A REGULAR TRAMP EXISTENCE 87 



in my pocket. There were no trains running on 

 Sunday; I had to stay. When Monday morning 

 came, I just had to do some business. My bill 

 at the hotel was over two dollars, and the fare to 

 the next town amounted to more than I would 

 have left after paying the hotel bill. 



So I stayed and faced the music. Two of the 

 advertising veterinarians were a couple of old 

 quacks whom I had heard of before. They trav- 

 eled about in a covered wagon and were genuine 

 fakers. The other was a harmless old quack who 

 sold a book he had written on "Horse Doctoring" 

 and confined his work to making a spiel while 

 standing on the seat of his buggy. 



When I saw what my competitors for the day 

 were like, I felt better. I began to walk around 

 among the people, handing out my cards and say- 

 ing a good word for myself. There were quite a 

 few people on hand and more were constantly 

 coming in. The cards which I was passing 

 around had my name printed on them, giving my 

 address as El Reno, Oklahoma. Below my name 

 was the statement that I had formerly been 

 assistant to the State Veterinarian of Texas and 

 also veterinarian in the United States Bureau of 

 Animal Industry. 



This was true, and it carried well. I am sure 

 that these cards saved the day for me. I was a 

 young, "kiddish" appearing fellow, and would 

 have had little chance against the grizzled, expe- 

 rienced looking quacks who were there. I knew 

 that if I got a chance at a single case I could 

 make them "go way back and sit down." But 



