stood from under and lost not a dollar in the wreck. Since this successful venture I have been in numerous speculative deals, and the quality of being ever on the alert, acquired while faking in different capacities, has stood me well in my later career. I have always felt to a moment how long it was a sure thing to hold on, and have never been caught in a crash. Perhaps I have at times been too conservative, but I tell you, gentlemen, there is nothing like playing on velvet. As to the methods by which I made my fortune, I have no desire to offer an excuse for them, and yet a few words may here be in order, to call attention to the fact that there are other fakirs in the world besides the man who travels with microscopic look-backs and goldentine pens. Before the reader undertakes to criticise me harshly let him look and see what is done every day in channels of “legitimate trade.” I admit that I practiced trickery during my years on the road, but I claim that any man is justified to use it in gaining his point, providing he does not misrepresent merits and gives value received. Show me the man who has not the ability to draw customers to him, or sense to employ business tact and trickery, and I will show you a man who will never amount to much in the world. His brethren in the trade are using them every day, and they are the ones who succeed. If a merchant advertises a special sale, and gives you a yard of calico for three cents which cost him five, does he not throw out a leader to lure you into his store so that he can sell you something else at a profit? I remember once, walking down a business street in a large city, I saw twenty dummies in front of a clothing store, each of them cased in an overcoat of extra fine material. Hung to each one was a large placard: “Special Sale of Overcoats Today. Your Choice $4.98.” I picked on one I thought would suit me and went inside to buy it. When I told the salesman what I wanted he said, “Those goods on the outside are not in the special sale; but here are the $4.98 coats,” and he pointed to a pile of inferior garments. Of course, they caught customers by the scheme, and was it not trickery? Once I asked a preacher who was managing a church fair why it was they talked so strongly against lotteries and gambling, and then had so many schemes of chance at their fair, and so many of the young ladies working among the boys to catch their little ten cent pieces. He replied that without special features of some kind a crowd could not be drawn and the effort would end in failure. Isn’t this trickery? Do not understand me to be against the preachers. I am now a member of the church and an earnest advocate of religion. I am simply showing up the true side of life and human nature. Is there any bigger grafter for fees than the average lawyer or doctor? Go into his office and before he will name a price he will size you up and soak you accordingly.