“He paid the balance of the bill, but would not pay interest; said that we were the only house that charged interest, and he should never buy of us again.” “The miserable little liar! I don't suppose a house is in existence that lets a bill run five months after due and does not add interest. When are you going out?” “On the next train.” “Well, try and collect the balance due from Stone, but don't sell him another dollar; there are decent men enough in the trade, let the mean ones go. If he does not pay, get the name of a reliable justice and we will send a sworn account to him. But don't sell him again.” “They're good as wheat.” “I know they are good in the sense of being responsible; mean men usually are; but it is not a question of their responsibility; they are tricky and untruthful, and their idea of being smart is to lie over goods and prices and compel a deduction. Give them the go-by. Well, good-by; don't worry over trade; do your best and we will be satisfied.” As his man started off he turned to me with, “Well, young man, you look as if you wanted to sell me something.” CHAPTER XVII. When a merchant says to the traveler, “Young man, you want to sell me something?” it is a notice to come at once to the point and state your business. It is not the way we like to proceed. We prefer to pass the compliments of the day, talk about business, and approach gradually the special branch of trade to which we are devoted. But Mr. Clark's “Well, young man,” was like a whip, and I had to at once open out with my little story. “We don't want anything in that line,” said he, with decision. “We are full of guns and ammunition. It's a beastly business. I wish I was out of it. Here is a card quoting Pieper's 'Diana' gun at $32; mine cost me $38; now, how the d---l does this concern sell at $32?” The “Diana” gun was well known to the trade as one having all the modern improvements; the rubber butt-piece had Diana's head on it and hence the name; but Pieper sent over one lot of about two hundred guns of the common quality, and this “Diana” butt-piece was on them; they were sold by Pieper's agent to a gun house as common guns, at about $28, but this house promptly sent out its daily postal card quoting the “Diana gun” at $32. This was the story as told to our house, and I explained it to Mr. Clark. “That may be just as you say,” said he, “but a business that is full of that kind of tricks is a good one to get out of.”