The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1900-11-08

voice, the OfQeH OIL the court Tor the
sale of the property Then he-tooiz off
his coat and hat. pushed up his shirt
sleeves as if preparing for n hand-to-
hand conflict, and called out:
And now, ladies and gentlemen.
how much am I offered for this fine
property, worth six thousand dollars
if it's worth q cent? Fifty acres of
it :re under cultivation and one hun
dred more in pasture and woodland,
with n good ten roomed house, fine
barn and other outbuildfngs all thrown
in. Here they are, ladies and gents
The place would be dirt cheap at six.
or even seven thousand dollars, and
I'm offered-how much? How much
do L hear to start the thing?''
"One thousand dollars said small
man with a squeaky voice, standing
directly below the auctioneer.
.tOne thousand dolIarsr' roared the
auctioneer. Put that man out! If
hear an offer of less than four thou
sand dollars there'u be troubIep'
-Four thousand dollarsE' called out
Dake. in his bold, harsh voice
Now that's something like said
Ben Jarrold, but it isn't enough. Give
me another bid! It's worth eight thou
sand dollars this I1lnute"
On the outskirts of the crowd a
man whom no one knew called cut. in
loud distinct voice:
Five thousand doIlarSt''
Every one turned and looked at him.
Old Nat Dake started and stared at
the stranger with a scowl- His mort
gage was for four thousand dollars,
and he had expected to bid in the farm
for that sum. His savage glance did
not disturb the stranger. He was n
tail man, not over thirty years of age,
with smooth. sunburned face.
Now that is something like, ladies
and gentsl'' roared Ben Jarroid.
| Rive thousand viii do very well to
! begin with, but it isn't near its value.
I'm offered five thousand dollars. Five
| thousand, five thousand dollars. Five
| thousand, five thousand, am I offered
! six:''
..Fifty-ole hundredr' called out Nat
! Dake.
Fifty five hundredr' said the stran-
| ger. and poor Lyman's face bright
ened- This would enable him to pay
all of his debts and save his furniture
and farming implements.
Dake's face was dark with rage, and
his keen gray eyes flashed as he
! snarIed out:
| t-Eifty-six hundredI''
| Fifty seven!' cried the stranger.
| Gift Height hundredr' cried Nat
! Dake. between his set teeth. He loved
money. but he loved his own way, ana
| he would spend his dearly priced
money rather than be thwarted il
| anything on which he had set his
| heart
"Fifty-nine hundredr' called out tie
! stranger, coolly.
six thousandt-' almost shrieked Nat
| Dake, whereupon the stranger called
out:
Seven thousandr'
"Ah. This is something Hke"' ex-
claimed the auctioneer, gleefulIy rub
| bling his hands. How is it. Brother
Dake? VIII you make it seven thou
4 = Il
Nat Dake hes1tated moment; then
he said, savagely:
YES. I WIFI
Good enoughF' said Ben. 'Ana
now viii the gentleman
Eight thousandr' exclaimed the
| gentleman, whereupon Nat Daze, 1ivid
| with rage, mounted the piazza steps
and called out. defiantIy:
I who be you, and how does any one
| know that you're making real bony
| fdy bid? There's some trick about
| thisi Folks amt round giving eight
| sand dollar farms! Who be you, and
what proof have we got that you mean
| what you say:'
The stranger came forward. mounted
| the steps, and stood on the other side
| of Ben Jarrold-
My name" he said. lis Harvey AIer-
Ger. and here is evidence of my good
faith"
He drew forth a large leather wallet
| bullying with bills, and held it up for
all to see.
some Of YOU" he said. remember
David Mercer. who lived here many
years ago
II dor cried several voices at once
He was my father. and I was born
on the old Mercer place down by the
ferry, about two miles from here. Iy-
man Hart and my father were boys
togethe, and when. after they were
men. trouble came to my father. Mr.
Hart befriended him IN many ways.
He became security for my father on
Il note for fifteen hundred dollars, and
the first mortgage the generous man
put on this place. 1 am told, was &c
raise the money to pay that note
4 My father went to the West. where
he enga aged IN mining, but for twenty
five years he experienced nothing but
iii luck TIE knew worse poverty there
than ever he knew here. until three
months ago. when. in Western par
| lance, he struck it rich