and quote him Remington guns at $36, when you call he'll ask your
price; if you say $36, he'll tell you that you're high, and he'll
break you down in spite of yourself."

"But when a fellow gets to the bottom he's got to stop," said I.

"Oh, there's no bottom to guns. It's the meanest business in the
world, and it used to be the best. In '70-'73 I could make big profits
as easy as a duck swims, but now it's all glory. I sold Simmons a bill
of $600 last week, and made exactly eighteen dollars.

"Oh, well," said I, "you can't expect to make much on Simmons, but
there are lots of places where you do make a good profit now."

"No, sir; it can't be done. Say, are you going to cut prices much at
Rossmore?"

"Not at all, if I can help it. I'm out on the road to make money, and
not to show big sales. But I'm afraid your house will overshadow
mine."

"Oh, that's all nonsense; people don't go a cent on houses any more;
prices are what tell. I'll introduce you."

Not much. No competitor of mine ever introduced me or ever shall. I
prefer to introduce myself in my own time and way.

We reached Rossmore about 7 o'clock in the evening. Blissam took it
for granted that I was going to the Everett House, but my hotels had
been fixed for me by our old traveling man, and he had instructed me