The Washington times., 1901-11-17

| Eunw.
Then Dick nodded and hoped he woul,
be able to manage ii all. So much de
pended on old Abrams. and wnen ole
Abrams knew that he was most de
pressing old gentleman to have any deal
ings with. However
The sale was fixed for the following
Wednesday. as that was market day a
Pwlldw. and some people might com m,
along to buy: and on the Tuesday eN en-
ing Mr.. Evan Evans, the auctioneer
! dropped in on his way home from Pwll
chrw to see what there was to sell. H,
looked round the living room and apprais-
ed It all at glance, ana shook his head.
Not much here" he said. IN knocI
it all down in half an hour. Shall we say
a couple of pounds for expenses, Mr.
Eaile?'
Seems a bit Stiff said Dick, with a
businesslike air; but if You can't do il
for less l suppose it'll have to 60"
Anything upstairs?"
Bedroom furniture and odds and ends
can speak for one comfortable bed
and Dick led the way to the TWO upper
| rooms
HIM" said Mir. Evan Evans. We'll.
say thirty shilhngs. Anything in those
boxos?"
They're old things of granny's," said
| Gwen, opening one of the boxes
There were some ancient books. Dick
opened one-a Hugrenot Bible. date 1910.
| and in ageyeliowed ink on the fiy-leaf
| the name "Guenfre jeanne" That ex-
| planned Gwen'sz French. Next some old
crockery was exhumed-half Il dozen cups
anc saucers, as many plates, and a pair
| of curious little round bowls like sugar
| basins, only fiatter and wider. and two
| sill more curious little cream jugs. which
were evidently closely related to the other
| pieces. They were all of the same deep
| dark. bautiful blue. with gilt rims and
waves and ripples of lighter blue where
the color seemed to have run. They were
decidedly ancient in shape. but never
theless pleasing TO the artistic eye as bits
of color
Mr.. Even Evans looked them over and
presently asked, That's the lot?''
That's ALL said Gwen. Il think Id
like to keep them if l might"
Certainly, dear, keep them" said Dick
They're evidently things the old lady
treasured. and they belong to you 1 don't
suppose they'd fetch much, anyhow"
Mr.. Evan Evans pursed mis- lips.
Well, now. I'll tell you what I'll do,
Mr.. Vale. If you like to put everything
in the pot I'll give you e25 for all that's
in the house, and save you the annoyance
of SALE
1t was a tempting offer, but Dick hesi-
tated. After paying the rent there would
be about el5 toward Ovens schooling.
He doubted II the things would fetch
more. but he didn't know very much
about them He might be making a mis-
take.
IT'S as much as they'll bring under
the hammer-more, maybe" said Mr.
Evan Evans--e+You never can tell. I've
seen things go for nothing one day. and
just the same kind of things sell for
twice their value next day 1t depends
what women are there, and what fancies
they take. What do you say?"
Il don't know" said Dick, filling his
pipe slowly.
We'll. say $50 and make an end of it,
and I'll throw in the commission"
m inclined to sell under the hammer
and take the risks said Dick But III
take ESQ il you leave these old things
for Miss Jones"
Mr. Evans seemed to turn this over in
his mind NO; 1 doubt if I'd come out
level on that he said at last Il reckon
to get at least E5 for that crockery, and,
as 1 say, Gne can't tell what the rest'n |
bring. Thirty pounds for the lot"
Il think Wen sell in the regular way, if |
you don't mind"
"Oh, all right. It's for you to say. | |
only wanted TO save you trouble. VIII
you be selling the crCckery or keeping it? |
m asking because l know one or two |
people who sometimes buy. stuff like that.
and II you're going to sell it IN let 'ern
know. No good bringing them here if
you decide not to sell.
Wen likely sell piece or two any
how Depends how the other things 20.
we want all we can get for the girl. you
See II the other things don't fetch much.
wen put in some of the crockery."
Right! Then III be here tomorrow at
:" Mr.. Evan Evans climbed into his gig
'eside his clerk. and was very thoughtful
II the way home to Pwlldw He got out
t the postolfice and sent the CLERK on
With the gig.
DICK Vale sat most Of the evening peer
ng into the deep shining blue Of the old
nps and saucers, with a conviction grow
ng upon him that it was very beautiful
Id ware. and might possibly be worth
more than Mr. Evan Evans was aware Of,
T at all events that he gave any outward
M visible signs of being aware of-wfich |
'ds perhaps another matter. He exam
lod every piece separately. and when he
ad done he began again and went over
ach piece with the most minute care |
nd growing appreciation. He smoked |
1ur full pipes over them after Gwen had
one up TO bed and when he retired he
as still thinking so much about them
nat he could not sleep.
At o'clock next day there was a crowd |
close on two dozen people in the |
itchen of the cottage, and Dick wonder
where on earth they all came from.
lr- Evan Evans, not being a prince was
OF punctuaL It was after the half-hour |
hen he drove up in his gig. and hustled
with his clerk at his heels and with |
n air of knock this lot off in five min
tes' about him. However. to Dick VaiIe's |
bservant eye it seemed that that was
My put on for a purpose, for he got
trough his work very much more slowly |
ian might have been expected. He made
humorous speech to begin with and
Iscanted at length on almost every ar
Gle, even the most commonplace. He
lso described with minute particularly
le conditions of sale. and especially en-
hasized the rule that 10 per cent of each
urchase was required to be paid on the :
all a prejudiced person might, indeed.
ave thought he was talking against time
18th some Interior motive. The greater
art of the multitude were farmers
ives from the neighborhood, after bar
aims. If any were going; but before Mr.
van Evans had got halfway through
'e sale two or three men. who seemed c
a different class, and whom Dick fail c
TO place, dropped in. /
Dick had thought Of buying the old cof- I
l-Case clock himself al a rner,epto of | z