We staid that night with a German farmer, who looked suspiciously at our extra horse; and when we retired to a little six-by-eight room, way up in the garret, he took the pains to lock us in. My partner said he guessed the old Dutchman took us for horse-thieves. "Well," I answered, "I guess he will take us for wholesale varnish peddlers before I get through with him." The next morning, after we were liberated, I began at once to ingratiate myself in the confidence of the old lady, in order to effect a sale. Immediately after breakfast I introduced the patent furniture lustre, and before I had half finished my story the old lady cried out: "I take 'em, I take 'em; how much?" I then said: "How much do I owe you?" "How many oats did your horses eat?" "Oh, about a bushel." "One dollar," she said. "Very well," said I, "my price is one dollar, but you have been very kind to lock us up for the night, and I'll give you two bottles for your trouble." Before leaving, I traded her some extra lustre for some empty bottles; and this plan I kept up during the day. We arrived at Blissfield, Mich., where we disposed of our eggs at ten cents per dozen, and realized forty cents for the sheep-pelt, after which we replenished our stock of varnish. I had now become more interested in my new business than in the sale of my horse; and concluded to abandon the trip to Adrian, and return to Swanton, where I could dissolve partnership with my friend, and continue the business alone, on horseback if necessary. On our return trip to Swanton I continued to trade for eggs, where customers were short of cash; and one lady said she couldn't understand how I could afford to pay twenty cents per dozen when the market price was but ten cents. "Well, madam, you see, that's the trick of the trade." "But," said she, "the merchant we deal with is as tricky as any one; but he won't pay only ten cents a dozen for eggs." "Yes," I answered, "and he makes you take groceries and dry goods for them, too, while I give you something you need in exchange for them." She said, "That's so." When we returned to Swanton we had nearly twenty dollars in cash, and that many dollars' worth of stock on hand at retail price. I now felt very anxious to sell my horse, as my patent-right experience was quite sufficient to convince me that such a business was no business at all. My horse was a handsome dapple grey, and my friend said he could paint him a dark color, and so completely disguise him that no man could detect him. I suggested that it might also be a good idea to paint me, or at least my auburn hair. He said he wouldn't undertake that job, but he knew he could fix the horse. "Very well," said I, "go ahead and paint him." He did so, and a first-class job it was. I then started for Toledo on horse-back, but before I had traveled far, was caught in a heavy rain-storm. I hitched my horse in front of a school-house and went inside for shelter, by permission of the teacher.