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122 lodging, and separated. Frank had routed the bills he had to collect systematically. The first batch took in a twenty miles circuit among farmers.

When evening came he had presented bills amounting to about two hundred dollars. As the horse walked slowly back the road to Riverton, Frank figured out the day's results.

"Pretty good," he said, running over the paper slips in a package. "I have collected forty-four dollars and eighty cents—got twenty dollars in sixty days' notes, four promises to pay, four people call again, three parties moved away, and six bills no good."

Frank drove leisurely down the principal street of Riverton, bound for the livery stable where he had arranged to put up the horse during their sojourn in town.

He halted with some curiosity and amusement at a corner where a crowd was gathered. Mounted on a dry goods box, Markham was addressing a large and jolly audience.

He was giving character sketches In a really entertaining way. After every sally of laughter he would ply his wares. Everybody seemed buying.

"He's a bright fellow and a first-class peddler," Frank reflected, as he continued on his way,