e "didn't have to."

After we had been out a few weeks I asked him one day if he didn't think
we had better invoice. He thought we had, and we did so. He seemed less
gay after this and showed frequent signs of having the blues.

We could show good sales, but he couldn't show where the money had gone,
although he had had the exclusive handling of it himself.

He began to show an inclination to make improvements, but still clung to
a few expensive notions, so much so that his expenses far exceeded his
profits.

In a few weeks I suggested another inventory, to which he submitted, and
was fairly paralyzed at the result.

We then decided to go to Kansas City, Missouri. On our way there Johnny
asked me what I thought of going to some nice, quiet boarding-house
instead of paying the usual high rates at hotels.

I agreed, and again suggested that he go to selling polish, which he was
almost tempted to do, but finally said he guessed he wouldn't yet a
while.

When we got to Kansas City I said:

"Now Johnny, I will stay at the depot while you 'hustle' up town and
find a boarding-house."

He started on the hunt immediately.

In about two hours he came rushing back with a broad grin on his
countenance, and informed me that he had found one of the nicest places
in town, where every thing was neat and clean, and nice and tidy, the
old lady was a good conversationalist, she had a nice family of
well-bred children, and it was so home-like, and at a cost of only two
dollars and a half each.

[Illustration: OUR NEAT, NICE, TIDY BOARDING HOUSE AT KANSAS CITY,
MO.--PAGE 416.]

"But Johnny, two dollars and a half a day apiece at a boarding-house is
too much."

"Good ---- Johnston, I don't mean by the day. I mean by the week."

At this he grabbed a piece of baggage and bounded away, I following
closely.

On our arrival at the boarding-house we found the landlady to be a
widow with seven children. The house was furnished with the very
commonest of furniture, no carpets on any of the floors, no paper on the
walls, and the plastering off in many places.

We were both very hearty eaters, and were in the habit of taking our
heartiest meal at six o'clock in the evening.

When supper was called we went in to the dining-room, took seats and
waited to be served.

In about two minutes the children began flocking in. The majority of
them took their position along one side of the room and stared at us
with half-starved looks, wh