The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-08
A BIDDING RIVALRY.
AN INCIDENT or AN AUCTION or OLD
CHINA AND BRlc-A-BRAC.

when IL Was All over.
1t was the third day of an auction
sale of the china, bric-a- brao and furni
ture of the last representative of an oil
New York family, and the auction room
was crowded to the doors with dealer
in antiques, cornoisseurs, Spectator
and people who had just dropped in Il
fish up bargain in glass or china if al
opportunity offered. There were large
number of women present, and they
were principally bargain seekers.
The auctioneer seemed used 10 sucf
crowds and continued to call out the
bids monotonously despite the amusing
situation that arose every time he
reached an article which one of the
women had marked TO buy for herself.
Things had been quiet for time when
the auctioneer reached No. 700 on the
catalogue, which was cup and sau-
Ger of Sevres china It was very pref
ty bit of Sevres, cleverly decorated and
frail enough 10 suit the most artistic
fancy. 1t was such piece as might be
purchased at any fine china or glass
store for So, and it certainly would not
have been reasonable TO expect more
than 81 for il at auction SALE The auc-
tioneer didn't expect more, and under
ordinary circumstances he wouldn I
have got 50 much, but these were not
ordinary circumstances. 1t happened
that two bargain seeking women had
marked that cup and saucer for them
selves. They were only separated by a
dozen seats and an aisle through the
maze of camp stools, and, of course,
neither had any notion that she would
have very much competition for such
trif1e. They were we'll dressed women,
and one was quite young. They sat in
their seats without word, while
cloisonne jardiniere worth 800 was
knocked down to dealer for $50, and
they never ventured bid ON bits of
Worcester, Dresden, Coalport and other
kinds of china, which were sold for ri
diculously low prices But when the auc-
tioneer YEARLY remarked in his profess
sional tone: what IN / offered for this
cup and saucer? Guarantee goes with
every piece. Gimme bid, please, - he
was amazed at two shrill voices which
called out simultaneously:
lone dollar. "
The two women peered across at one
another.
Then the younger said in emphatic
tone:
"A dollar and half. "
The auctioneer took in the situation.
What more could an auctioneer want?
Two women pitted against each other.
Sleepy a moment before, he was all life
now.
"A half more" he exclaimed scorn-
fully. Really this is ridiculous. can
not take less than dollar bids. "
1.-TWO dollars, " said the older wom-
an.
Three, said the other woman.
The women sized each other up again
while the auctioneer exhorted.
III fx her now" said the older
woman to a friend. Five dollars. "
Six, said the younger one.
why, the spiteful thing! don't
believe she wants that cup at all Well, |
she just Sha n { have it. Seven dollars. "
This time the younger woman hest !
tated. Every eye was on her for the !
whole crowd was interested She pressed
her lips together, and, assuming an in |
different expression, made the bid IS,
while the auctioneer nearly fell off his |
chair. Every head in the room turned |
with the bid to the older woman.
Don't you bid another cent, " said |
her friend
IN just make this one bid. She (
doesn { want that cup. It's just spite
but III do her up now Ten dollars, " she |
exclaimed, and with a triumphant smile !
she glanced across the room.
That smile was too much for the other
woman. 1t made her more determined
oh, she needn I think I'm afraid of !
n couple Of dollars. +" she remarked in a !
husky whisper to the pale faced man
who had come with her TO the auction |
and had been trying to get low enough |
in his seat to be out Of sight of the ewes
focused on his companion at every 9th.
er bid.
Let her have it, " said the man. 1T
isn't worth the money "
Let her have it? Well, | guess not.
DO you think I'll let her beat me like
thatG Eleven dollars, " in a shaky voice
but with sweet smile.
Fine piece Very fine Sevres. Worth (
big money, chanted the auctioneer.
Well, neverl" exclaimed the older
woman. "Of all the impudcnce I ever
heard of Oh, I'll fix her nowln
Let her have it, A." urged her friend
Cora Stone, do you mean to tell me
you mean that? Would you have me
give in to that doll faced childg III !
show you how I'll give up to her Eff. |
teen dollars. "
This was a staggerer The Young
woman looked troubled. She raised the
bid half, and the auctioneer took il
because he saw the end was near A
point had been reached when bids were
and the side remarks caused
roars of laughter. The price reached sl7.
and the bid was the older woman's
The pale man urged his companion not
10 bid, but those cheers rang in her
l.rs, and every eye was upon her