that you'll learn in your new trade. Hand me one of them misleadin'
books, and I'll mark a few solid kinds such as produce ninety-nine
hundredths of all that's used or sold. Then you go to What-you-call-
'em's store, and take a line from me, and you'll git the genuine
article at market-gardeners' prices."

"Now, Mr. Bogart, you are treating me like a man and a brother."

"Oh thunder! I'm treating you like one who, p'raps, may deal with
me. Do as you please about it, but if you want to take along a lot
of my business cards and fasten 'em to anything you have to sell,
I'll give you all they bring, less my commission."

"I've no doubt you will, and that's more than I can believe of a
good many in your line, if all's true that I hear. You have thrown a
broad streak of daylight into my future. So you see the fool didn't
part with his money, or with you either, until he got a good deal
more than he expected."

"Well, well, Mr. Durham, you'll have to get used to my rough ways.
When I've anything to say, I don't beat about the bush. But you'll
always find my checks good for their face."

"Yes, and the face back of them is that of a friend to me now. We'll
shake again. Good-by;" and I went home feeling as if I had solid
ground under my feet. At supper I went over the whole scene, taking
off the man in humorous pantomime, not ridicule, and even my wife
grew hilarious over her disappointed hopes of the "new-fangled
truck." I managed, however, that the children should not lose the
lesson that a rough diamond is better than a smooth paste stone, and