It was very early the next morning. On the side of the road stood Halfast Banks with his pony and belongings. Halfast, who fortunately happened to be visiting Bywater, was a chemist by trade and had come forward offering his services for that very reason. He was also aware of, and troubled about Olo Potts and his sham tonic. Halfast had received a sample of the infamous elixir when a friend of his, thinking he had gotten a bargain, had instead, ended up quite ill from a bad batch of the stuff. The concerned chemist had studied the sample and sorted out the rather dubious ingredients in the concoction. After these discoveries, he was more than willing to help put Potts out of the business.

Now, Halfast stood looking over his pony as if there was something wrong with its leg. I sat hunkered down with Sam, and Toby along with Tolman Cotton and his son Tom, behind some bushes and trees along the Bywater Road. According to information received, Potts had done a booming business in the Hobbiton and Bywater vicinity and it was doubtful that he’s be ready to give up this successful route. This was the most likely path along which to waylay the peddler. Despite the fact that our party was in hiding, this was not to be a lynching. Toby had only enlisted the extra aid in the unlikely case that Olo proved to be a something of a nimble escape artist. Judging from what I remembered about the appearance of his cart and pony, not to mention his considerable bulk, I rather doubted that. Still, so far, Mr. Pott had been seemingly successful in eluding local authorities wherever he went.

As if on cue, we soon heard the ‘clip-clop’ of a pony’s footfall, the creaking of wagon wheels, as well as tinkling sounds that told us Olo Potts was headed our way. Sure enough, the peddler pulled into view, and stopped beside Halfast and the pony. "Have you a problem, Sir?" he asked.

"Why, yes, we do," Halfast said, in a properly dismal manner. "My pony seems to have gone lame on me and I have no way of alleviating the poor animal’s pain and suffering. I had so hoped to be farther along on my journey home to Springdell!"

Mr. Potts looked rather interested at this bit of information and he clucked sympathetically as he regarded Halfast’s pony. But all he said was, "Well, I’m on my way to Bywater, perhaps I could offer you a lift, or send someone back to help?"

Beside me, Toby’s face took on a look of surprised disappointment. This wasn’t at all what we had expected. Then we heard Halfast reply, "Oh, I couldn’t just leave my pony here!"

"I suppose not....no...that wouldn’t do...." Potts mused, and I thought I could detect just a hint of craftiness in his voice.

"And I hate to see him in pain for one more minute than is necessary." Halfast added.

Olo stoked his chin thoughtfully.

"Come on...come on..."I heard Sam, on my other side, whisper, "take the bait!"

The peddler’s eyes narrowed and he looked around as if checking for the whereabouts of other travelers. I thought for sure Sam’s whisper had given us away and all was for naught. Just then, Halfast did something that turned Olo’s attention back to the situation at hand, he sneezed, not once but twice, for good measure. A greedy light came into the Peddler’s eyes. He broke into a grin and started to climb down from his rickety wagon.

"Sounds as if you may be takin’ a cold." Potts said rather hopefully.

"Yes, I fear you may be right."Halfast answered.

"You know," he said, "I may have something in my cart here that might just help you after all...you and your pony. I have a tonic that can cure aches and pains and stop a cold in its tracks!"

"Is that so?" Halfast feigned interest.

Potts nodded and so it began. We watched as Halfast asked questions now and then of Olo, keeping the peddler busy as things were pulled one by one out of his wagon. From my earlier experience, I knew it might take a while before Olo actually finalized a transaction. After all, he wasn’t an idiot. I could tell that Olo was ‘feeling it out’ a bit before he would actually try to make a sale—hopefully, for more than just a measly bottle of tonic.

"We oughta rush ‘im now," Tolman grumped impatiently in my ear. "We know what ‘e’s about ter do!"

"Patience." Toby whispered. "It’s only a matter of moments, now."

Sure enough, Halfast, upon having paid for the tonic, removed his hat and wiped his brow. That was our signal!

We jumped up and ran toward a very surprised Olo Potts, who after his initial shock sprinted towards his wagon with astonishing fleetness. I caught up with him and managed to lay hold of one of his arms, but he turned round and gave me a swift kick in the shin. The force of that blow caused me regretfully to let go, but Tom dashed round to the front of the cart and grabbed hold of the pony’s bridle, while Sam managed to latch onto Olo’s coattails just as he started to launch himself into the seat of his cart.

Toby strode over to Halfast who, in turn, revealed not only a bottle of Dr. Otton’s ‘Feel Good Tonic,’ but also a not-so-small container of Dr. Otton’s ‘Rheumatism and Body Ache Remedy,’ and a case of Dr. Otton’s ‘Little Imps Ginger Beer’ and Dr. Otton’s Ginger Tea Biscuits.’

I limped over to the cart and when next I looked at Olo, Sam and Tolman had the peddler between them, each holding on to an ample arm.

"Now what would you want with a simple peddler?" Olo whined, as if we were thieves bent on robbing him. "I’ve got nothing that’s worth stealing!"

"You got that right," Sam said aloud and Tom snickered.

Olo was perplexed, and more than a little nervous as he watched Toby and Halfast begin digging through his wagon. "If it’s money you want, I’ll give it to you gladly. Please, don’t harm a poor peddler!"

Toby came walking back from the rear of the wagon and motioned for Sam and Tolman to release their charge. They did so albeit hesitantly. However, Potts didn’t get another chance to run, fo Toby took him by the collar of his coat and promptly escorted him to a pile of goods laid out upon the ground. All were marked, ‘Dr. Otton’s.’ "Where did you get these things?" he asked.

Olo, thinking he could get out of this easily, spoke up readily. "I traded for them, from Dr. Otton, himself!"

Toby’s eyebrow went up. "You did, did you?"

"Why sure, I did. I’m a very close friend with him! Practically a partner! Here! Let me prove it to you!"

He shrugged free of Toby’s grasp, brushed off his jacket somewhat insolently, and under the watchful eyes surrounding him, scurried to the wagon, climbed aboard and began to dig under the seat. "I know it’s here somewhere. Ah! Here it is!"

He fished out a small wooden box. Jumping down from the wagon, he handed it to Toby. "What’s in here…," he tapped a dirty finger on the lid. "…will prove what I said!"

Toby gave Olo a dubious look as he opened the box. Inside was an obviously very worn bit of paper that looked to have been folded and refolded many, many times. Toby took it out and carefully opened the parchment. After looking it over, he frowned and handed it to me.

I took a look at it and tried not to laugh. It was a document, to be sure, but a poorly executed one with numerous misspelled words.

‘I hearebye deeklare that Myster Olo Potts is a partneer of mine and shood be given awl doo rispeckt.

Sinsearly,

Doctor Otton, Esquire

Sarford’

It was dated 1379 SR

I gave it back to Toby, who then waved it under Olo’s nose. "I’ll have you know," he said with a growl, "that there is no such person named Dr. Otton. It’s the name my employers use to put on the things they sell from out of Little Delving!"

"Yes there is so a Dr. Otton-" Olo began to protest. Then, just as quickly he shut up as he realized what Toby had just said. "Y-your employers?" he squeaked. "Li-Little Delving?" He sank to his knees, and pleaded, "Please don’t hurt me, Sir! I didn’t know! I swear to you I didn’t know!"

A very lengthy lecture began, of which I will not tell here. Suffice it to say that Halfast lectured him on just what it was in the tonic he was selling… and how dangerous it was to those that partook of it. Toby, in turn, lectured him on selling fake goods marked with Dr. Otton’s label. By the time they were through, I was convinced they had not only scared Olo into being an honest Hobbit, but also those who were with us, as well.

Tom brought forth a rope in order to tie Olo’s hands to see to it that he be bound over to the local shirriff. But to all of our surprise, Sam stopped them.

"Ain’t no need ter go tyin’ Mister Potts ‘ands an’ such," he said. "Oi think we can trust ‘im to stop ‘is peddlin’."

Olo nodded vigorously. "I swear I won’t peddle anymore!"

"Now, see here, Samwise Gamgee," Toby began to sputter. "I didn’t come all this way just to set Potts free!"

Sam just looked at him. "Didn’t you tell Miss Mundee on your last trip to Hobbiton that you needed to find some other enterprising hobbits to help you on your routes?"

Toby stood there, mouth open, looking from Sam to me to Olo. A great struggle was going on inside his head. "Well, yes… I did…. But…"

"Well, you can’t say Mister Olo doesn’t have the knack to sell stuff to folks… Can you?"

"Well, yes, I mean, no…"

Toby was silent for a moment or two as he thought over what Sam was hinting at. When he did speak, it was to Olo, himself.

"Sam is right on two things. One, my route has become too large for just one Hobbit to handle in a timely fashion. And, two, I have to admit you do have the abilities I am looking for in a saleshobbit. Of course, there is the damage done to your reputation form peddling sham products... but that may be overcome with time and proper training...So, I can’t promise you anything, but my employers are good and generous folk and if you would be willing to join me in my trip back to Little Delving, and if you are willing to help make remuneration for the fake goods you’ve sold under the Dr.Otton’s label..."

"Remooner-what?" Olo asked.

If you are willing to work out some sort of agreement to pay Dr. Otton’s back for using the name, then perhaps–just perhaps—you won’t have to face the local magistrate and they may even allow you to work for them selling the real Doctor Otton’s. What do you say?"

Olo was taken by surprise. "Me? Go with you?"

"It’s that or be escorted out of the Shire for good by my friends," Toby pointed out.

Olo didn’t take much time to think it over.

Toby stuck out his hand. "Deal?"

"Deal!"

Later that day, Sam and I saw Toby and Olo off. Olo’s pony and rattletrap cart was tethered behind Toby’s own cart. And they hadn’t even climbed aboard before Olo was already trying to convince Toby that he’d made a very wise decision in taking Olo on as a ‘partner.’ Hopefully, for Toby’s sake, he can convince Olo not to talk quite so much on the long trip to Little Delving.

more trouble with that tonic i see. Great entry I enjoyed that one very much.

Thanks! Glad you liked! And I shall pass your compliments along to Sam, as he contributed to a major portion of that entry!

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