oor each had something
to say. The crowd was composed of all classes--Polish, Norwegian, Irish,
German, Cornish, etc. The Irish, with their sharp tongues and quick wit,
were predominant, and all together they had considerable sport in
relating what their husbands had to say when they brought home the dress
patterns and learned that those same goods had been offered for
one-fourth of a cent a yard ever since the fire. I took every piece back
and allowed them to trade it out. I employed two young men to help me
that afternoon and took down each lady's name and then jumped up and
made an auction sale to them. We kept each lady's purchase by itself,
and after the sale had a final settlement with them, many of whom had
bought enough to bring them considerably in my debt.

This was one of the very best advertisements for me, as it convinced the
people that I would do by them as I agreed; and they all considered it a
good joke, and the afternoon sale having made me acquainted with many
women, I had no trouble in getting a large crowd every night who bought
freely.

After making several sales at Houghton I packed up and went over to
Hancock and Red Jacket, where I met with flattering success. As nearly
as I could estimate it, I cleared about twelve hundred dollars on my
investment of one hundred and fifty.

I sold nearly everything at an advance on the regular first cost, but
when I came to look through the boxes and drawers and sort all the goods
contained in my new stock, I was much surprised and greatly pleased.

I remained at Red Jacket six weeks, making sales every night.

On the first of September, as it had begun to get cold up there, and in
fact had twice snowed a very little the last of August, we returned to
Chicago, when I immediately called on my friend Doctor Ingraham. He
didn't recognize me until I took a large roll of bills, containing over
three thousand dollars, from my pocket and said:

"Doctor, I would be pleased to loan you a hundred dollars and I'll bet
you will pay it back in less than three months."

"O-ho, Johnston, you have got to the front, haven't you? How are
you?--how are you?" shaking me warmly by the hand.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXX.

BUYING OUT A LARGE STOCK OF MERCHANDISE--ON THE ROAD AGAIN--SIX WEEKS IN
EACH TOWN--MUDDY ROADS AND POOR TRADE--CLOSING OUT AT AUCTION--SAVED MY
CREDIT BUT COLLAPSED--PEDDLING POLISH AND JEWELRY--WHOLESALING
JEWELRY--FIFTY DOLLARS AND LOTS OF EXPE