Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-08-04
AN AUCTION SALE.

village OF Two Hills Granny Lemon a
mite OF possessions was to be put ND at
| auction.
Granny Lemons daughter had died
owing money and owning furniture. 1t
was only right to the Gaad woman that
the slur of debt should be removed from
| her name
| Justice was bound to be hard ON
Granny and the baby There was not a
doubt IN the mind of the Villagers that
Granny and the baby would have to DO
| dispatched to the county poorhouse
One by one the effects of the late
Mary Ann Were knocked down to the
neighbors. The last article sold was a
broom which was nearly all handle. 1t
was knocked down to a broad shouldered
man, who had put upon it tho trench
dous bid Of 20 cents.
Mary Ann Lemon was his gal once. &"
said an old inhabitant OF Two Ellis.
Shed best heap "a took him, ~ said
some one else. He'd "a kept her com
Portable behind the blacksmith shon."
The auctionear had entered the cot
tage 20 make sure that all the furniture
mad been put up at the sale. Everything
was gone. Only FOR granny and the baby
the little room was empty
The Old woman sat upon the steps
leading TO the door above. She w.s hold
ing the baby in her arms.
The auctioneer was not considered an
odd man, but he was man of igarulse.
big and bold when the impulse took hold
Of him. He hesitated moment, look
ing ut the old woman and the baby.
Then he went forward suddenly and
picked the baby out of the old wolnan's
arms.
I've got Al idee, granny The
auctloneor stepped to the door after ut
terlng these consolatory words and
mounted the table, which had already
been sold, with the baby clinging fast
to his neck.
Now here's fine piece o. ware, ~
he called out loudly. This baby's
a-gunno save its old granny from, the
pcor's house, that's what it's a-eun.,o
do Who'll put big bid on rosy
checked, hearty baby: Say, whatll you
bid: The people did not comprehend.
There was silence III the crowd.
I'm not il fer acceptia a little
bid, '>roared the auctioneer. Il don't
want 10 offerin Of dollars or cents. ]
want hundreds o. dollars. Some neople
would hand out q power O. money fer n
baby like this'n. Amt there nobody
III Two Hills what's hunserin fer q
baby?''
Five hundred doliars." called q
voice In the crowd.
The villagers turned with one accord
and stared at the blacksmith. What
did Sam Winters want with baby?
lie hadn't any wife to look after il.
The grocer's wife pulled her husband
By the arm and whispered, 'what'd
we give fer baby like that, John:''
Make it S7oOr' said the grocer.
Seven hundred dollars." shouted the
auctioneer. ''Seven hundred do lar, fer
TO pervide fer old nanny all her life.
No wonder she's a-laughin at Won.
The Lemons, as Il rule, is long lived.
Make it Thousand. Come, who'll
make it 4 thousand?''
Zone thousand dollarsr' said the
blacksmith.
Zone Thousand dollarsl Coin, coin,
goin for 1000. She's worth more'n
$1,000. She'll give body more'n ST.
600 with Of satisfaction. Look at her
now. You've skeered her. She's as
purity when she cries as when She
laughs.
The little maid was puckeriug Up her
face; the tears We're filling her great
dark eyes. She put up her little fat
fists and hid her eyes as the auctioneer
again turned her to the crowd.
At this moment q carriage that was
about to pass came to st;tndstill, o.
llveried footman sprang to the door, and
the great people Of Two Hills came pill
ing out.
Yes. 1t is true" cried the young
lady, with Il pretty, excited face "They
are actually selling baby! Tom, look
at the baby
Coin, goin, goin, for $1,000, the
prettiest baby in Two Hills, the money
to keep its old grandmother from the
poorhouser'
Eleven hundred,' cried the young
lady, waving her black gloved hand
frantically.
liz ciiShShiitH Ditt Us IllSn rs 81 JUu.
the rich lady made it 81, 600, and the
man turned and walked away.
Gone to Mrs. Eustice at 81, GOO."
said the auctioneer, making fine bow,
but looking as if he didn't know what
to do with the baby.
But the great lady ran up to the auc-
tioneer and received her property in her
arms
G'anny s baby went through awonder-
full transformation during the following
week, and the people in Two Hills talk
ed about the 'luck' that had befallen
both Mary AIMS offspring and Granny
Lemon.
But Granny Lemons spirits had not
risen with the knowledge that she was
not to go to the poorhouse. Indeed it
vas suspected that Granny Lemon
hardly realized the blessing that had be-
fallen her. Since the day of the sale she
kad been growing apathetic and feeble.