THE CORN SALVE DOCTOR.
After supper the two partners found that time hung a little heavily
upon their hands. Matt suggested that they walk around the city a bit,
taking in the sights, but Andy was too tired.
"I'll tell you what I will do, though," said the older member of the
firm. "I'll get one of the accordions out and you can get a banjo, and
we can practice a little. There is nothing like being prepared for an
emergency, you know."
"That is true, and we'll have to brush up quite a bit if we wish to
play in public," laughed Matt.
He accompanied Andy to the barn where the wagon was stored, and they
brought not only the accordion and the banjo, but also a violin and a
mouth harmonica.
These instruments they took to the bedroom which had been assigned to
them, and here, while it was yet early, they tuned up and began to
practice upon such simple tunes as both knew by heart. Matt first
tried the banjo, and after he had it in tune with the accordion, the
partners played half a dozen selections quite creditably.
"We wouldn't do for grand opera soloists, but I guess it will be good
enough to attract crowds in small country towns," laughed Andy, as he
ground out a lively German waltz.
"Supposing we try the violin and banjo," suggested Matt, and Andy took
up the king of instruments.
But this did not go so well, and it was not long before Andy turned
back to the accordion, which, according to his statement, half-played
itself. Matt tried the mouth harmonica, and surprised not only Andy,
but half a dozen listeners, by the wonderful effects he produced upon
the little instrument.
"Good for you!" shouted Andy, as Matt finished a particularly clever
selection. "If the auction business fails, you can go on the variety
stage."
"No, thank you," returned Matt. "I understand enough about it to know
that it is little better than a dog's life. I just as lief stick to
what I'm doing, or become a traveling order salesman for some big New
York house."
"Well, I don't know but what that shows your level-headedness,"
returned Andy.
The two slept soundly that night. Matt was up at five o'clock the
next morning, and he at once aroused his partner. They had an early
breakfast, and then walked around to the stable where the wagon was
housed.
While they were hitching up Billy a middle-aged man, rather slouchy in
appearance, came shuffling in.
"Are you the two young fellers what's running this here auction
wagon?" he began, addressing Matt.
"We are," returned the boy. "What do you want?"
"Pretty good business, ain't it?" went on the stranger, without
answering the question which had been put.
"Sometimes it is."
"I reckon there's a heap of money in it," proceeded the shabby
stranger.
"Well, we are not yet millionaires," put in Andy, with a pleasant
laugh.
"I know a feller what made a pile of money in the auction business,"
remarked the man as he ejected a quantity of tobacco juice from his
mouth. "He was a rip-snorter at it, though--could talk a table into
walking off--and keep it up all day and half the night."
To this statement Matt and Andy made no reply. Neither liked the
looks of the newcomer, and both wished he would go away.
"Say, you don't want to take a fellow in, do you?" asked the man,
after a slight pause, as he came close beside Matt, who was nearest to
him.
"No, we haven't any work for an outsider," returned the boy.
"I'm a rustler when I get a-going, let me tell you. I can tell stories
and sing and sell more goods than any one has any idea of. Besides
that, I've got a new corn salve I put up myself which goes like hot
cakes. Barberry's Lightning Salve, I call it--my name is Paul
Barberry, you know--Dr. Barberry, most of 'em call me. Say the word,
and I'll go with you and put up my salve against your outfit, and
we'll share and share alike."
"As I said before, we have no room for an outsider," returned Matt,
while Andy nodded approvingly. "The wagon seat only holds two, and
besides, our plans are all completed for our trip."
"Humph!" The man's face took on a sour look. "You are missing the
chance of your lives."
"We'll risk it," laughed Andy.
"I can sell more salve than you can sell other goods every day in the
week--and make more money, too."
"Then you had better start alone--and at once," returned Andy
shortly.
"I will--if you fellers won't take me in as a working partner. I made
the suggestion only because I thought it would be more pleasant to
travel in a company of three."
"We are satisfied to go it without outside assistance," cried Matt, as
he hopped on the seat. "All ready, Andy?"
"Yes, go on," returned his partner, climbing up beside him.
"Then you won't make a deal with me?" questioned Paul Barberry more
sourly than ever.
"No," replied Matt and Andy in a breath, and while one gathered up the
lines the other spoke to the horse, and the turn-out began to leave
the stable.
"All right," shouted Paul Barberry. "You may be sorry for it. You
young fellows think you know it all, but you may get tripped up badly
before long," and picking up an ancient and decidedly rusty
traveling-bag which he possessed, the corn salve doctor trudged away
up the street.
"What a forward man!" exclaimed Matt, as they moved off. "Why, he
actually wanted to force himself on us!"
"There are a good many such fellows on the road," returned Andy. "The
moment they see some one who appears to be prospering, they try their
best to get in with him. I dare say that Dr. Paul Barberry is about
broke, and would consider it a windfall of fortune to be taken in by
the owners and managers of the Eureka Auction Co."
"I wonder if we'll meet him again," mused Matt, as he looked back just
in time to see the shabby figure disappear around a corner.
"Oh, he may turn up again; such fellows very often do," replied Andy.
But neither he nor Matt dreamed of the peculiar circumstances under
which they would again come in contact with Paul Barberry.
The day was warm and bright, and Billy, the horse, appeared in
excellent spirits by the way he trotted along over the macadamized
road from Newark to Elizabeth.
It was not their intention to stop at the latter place, but just as
they reached the outskirts of the city Billy began to limp, and they
saw that one of his shoes had become loose.
"We'll have to take him around to a blacksmith shop," said Andy, and
they accordingly drove on until such a place was reached.
Here they found they would have to wait until dinner-time before the
shoe could be refitted. Rather than go to the trouble and expense of
getting a license, however, they decided to spend the time in walking
around.
"This is one of the oldest towns in New Jersey," remarked Andy, as
they walked around the depots and down Broad Street, the main
thoroughfare. "Down along the water front is one of the largest sewing
machine factories in the world. I was through it once and I can tell
you it was a sight well worth seeing."
Just before twelve o'clock they stopped in a restaurant not far from
the blacksmith shop, and had dinner. By the time this was over Billy's
shoe had been readjusted, and once more they were off.
It was easy driving along the smooth country road, and after passing
through Cranford, Westfield and several smaller places, they struck
out for Plainfield, which Andy declared was to be their first regular
stopping place.
"It is a fair-sized city," he said. "And if we can strike the right
stand we ought to do well there for several days or a week."
"I hope we do well," returned Matt. "We need a good start, for as yet
our ready funds are rather low."
"You will have your first chance to do a bit of regular auctioneering,"
smiled Andy. "I trust you are not nervous over the prospects."
"Never mind if I am," returned Matt bravely. "I am going to do my
best. If I get nervous I'll get over it just as quickly as I can."
Some time before sundown they entered Plainfield; half an hour later
they found a suitable stopping place, and then Andy went off to secure
some stand where they might do business.
He came back in an hour and stated that he had secured an empty store,
which would be much better than selling from the wagon.
"The store will only cost us a dollar a day as long as we use it, and
we ought to be able to make that much more out of it," he said.
They went to work that night transferring the stock from the wagon to
the store shelves, and when this was finished both set to work to wash
and dress the show window.
On the following morning at ten o'clock, they hung out a red flag, and
then the Eureka Auction Co. was ready for business.