if I did it, no matter for what cause, I was sure to be reminded that
I had not been sent out to 'cut,' but to make money. Yet when I came
home and explained why I did it, I was told I had done the right
thing. But they nagged me the next trip just the same, and I grew
tired of it."

I did not find any such letter as that. It was a hearty commendation
of my work and braced me up for the future. "We miss you in the
stock," the letter read; "but we can put up with all that while you do
so well on the road."

I spoke of this to a traveling man. "Well," said he, "I scarcely ever
hear from my house from one end of the trip to the other. Our goods
don't vary in price very much, and I'm not much of a hand at writing
letters. I send in my orders when I've any to send, and when I've none
I save postage. But I know men who have a printed form, and they have
to fill one out and send home every night, orders or no orders. That's
too much like being a sleeping-car conductor for me."

After reading my letter I turned to Mr. Shively with determination to
sell him a good bill. But I saw he had a customer, and kept out of the
way, but not too far to hear the conversation.

"That," said Shively, "is a better gun than the ordinary
Lafoucheaux--a good deal better. I know you can buy of Reachum and
Shiverhim & Gaily for $7.65, but there is all of $2 difference in the
goods, and the man who should appreciate this the quickest is the
retailer."

"But I can't get a cent more for this gun than for the others; buyers