Agent.—“It might be considered so for the paper alone, but when you take into consideration the fact that we give with each yearly subscription the entire ‘Rooster Series’ of fifty-two novels, by all the standard authors, books which would cost you twenty-five to fifty cents at the regular news dealers, the price is reasonable enough, after all. Don’t you think so?” Mr. D.—“I’ll admit that it is a nice offer, but I guess I’ll have to pass it by this time.” Agent.—“You are one of the pillars of the town, and I hate to let such a good man go.” Mr. D.—“There are plenty of good men here besides me.” Agent.—“Yes, I know; but not the same, either. You are recognized as one of the leaders, and your name heading my list would give me a prestige.” Mr. D. (smiling).—“How do you know I am one of the leaders?” Agent.—“I was told so by another prominent citizen. I’ll tell you what I’ll do with you, Mr. Denim; I will give you free of charge a set of six elegant, cloth bound volumes, all standard works, if you will subscribe for the paper. Of course, this is a confidential proposition, for the sake of obtaining your influence and to have your name at the top of my list.” Mr. D.—“All right, then. Put my name down.” This little scheme of tickling a man’s vanity worked every time when the individual approached had any vanity at all to tickle. As I usually averaged ten subscribers every day my profits ought to have been highly satisfactory—and so they were for some months, and it was only when there was a change in the liberal policy of the Rooster, including the cutting down of commissions fifty per cent., and also taking away the premiums, that I thought it time to take hold of something else. By this time I had a fair little bank account. I had acquired the taste of canvassing for reading matter, and from this on to reading matter I stuck, save at odd times when I picked up again almost any old thing and made it pay while I looked around and drew breath. I believe my next venture was in selling bibles, and I dropped into it while corresponding with eastern houses with a view to selling their books. While awaiting developments in that line this new one came to my hand. [Illustration] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XVI. SELLING BIBLES—SELLING BOOKS—WHAT WAS SAID—WORKING THE CUSTOMERS—CURIOSITY—PUBLIC MEETINGS AND LIBRARY CLUBS. It was altogether an accident that I ever got into bible selling. I stumbled across a man who was probably in many respects better fitted than I to handle the business.