The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-02-27

| rooms, and gave IN all the 1etterS-lncludlng
Fairbairn 's-with commission for their
sale at the next auction.
Atthe same time obtained from the man.
| ager the names and addresses of half dozen
| regular attendants at their auctions, and
calling a hansome, went to see each OF them
| NV formula was the same in each case: /
! said, AT Blanks sale next Tuesday some of
Mr.. John Fairbanks letters will he put up. 4"
"who's Mr. John Fairbairn ?" was the in
variable question that was interposed.
He's the author of Lucy Armitage, and
-er-er-why, surely you know him ?"
But none of the six men did, so / told each
of them privately TO bid for these two letters
of Fairbanks for me. / named my price
| limit at $50 for bidder IA. +" and at SO for
| bidder "F," letting my limit to the four
others increase by s. from S50to SIS. They
all thought | was mad, | suppose; but as |
paid the necessary deposit, they agreed to bid
for me.
had put my plan in shape, and now set
about the most effective denoucment of 1T rs
regards old Hay. Twodays later, / received
from the salesrooms printed catalog
which contained particulars of the letters
had given in for the sale, and which did not
mention my name as the owner of them.
With this in my pocket, went over to
Eastbrook in the evening, rs / sometimes did,
for game of billiards. and, during the game,
turned the talk on to Hays hobby.
''By the way, | was so interested with
those autographs you showed ME last Monday
that am thinking of making collection "
Hay pricked up his years at this, and at once
assented 10 my request that he would give
me the benefit of his experience.
i got this catalog to-day from Blanks,
went on, rs l took it from my pocket. You
might look through it, and mark what you
think likely" And / gave the catalog to him
and took mp my cue.
Hay had not looked long at the list before
he exclaimed: Who is this? John Fair
bairn?" THAT was the seventh time of ask
ing;
why, You know Fairbairn, Mr. Hay-he
dined here lastAIonday."
"What? Him Who the devil wants bis
letters, / should like to know?'
Your stroke, sir, !" said, "and let me tell
you that Fairbairn is long way higher up
the ladder than fancy you think he is-from
your remark"
Nonsense !" rejoined the old gentleman,
rs he slammed the red into q bottom pocket.
i went on with my stroke, and before left
we arranged 10 meet at Blanks.
As the sale progressed secured some Of the
minor items marked, and my Carlyle and
Thackeray letters were bought by Hay HIM
self, who bid for them after asking me if i
intended to secure them. The prices fetched
were more than ] had paid for them OH the
preceding Tuesday
1t was very funny TO watch the anctioneer
as he annoupced Two early letters by John
Fairhairn.H
He did not want TO give himself away as a
connoisseur, and so his voice lacked the
smack of importance which it had when he
announced some of the other lots. On the
other hand, lie did not want 10 appear Mt
fault rs an auctioDeer, ard so, between The
two negative wants, Mr.. Qnilter looked fairly
puzzled.
But this was lost On Mr. Hay. who was ex-
amining one Of his purchases, but, rs n bid of
$40 was quietly offered by one of my agents,
l whispered TO Hay: ''Fairbairn's letters are
being offered''
Twelve dollars, - came sharp from another
of my six bidders. and .'S15" from another
on Hays left. The old gentleman looked
puzzled
Twenty called ont my "F.'' man. who
sat on the other side OF tho table; "S25,''
$50 and $40" were qnickly reached before
old Hay could get back the breath he had lost
in his first gasp Of astonishment.
Leaning towards him, | whispered-for i
saw he WAS bit
'tShall bid?"
"No, no; leave it 10 me, he muttered. ms
he mopped his head in dazcd way. This
beats me, but they must he worth having. or
Potter and Hayman and the others wouldn't
be so keen"
Fifty dollars y was reached, when. TO my
intense surprise, Mr.. Hay called out S55,"
and, as he was at once taken up and passed
by my man &C, " leaned back i'm my chair
and fairly luxuIiaied in the scene. Inc or
dnary habitues of the sale room were conf
pletely nonplussed, but Hay did net notice it
he was tco much engrossed. A bid Of So had
come from my fourth limit man, and Hay
chimed in, only TO be cut out by my fifth
string with $40.
With thump on the table. Hay looked
at the auctioneer and gasped "$75" A final
glance round, the maIlet fell and Mr. Hay had
bought two Of the despised John iairbairns
letters.
OF course this settled the whole thing. for
Hay was the last man ever to 90 back on his
own judgment. As we went ont together he
said TO me:
You must forgive me for what said the
other evening about Mr. Fairbarn had no
idea he stood SO high But you can't have
surer test Of n mans position than the price
his letters fetch"
i murmered a polite reioinder and said:
" Your mistake was quite pardoDable, Mr..
Hay, for Fairbairn is one of those quietly
brilliant men who are really right up at the
top OF the tree, but who make no fuss Of self
advertisement.
8 Yes, yes; it must be so, and must make
amends for my mistake. Will you come and
meet him at dinner on Friday"
On the morning after the dinner Fairbairn
formally proposed for Miss Hay, and her
father at once consented.
She gave my artist the necessary sittings
for =" Brought Up on Pinkerton's Pills, +" one
of the best posters j have ever used, and the
marriage took place within three months.
The income from his wife's money was not
for long needed by Fairbairn, for the report of
the sale Of his letters brought him into prom
inent notice, and hisown clever work cemented
his success
But yon can now see why started by say
ing that Fairbairn lacks resource, because he
might have thought of the plan himself; but,
then, he is merely a talented man--hc has not
the genius which is at the call of writer of
advertisements for Pinkerton's Pills.-Thc
Sketch.