The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-07
THE BODKINS BUY A RUG.
Thrifty People Full Foul of One OF
the AuctIOncers at Atlantic City.

the AuctIOncers at Atlantic City.
New York Sun.
The Bodl1ins have money to burn. but
their relations call them economical, their
friends call them close and their trades
people and servants call them stlngy. To
part with q dollar, save for legitimate
purposes of show and social climbing. Is
to Mr.. and Mrs. Bodldn as a draught Of
wormwood and gall. Their son aud heir,
aged eight it might be noted In passing,
doesn't inherit the family thrift.
Last month the Bodldns went to Allan
tic City. 1t cost money, but it seemed the
correct thing to do, 80 they bore up un-
der hotel bills, and rode in wheel chairs
as though they wouldn't rather have
walked. All went fairly well Tor the first
week. Then came a catastrophe that
shook the foundations of the house Of
Bodl1lns. All winter the Bodkin dining
room had needed a new rug, but rug the
required size seemed to be rare as the
dodo and expensive as rubies. Now, on
the board walk at Atlantic City are in
sinuating and ensnaring auction rooms,
for the oyerthrowing of innocent pleasure
seekers. When Satan Is looking for mis-
chief for idle hands down there he leads
his victims to the auction rooms, and
they go away heavily laden, but exceed
inly sOTroWful.
One April morning Para Bodlin went
out for his after-breakfast walk. He
passed one of the auction rooms before
whose inviting door hung a lurid an
nouncement of a rug sale, and in whose
window was a large rug that riYeted Mr..
Bodkln's attention. He looked at the rug
carefully nodded to himself with an air
of conviction and walked into the shop,
, of past the two majelica dragons that
grinned wickedty because they saw his
finish. In "a moment suaye Oriental APP
peared in the window and measured the
rug. Then he Joined Mr.. Bodkin, who
nodded once more and walked on.
At 9 o'clock Mamma Bodkin, accompa-
MED By the youthful George, appeared
upon the hotel veranda. called for a wheel
chair and began her matutinal promenade
along the walk She turned her back
upon the ocean and confined her attention
strictly to the shop windows. Suddenly
an expression of vivid interest Illuminated
her fat face. She stopped her chair,
stared at a window for a few moments.
then disentangled herself from the robes
and went into the shop before which hung
the sign of the rug auction. Once again
the rug In the window was measured and
examined Mrs. Bodkin re-entered her
chariot and resumed her promenade with
a thoughtful look upon her usually placid
face.
At II o'clock the auction rom was full.
Mrs. Bodkin and George had been
among the first sITiVals and occupied a
seat near the auctioneer. At 1920 the
rooms were crowded TO suffo4atinn. Papa
Iodkin arrived ct 1915 and Wedged him
self into corner by the door. Ten min
utes later the rug from the window was
put up for sale. The auctiOneer spilled
bis vocabulary over Its beauties. No on
seemed interested. At last a bid Of $1t
was made. The auctioneer supported him
seif by his desk and wiped the tears from
his eyes. His pain and horror appeared
10 move the crowd. Bids began to ex
plode In a desultory fashion like the frs
kcrnals OF corn that pop in a popp r
Gradually the popping grew less inter
mittent and more exciting. great many
persons were bidding The offers ran ~