"But you are not going to get it while you are off fishing. I don't
want to be too stiff, but I want you to understand that I mean just
what I say. Our house drew on you and you let the draft come back, and
I have orders now to attend to it."

"What you do, s'pose I not get it?"

"I shall tell you when the time comes."

He saw I meant business, so tied up his boat and started toward the
store, muttering to himself and looking daggers at me. When he reached
the store he talked in German with his wife awhile, and finally said
to me:

"You come in pimepy and I see what I can do."

Satisfied there would be some money coming I then called on the
hardware house of Whipper & Co. I had often heard of Whipper. He was
known to the trade as the biggest liar east of the Mississippi; but a
real good liar is usually an affable fellow to meet, and Whipper
called me "My dear boy" before we were together five minutes.

I sympathize with business men in their affliction from traveling men.
We go into their stores early or late, as suits ourselves; we expect
their immediate attention, and we want to sell them or have a good
reason for not doing it. I often walk back to a man's desk and find
him intently at work over something; I would gladly back out if I
could, and risk the coming in later at a more opportune time. But he
has seen me, probably cusses to himself, hopes I am selling something