"No; the prices are not advertised to any such extent as with guns and
ammunition."

"Then you think the factories could stop it if they chose?"

"Oh, the factories be d--d! Seven-eighths of the factories are managed
by school-masters. They get up their little schedule of prices just as
they draw off their 'rules and regulations' for their help, and expect
the dealers of the country to dance to their tunes."

I thanked him for his kindness and went on my way very well content.
But when I sat down to copy off the order I was put in quite a
quandary. Traveling men meet such men as Harris frequently. He gave
the order because he was friendly to the house, but he had not asked
for prices on anything. What was I to do? I had several prices, for my
figures were elastic, to offer trade, according as the buyer was a
close one or not, and just where to put Harris I did not know. I
proposed to ask him all I dared and not get into trouble, but to
decide on what this limit was gave me some study.

The other trade in the city I attended to carefully, and was well
satisfied with my work. In the evening I started for C. As I went into
the car there were three men at one end talking rather loud and
sociably, and I went as near to them as I dared. One of them had
lately been out to Denver and that section, and was describing to his
audience the wonderful perpendicular railroads of Colorado, I soon
found that all three were connected with boots and shoes, but handling
different grades or styles, so they did not conflict. Of course they
were from Boston, and equally of course they were rather priggish. The