d, evaporated.

One druggist wrote in, saying the soap was there, or what there was left
of it, subject to our orders. He was thankful he had not sold any of it,
and was glad he had discovered the fraud before it had entirely
disappeared and before he had paid his bill!

Another druggist stated that he had analyzed it and would swear that it
was made of "wind and water;" while still another declared that his wife
had attempted to wash with a cake of it, and was obliged to send down
town for some "soap" to remove the grease from her hands.

After reading a few of these letters, I opened my traveling case, took
out my original sample box, and discovered at once that in shaking it,
it rattled like a rattle-box. I raised the cover and found my twelve
sweet-scented, pretty cakes of soap had almost entirely withered away,
and the odor was more like a glue factory than a crack toilet soap. We
made strenuous efforts to satisfy them, by making all manner of excuses
and apologies but to no purpose. In every instance "the soap was there
subject to our orders."

My partner was much chagrined at the outcome and sudden collapse of our
firm, and no doubt felt the situation more deeply than myself, although
I was the loser financially.

After borrowing money enough from an old school-mate, I paid my board
bill and bought a ticket for home. I had been away less than four weeks.

I first met Mr. Keefer at the barn and explained to him "just how it all
happened," and how the soap dried up, and how I had become stranded at
Toledo and borrowed money to get home with.

He said he guessed he would have to let me have the money to pay the
fellow back, as I had promised, which he did, and a few dollars besides.

I then went to the house and explained matters to my mother.

She said I might have known just how that soap business would end, and
reminded me of the request she made about leaving money enough to pay
the note and informed me that I needn't expect any help from Mr. Keefer,
for he should not give me a penny.

The next day while in town, I met and got into conversation with a
friend who was on his way to Huntington, Ind., to take a position as an
agent for selling fruit trees. He showed me a letter from the General
agent of an Eastern nursery, who stated that there were vacancies at
Huntington for half a dozen live, enterprising young men. I had just
about cash enough to pay my fare there, and decided to go.

We arrived ther