way forty miles.

I again discovered myself perspiring more freely than ever. I had fixed
the torches several times, had gone through the entire stock of goods
three or four times, and had taken off every article of clothing that I
dared to, all with the vain hope that something would occur to break the
horrid stillness. Such was not the case, however. The eyes of every one
were centered upon me--those of the proprietor and musicians as well as
the audience.

When finally ready to begin my speech, I suddenly discovered that I
couldn't recall a single word that I had so carefully prepared for the
occasion.

At all events the very last moment had arrived when I had got to
either open up and say something, or desert the whole paraphernalia.

At last I broke out in a low husky voice; and in less than two minutes I
was rattling away with an introductory speech, which my employer
afterwards complimented me on, and said that from it, alone, my sale was
half made before offering a single dollar's worth of goods for sale.

I continued to use that same speech for years, with an occasional slight
variation, but was never able to improve on it very much.

I then began my sale, and very soon felt perfectly at home, and made a
great hit, much to the evident satisfaction of my employer, and entirely
so to myself.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXIII.

A SUCCESSFUL AUCTIONEER--PLAYING A DOUBLE ROLE--ILLUSTRATING AN AUCTION
SALE.

My success as an auctioneer was assured from the result of my first
sale. I soon learned that it required only hard study and close
application to make it a profitable business.

I did not give up my furniture polish, but as soon as possible bought an
extra suit of clothes, a silk hat and a wig with which to change my
appearance from a polish-vender to an auctioneer. I would peddle from
house to house during the day in a dark suit and Derby hat, with my hair
clipped close to my head, while in the evening I would appear on the
auction-wagon attired in a flashy, plaid suit, a blonde wig and silk
hat. In no instance was my identity ever discovered.

We used to have a great deal of sport at the hotels, where I invariably
registered and represented myself as a polish vender, and never
intimated that I was connected with the auction party.

As soon as the time drew near to open the sale I would go to my room,
dress for the occasion and suddenly appear at the hotel office ready for
business; and