through the business so fast that you couldn't catch it with a gun.
Oh, I've seen a good many fellows go under in twenty years."

"And you think it's always their own fault?"

"Not always. I've seen some mighty good fellows go down. I remember a
Toledo concern--good workers, good habits, living economically, but
'76 pinched them to the wall. I tell you it's hard to see such men
fail. It's like death to them. They fight against it until it's no use
fighting longer, and it's pitiful to meet them."

"How is plated ware?" I asked, to be sociable.

"Like all other ware, mighty hard to sell. There's several Rogers, all
genuine, but I'm the head one. Our goods are the best known and the
best, but if another 'Rogers' offers 2 1/2 per cent, better, off goes
my customer. Do you have folks so confounded close?"

I assured him, laughingly, that I had.

"Well," said he, "it's funny. I'm not so all-fired close when I buy a
suit of clothes; I don't leave a man if he won't throw in a pair of
suspenders; but dealers will go back on their best friend for a
tooth-pick. I'd like to sell a line of goods like Chris Morgan's,
where the price isn't mentioned."

After dinner I called on Harris and found him scolding the boys in the
store-room. I saw he was irritable, and would have gone out if I
could, but he saw me and I had to advance.