The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-07-27

ly, self-satisfed way.
"a going at fifty dollars Think G
1t! A Eouse worth four or five thou
sand dollars at the least Pshawl bi
up lively, men" !" cried the auctioneer.
"Six hundred dollars" said he of tn
green glasses, in soft, pleasant tone.
"Six hundred dollars echoed tn
auctioneer triumphsntly; now, ther
that sounds like business! A going
going-bid up or you lose a bargain I"
HooEay for hooray and hooray's dad
dyP shouted the tallow-faced youth.
The frogs pitched their song an octav
higher, the blue-birds and pee-wee
wheeled through the falling floods o
yellow sunlight, and lower and sweete
rose the murmur of the tide of pulsatinl
air as it lifted and swayed the fresi
sprays of the oaks and elms. The we'll
dressed stranger took off his green glass
es, wiped them carefully, and put then
in his pocket.
The Roman face of Big Medicine wal
just then q most interesting one. 1t was
expressive OF more than words coul6
rightly convey. The stem of the clay
pipe had settled back full three inches
into the firmly-set mouth, so that there
was imminent danger to the huge
brown mustache that dropped over the
fiery bowl.
"Six hundred and ten dollars" said
Big Medicine.
"a going, "a" began the auctioneer
"Six-twenty," said the stranger.
GA go"
"Six twenty -one," growled Big Medi-
cine.
six twenty-five" quickly added his
antagonist.
Big Medicine glanced heavenward,
and for moment allowed his eyes to
follow the flight of great blue heron
that slowly winged its way, high in the
summer glories, toward the distant
swamps, where the white sycamores
spread their arms above the dark green
naples and dusky hazel-witch thickets.
The auctioneer, close observer, saw an
ashy hue, barely discernible, ripple slow
ly across the great Roman face as Big
Medicine said, in jerking tone:
Six twenty-five and a halfp'
The stranger smiled and threw out his
chew of tobacco. No more imperturba-
BILE countenance could be imagined.
"Six twenty-six !" he said gently.
"Take the old house and be derned to
you'll" cried Big Medicine, looking furi-
ously at his antagonist. "Take the
blamed old shack-a-merack, and all the
cussed blue-birds and peer-weers to boot,
for all care~
""A-going, agoing-bid up, men !
going, going-who says five more? All
donep Going, going! last call-gone
to Abner Golding for sic hundred and
taoenty-siS dollars and cheap as dirt !"
The sale was over, and the crowd
broke into small fragments, composed
generally of three or four individuals.
"Golly, DOCTOR" said the tallow-faced
youth to Big Medicine; "Golly, doctor,
but didn't that are gal make that are
ole shanty look pooty when she peeped
out?"
"You see this ere bundle of bones 2"
asked Big Medicine, holding up his
enormous fist for the young man to in
spect.
"Guess so," was the reply.
"Well, would you like small mess of
it?"
"Can't say as I would"
Well, then, keep yer derned mouth
shet p
About this time the purchaser of the
corner brick walked slowly in the direc-
ton of Squire Tadmore's office, accom-
panied by the young woman who had
looked from the window. AS Big Medi-
cine saw them enter the office, he picked
up stick and began to whittle it with
his jack-knife.
"Orful joke on me the boys III have
now" he muttered to himself. "Wonder
t the 'omen's the feller's wife 7"
A few minutes later, Squire Tadmore's
little boy came running from the Office
20 where Big Medicine stood.
Mr.. Big Medicine" said he, all out of
breath, "that are man what bought the
DID house wants to see you perticler."
Mischiff, he does Tell him to go to |
myself
With these words Big Medicine moved |
It long, shambling pace down to the
loor of the 'Squire's office. He placed
lis great hirsute head inside the room
md gruflly said:
Stranger, dye want to see me ?"
Mr.. Golding got up from his seat, and,
oming out, took Big Medicine familiar
y by the arm.
Come one side, wish to speak with
ou," said he very pleasantly.
Big Medicine went rather sulkily
long. After they had gone little dis
ance from the house, Mr.. Golding
miled and remarked, with shrug of
is tinely-cut shoulders:
~ out-bid you little, my friend, but
m blessed if haven't got myself into
ridiculous little snap"
How soY" growled Big Medicine.
Why, I'm short half-dollar."
"You're what? 7"
al lack half-dollar, and l thought 1
'ould rather ask you to loan me the
loney than anybody here"
Big Medicine stood for some moments
silence, whiting away on his stick.
reamy gusts of perfumed heat swept
y from the shining fields of blooming
heat, little whirlwinds played in the
lst at their feet, and far away, faint
Id tenderly musical, were heard the
otes of country dinner-horn.
Big Medicine burst at the mouth with
laugh that went battling and echoing {
und the place. Mr.. Golding laughed too.
81 say, mister" said the former,
amt you rally got but six hundred
I'd twenty-five and half?"
"Just that much, to cent, and no {
ore," was the reply, with pleasant,
mical smile. 6
Big Medicine roared again, louder and l
niger than before. c
"Well, I'm derned if faint quare," i