I then asked if I could have the privilege of selling the balance of the day, so as to take in money enough to get out of town with. He said I could. I invoiced my stock in trade and found I had just thirteen bottles of polish on hand, and immediately went to work. The second house at which I called was a new and unfinished one, and I was obliged to enter from the back way. I found three or four very polite and pleasant ladies, to whom I showed my polish,--without effecting a sale, however. When ready to leave the house I noticed three doors in a row, exactly alike. I was certain that the middle one was the one through which I had entered. Accordingly, facing the ladies and politely thanking them for their kind attention, and when just about saying good-bye, I opened the door and stepped back to close it after me, when I heard one of the ladies scream at the top of her voice. It was too late. I had disappeared--gone out of sight--where, I didn't know. But I realized when I struck that I had alighted full weight on my valise of furniture polish. It was total darkness, and I heard voices saying: "What a pity! What a shame! Do send for some one." Then the outside cellar door opened, letting in daylight as well as a little light on the situation. The lady of the house had quickly come to my rescue by this entrance. She hastily explained that the house was unfinished, and that they had not yet put stairs in their cellar-way, from the inside. I thanked her for the kind information, but reminded her that it was unnecessary to explain, as I fully comprehended the situation. I then picked up a shovel standing by, and after digging a deep hole in the very spot where I had struck in a sitting posture, I emptied the broken bottles and polish into it. After covering it up, and shaping and rounding the top dirt like a grave, I said to the ladies, as they stood by watching the proceedings: "Not dead, but busted. Here lie the remains of my last fortune. If you wish to erect a monument to the memory of this particular incident you have my consent to do so. Good day, ladies, good day." With my empty valise I then returned to Mr. Hart's drug store, where I had previously bought my stock, and at once ordered a small lot put up, to be ready the next morning. From there I went to the hotel, and in conversation with a scholarly looking gentleman, learned that he was a lawyer. I told him of my arrest, and the reasons assigned for it, when he informed me that no town in the United States had any legal right to exact a license from me if I manufactured my own goods. I then decided to remain there as long as I could do well. The lawyer said if I would do so he would defend me gratuitously if I were molested again. I thanked him, and said: "My dear sir, it is very kind of you to offer your services should I need them--very kind indeed; and as one good turn deserves another, suppose you loan me two dollars to pay the druggist for my stock in trade?"