tell you."

I told him if I met with the same success in the future as in the past, I felt certain of the need of a level head to manage my business.

He a.s.sured me that no matter what the past had been,--the more rocky it had been, the smoother the future would be.

I worked in Adrian about two weeks, meeting with splendid success, which of course enabled me to return the two dollars to my newly-made friend.

From there I went to Hillsdale, and at a drug store kept by French & Son, I bought the ingredients for the manufacture of my polish.

It was my custom to take down the names of every housekeeper who patronized me, and read them to the next person I called upon.

When I started out in the morning, on my first day's work, Mr. French's son laughed at me, and said he guessed I wouldn't sell much of my dope in that town.

On returning to the store at noon he inquired with considerable interest how business was.

I reported the sale of over a dozen bottles,--small ones at fifty cents and large ones at one dollar. He seemed to doubt my word, and asked to see my list of names. I read them to him, and as we came to the name of Mrs. French he threw up both hands and said:

"I'll bet you never sold her a bottle. Why, she is my mother!"

"No matter if she is your grandmother; I sold her one of the dollar bottles."

He cried out:

"Great Heavens! father, come here and see what this man has done. He has sold mother a four-ounce bottle of dope for a dollar, that he buys from us by the gallon!"

Mr. French, Sr. said he guessed there must be some mistake about that. I a.s.sured him it was true.

Then the young man suddenly exclaimed:

"See here, I wish you would go to my house and see if you can sell my wife a bottle. She always prides herself on getting rid of agents."

"Well, I wonder if your mother doesn't think she can 'fire them out'

pretty well, too?" inquired the father.

"Yes, but I'll bet he can't sell to my wife," e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the young man.

"Tell me where you live."

He pointed out the house, and said he would not go to dinner till I reported.

I made the call, and returned in about thirty minutes with two dollars of his wife's money. She had taken one bottle for herself and one for her mother-in-law, Mrs. French.

This greatly pleased both the young man and his father; and the latter said it was worth ten times the price to them, as they would now have a case to present to their wives that would ever after cure them of patronizing agents.