The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-06-21
CHAPTER II.

the auction-tor the proprietor had said the treasure of Germany's most honored son should be bar,ered away in no meAner place. Hildegarde and her father sat close to the books, silent and souowiul, and holding each others hands There was a great crowd of peo- pie present The bidding began
 How much for this precious library, just as it stands, all complete P asked the auctioneer.
 Fifty pieces of gold."
 A hundred :"
 1.-Two hundred.
 Threew "Four!''
 Five hundred ..''
 Five twenty-hse.'
 A brief pause.
 Five forty.''
 A longer pause, while the auc,ioneer redoubled his persuasions.
 Five forty-hve '"
 A heavy drag-the auctioneer per- suaded, pleaded, impiored-it was use. less, everybody renamed silent,
 Well, then-going, going one two
 Five hundred and fifty."
 This in a shrill voice, from ben, old man, all hung with rags. and with green patch over his left eye. Every body in his vicinity turned and gazed a, him. It was Givenaught in disguise He was using disguised voice, ,oo.
 "Good!n cri.d the auetioneer. Going, going -one-t~o
 Five hundred and sixty -
 This in a deep. harsh voice, from the midst of the crowd at the other end of the room. The people near by turned, and saw an old man in q strange costume, supporting himself on crutchcs. He wore long, white beard. and blue spectacles It was Herr Heartless in disguise, and using disguised voice. Good again. Going-one-'
 Six hundred "
 Sensation. The crowd raised ringing cheer, and some one cried out: "Go 1t, Green-patch v This tickled the audience, and a score of voices shouted:
 Go 1t, Green-patch "
 "Going-going-going-,hird and last call--one-two -" "Seven hundred "
 Huzza well done, Cru,ches." cried a voice.
 The crowd took it up, and shouted all together.
 Well done, Clutches
 Splendid, gentlemen You are doing magnihcently. Going-going-"
 "A thousand !"
 Three cheers for Creen-pa,ch Up and at him, Crutches."' Going
 1.-Two thousand :" And while the people wildly eheered and shouted, Clutches muiiered
 "Who the devil can this be who is fighting so as to get these useless books? But no matter, he shan't have them. The pride of Germany shall have his books if it beggars me to buy them for him."
 !" Going.going going"
 "Three thousand '"
 "Come, evevbody-give a rouser for Greenpatch 7
 And while they did it, Green patch muttered:
 "This cripple is plainly a lunatic {; but the old scholar shall have his books, neversheless, though my pooke. sweat for it."
 -Going-going-"
 -Four thousand '"
 "Huzza VT
 Five thousandr'
 "Huua!"
 "Six thousandw
 "Hu1za '"
 @Seven thousand Huuaw
 Eight thousand '"
 "We are saved. father. told you the Holy Virgin would keep her word " Blessed be her sacred name r' said the old scholar, with emotion. The crowd roared, HuHz, huzza, huza-at him again, Green-paich =
 Going-going-"
 Ten thousand w As Givenaugh. shouted this, his ex- cisement was so great that he forgot him. self and used his natural vosce. His brother recognized it. and muttered, un- der cover of the storm of cheers:
 Aha. you are there, are you, besotsed old fool. Take the books, l know what you'll do with them !~ So saying, he slipped ou, of the place and the auction vas at an end. Give naught shouldered his way to Hide yaTde, whispered xcsd !. he. ear, and tAen he, also, vanished. The old scholar and his daughter embraced, and the former said: Truly, the Holy Mother has doae noee than she promised, child, fDr she has given you a splendid mar riage poFsioa-think of Il, two thousand pieces of gold :"
 "And more still" cried Hiidegarde, for she has given you back your books :; the stranger whispered me that he would take none of them-' the honored son Of