e took up our quarters thenceforth at a high-perched little guest-house
near the top of the Bruenig. It was bracing for Elsie; and it lay close
to a tourist track where I could spread my snares and exhibit the
Manitou in its true colours to many passing visitors. Elsie tried it,
and found she could ride on it with ease. She wished she had one of her
own. A bright idea struck me. In fear and trembling, I wrote, suggesting
to Mr. Hitchcock that I had a girl friend from England stopping with me
in Switzerland, and that two Manitous would surely be better than one as
an adver_tize_ment. I confess I stood aghast at my own cheek; but my
hand, I fear, was rapidly growing 'subdued to that it worked in.' Anyhow
I sent the letter off, and waited developments.

By return of post came an answer from my American.

'DEAR MISS--By rail herewith please receive one lady's No. 4
automatic quadruple-geared self-feeding Manitou, as per your
esteemed favour of July 27th, for which I desire to thank you. The
more I see of your way of doing business, the more I do admire at
you. This is an elegant poster! Two high-toned English ladies,
mounted on Manitous, careering up the Alps, represent to both of
us quite a mint of money. The mutual benefit, to me, to you, and
to the other lady, ought to be simply incalculable. I shall be
pleased at any time to hear of any further developments of your
very remarkable advertising skill, and I am obliged to you for
this brilliant suggestion you have been good enough to make to
me.--Respectfully,

'CYRUS W. HITCHCOCK.'

'What? Am I to have it for nothing, Brownie?' Elsie exclaimed,
bewildered, when I read the letter to her.

I assumed the airs of a woman of the world. 'Why, certainly, my dear,' I
answered, as if I always expected to find bicycles showered upon me.
'It's a mutual arrangement. Benefits him; benefits you. Reciprocity is
the groundwork of business. _He_ gets the advertisement; _you_ get the
amusement. It's a form of handbill. Like the ladies who exhibit their
back hair, don't you know, in that window in Regent Street.'

Thus inexpensively mounted, we scoured the country together, up the
steepest hills between Stanzstadt and Meiringen. We had lots of nibbles.
One lady in particular often stopped to look on and admire the Manitou.
She was a nice-looking widow of forty-five, very fresh and round-faced;
a Mrs. Evelegh, we soon found