During their spare hours both Andy and Matt took the ride on the gravity road and enjoyed it very much. The rhododendrons were out in full bloom, and Matt wished he could send Ida Bartlett a bunch of the beautiful flowers.
They were soon once again on the road. But Billy's shoes had been carefully attended to, and now they were very careful whenever they came to a spot that looked at all dangerous.
"One scare is enough," was the way Andy put it, and Matt thoroughly agreed with him.
After leaving Mauch Chunk they passed through Penn Haven and Leslie Run, and so on to White Haven. At the latter place they stopped for two days, but found it very unprofitable, as there was little or no money afloat.
"Well, we have to take the bad with the good," said Andy, in reply to Matt's remark concerning the dullness of trade. "We cannot expect to make money wherever we go. If that was to be done, I reckon there would be many other auctioneers in the field."
"That reminds me: I wonder what has become of those auctioneers we heard of in Bethlehem?"
"I'm sure I don't know. But it is likely that we will hear from them again, sooner or later."
On leaving White Haven for Wilkesbarre, they struck the first snow-storm of the season. It was not a heavy storm, and yet, as the wind blew in their faces, the drive of thirty miles proved anything but pleasant. They were glad enough when the city was reached, and they were able to put up the turn-out at a livery stable and warm up around the office stove.
"We won't be able to travel much longer, if this keeps on," remarked Andy. "We'll have to pick out some place to settle down in for the winter."
"Have you any place in view?" asked Matt, with interest.
"I've had my eye on Middletown, New York State. That's a lively place, and it gets a trade from a good many miles around."
"I think so. We can go from Scranton to Carbondale, and Honesdale, and so on through Lackawaxen and Port Jervis. By taking that route we can stop on the way and still reach Middletown inside of two weeks."
"Well, I shouldn't like to miss a letter from Miss Bartlett, if it was sent."
"You can leave directions to forward it if it comes after we are gone. The post-office authorities will willingly send the letter wherever you direct."