Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-06-16
AN AUCTION STORY.

l.
was called to the fact by little incis
dent that befell me one day, and set
me thinking so hard that it seemed to
grow out of my own head and reach
a great height, and then look down
on my other self with compassion
/ don't know that it made me any
wiser, but at least it made me more
attractive to my Acknowledgements
thoughtful of their joys and sorrows
and that counts for something, 1
reckon.
had cried dozens of pawnbrokers'
sales in my time, and never thought
anything about them, unless it was
that old Two to One or Give and
Take were doubling their money,
and making pretty penny, even
with 10 per cent. commission taken
off.
But ! had never thought of the
story connected with any one article
of the sale-of the heartaches, aud
despair, and woman's tears. 1t was
but joke to me, who had known the
time when to spout" watch, or
pistol, or some light trinket, in
order to carry on a frolic, or help a
poorer chap than 1 was, was but
the impulse of the moment, and car
ried no further weight than the relief
from empty pockets at the moment.
But, as I have said before, some
thing made me think, and ever since
haven't the same heart to cry away
the goods of the poor creatures that
want and misery had driven into old
Two to Ones clutches
The city of B. is splendid mar
ket for our business. The trade done
there by one house alone would dis
count any banking, commission or
other business in the place, and by
the same token, the pawnbrokers
equal us in power and profit, and
give us our biggest sales.
An odd lot came into the ware
room ono day consigned to us by
Clutchem & Keep, a shrewd firm
of new beginners, and as it fell
to my duty to assort and label the
goods, it thus also fell to my fate to
have part in the following story:
The consignment consisted mainly
of glass and silverware. pictures and
bronzes, as Clutchem & Keep were
rather first class in their business, and
did not yet condescend to family
Bibles; but in the lot l came across
few pieces of furniture, which at
tracted my attention from the fact OF
our having an order from Western
house to pick up all the antiques and
oddities sfoat for bric-a-brac firm.
One article alone I noticed with at
tention enough to remember after
wards, and then only because struck
my hand roughly against it, and the
pain made me stare hard at the cause
OF it. It was an old cedar cabinet,
brass bound and clamped, but rusty
and forlorn-looking enough in its
changed fortunes. labelled it, as l
thought, for our next days sale, as
there were two others to go West,
and the home market was then going
as crazy for everything old, but par
ents and friends, as either the West
or North.
But subsequent events discovered
my mistake. Our Saturday sale was
big one-the rival house across on
the corner hadn't chance against us
that day-and by noon every article
put up was off lively and quick.
The crowd had begun to thin, and
was busily mopping my wet face
with q fresh handkerchief-for it is
warm work, I can tell you, to cry
such sales from 10 to o'clock-when
lady came back in the store where
/ was standing and approached me
eagerly.
asked, with nervous haste, and l saw
she was trembling.
81 am the auctioneer, madam" l
said, wondering what Was wrong. II
will call the firm. II you wish"
She looked around timidly but
eagerly.
sPerhaps you can attend to my
business II I-do not = under
stand-the matters = very well,
she answered, and then I saw she was
poorly clad, although well bred and
timid.
I drew an old chair up into the
corner, and asked her to sit down,
and she did 80 gratefully-poor little
womanl--I took good look at her.
She was still young and pretty.
Behind her hung long mirror. Il
had grown dim hanging there, and
had misty shadow over it. and in
a corner stood faded old Japanese
screen and tall chest Of drawers.
The store was now empty, and the
light was leaving it, as the sun was
creeping away from the door sill and
mounting up to the roof, as if he had
only waited for the sale to be over.
The lady had face that touched
me at once. She was pale and timid
but there was that in her face tina!
made me take off my hat while
talked to her. I don't know how t<
express it; but it was as it I stood II
| the presence OF death, and the nat
uraf reverence of that great mystery
! commanded my respect .
"What can / do for you, madamP
I asked.
/ q. II l 1~oBsunv al nro0nf