get a store in a good
location we may do better than we did on circus day in those other
places."

"That's true, Andy, for I saw by the bills that the railroads are
going to run special excursions on account of the big parade, so there
will be many strangers with money in the city."

As soon as the freight depot was open the next morning the two drove
to the place, and Andy entered the office and called for the cases,
three in number.

"What's the name?" asked the agent in charge.

Andy told him, and an examination of all the freight which had come in
was made, and then the two made the dismaying discovery that no goods
for them had arrived.

CHAPTER XXIII.

SOMETHING IS MISSING.

"The goods haven't come in!" cried Matt. "What's to be done now? We
can't open up without them, and we can't afford to miss the chance of
taking a good round sum on parade day."

"I'll telegraph to New York and find out what the trouble is,"
returned Andy, and he started for the telegraph office without delay.

The message was sent to the metropolis within quarter of an hour,
reaching its destination before any of the down-town wholesale houses
were open for business. At eleven o'clock a reply came back that the
cases had been duly sent, and that the delay would be traced up, if
possible, at the freight depot there.

"This leaves us in a pickle for to-day," said Andy, as he handed the
message over to Matt.

"Well, it won't be so bad if only we get our goods by to-morrow
morning, Andy. Let us go over to Easton, anyway, and look for a
store, and if we can find one, take the risk of hiring it."

So they crossed the river and began a search, leaving the horse and
wagon tied up at the freight depot in Phillipsburg in the meantime.

They found that the firemen's parade was really to be very large, and
already the store-keepers were decorating in its honor. On the streets
numerous fakirs were about, offering badges, medals, song-sheets,
souvenirs, and other wares for sale.

"I'll take this street, and you take that," said Andy, as they came to
a corner. "Go around the block, and then take the next block. In that
way we may find a store quicker. There is no use for both of us to go
over the same ground."

So, after appointing a meeting-place, the two separated, and Matt
hurried along the street Andy had designated to him.

"Here you are, gents, the most wonderful corn and bunion salve in the
market!" he presently heard a