The Washington times., 1901-11-17


them around for examination. and not
to drop them.
The farmers wives had no use for them
They had all the cups and saucers they
needed Some of the strangers examined
them carefully.
How much for one whole old blue cup
and saucer" asked Mr. Evf.ns, in a
would-be jocuiar tone. which nevertheless,
to Dicks suspicious ear. covered more
than appeared on the surface. Mrs.
Jones of Pwlltre?-for one Of the girls,
nova nice, useful present. What shall
We say?"
Nay. I'fe cot all the cups and sau-
GERS want" said Mrs. Jones, blushinS at
this sudden noturiety.
oh WELL start it. somebody. please!
We don't want to sit here all night over
one blue cup and saucer" said MIR. Evan
Evans
"a shilling" said Dick.
THANK ySu. Any advance on one shill-
ing for the blue cup and saucer?"
Lets have another lok at it" said one
of the strangers. Not cracked, is it?'
Not cracked, 1 think said Mr.. Evan
Evans; lat least, it wasn't when it left
me-
"one-and-six." said the stranger, 'if
| you guarantee it sound"
Guarantee nothing" said Mr.. Evan
Evans. Take it on its merits
Two shillings," from Dick. No out
| slider was going to run off with one of
| Owens blue cups and saucers for one
| and-six. Not if he knew it.
"Two-slx." said the stranger.
| "Three-six."
| -Four"
The farmers wives begaT. to prick up
!
| were two men-bodes buying things they
didn't know how to buy. and like to burn
their fingers, which was very enjoyable.
Mrs Jones. of Pwlltre, had got up TO go
| home. She sat down again. 1t would be
something to talk about. 1t was.
"Four-six,' from the stranger.
Five" from Dick VaiIle.
"Shllings. now, please. said Mr. Evan
| Evans. If you're going any further"
Six from the stranger.
Seven" from Dick.
Then the stranger muttered a bad word
and said Ten" and the farmers wives
gurgled outright with enjoyment. 1t was
a great treat to them.
Twenty" said Dick, beginning to see
daylight, and to enjoy himself also.
Thirty" from the stranger, with vim
dic,jye lool-not. curiously enough at
trying to look amused. but only succeed
ed in smiling like a man with the tooth
ache.
Two pounds from Dick.
Three from the stranger
When Dick at last bid s10 he felt like
the man who stands shivering on the top
step of the bathing machine and looks out
over the cold sea, and is not quite sure
after all If the plunge that day will be
good for his health or not; but the stran-
ger said Eleven" so viciously that Dick
felt bound to drive him up another peg
if he had to pawn his watch.
AT last-''Twenty" from Dick
''Twenty-One," from the stranger
1t seemed as if he would go one better
whatever Dick bid. He would have to
grovel on his hands and knees to old
Abrams; but no matter, Gwen would ben
eft. and he'd pull through somehow. Mr.
Evan Evans was leaning back In his
chair making a frugal meal off the inside
Of his lips and looking sulky-possibly be-
cause he was no longer the centre of OBJ
servation- Possibly there were ether rea-
sons. No one looked at him. Every eye
in the room flashed spontaneously from
Dick TO the stranger, and from the stran-
ger to Dick, as the bids snapped out like |
shots.
One hundred pounds" from Dick at |
last. His hair was creeping as though |
earwigs and spiders were playing hide |
and-seek in 1t. His spine felt damp and |
cold, as though the marrow swere oozing
slowly out of it and freezing He had no
notion where he was getting to; his brain
was in a whiri He had vague idea that
10 per cent of el00 was flO, anG he caught
Ovens dark eyes fixed upon him in a
stare She thought he was
mad.
'one hundred and .en," said the stran-
ger.
''One-twenty." said Dick
The stranger hesitated.
ANY advance on e120 for the blue cup
and saucer?" asked Mr.. Evan Evans,
jerking himself into life and
notice again.
Then the hammer fell, and Master Rich
ard Vale found himself the proud pos
SCISSOR OF a blue cup and saucer on which,
when he had paid the deposit OF e12 he
would owe exactly Gl0s He pulled out
lis pocketbook. extracted a crisp new e10
lote. found sovereigns in his pocket,
md deposited them in the grimy hand Of
Mr.. Evan Evars' clerk, which quivered |
With emotion. Then Dick jingled his re-
naming wealth in his trouser-pocket, and
al was shiIlings and pennies Not
mother copper had he in the world till
lie had groveled at this feet OF Mr..
ABRAMS.
Another blue cup and Saucer similar
0 the last" said Mr.. Evan Evans. What
hall We say for this one?Y and he looked
aguely around.
Ten pounds said the stranger, in the
vident hope that the first round had
jumped Dick completely.
Rot" said Dick. kindling to the fight,
I want the pair. "One hundred and
wenty. same as the last"
The stranger said something unintelligi- 9
lie. and then added. "One hundred and
ifty."
''one-sixty." said Dick
.'One-seventyi" "One-eightyr' Conc
inetyI' Two hundred" snapped out like
istol shots. and the spectators sat gasp
ng, with blank, distended eyes and pale | !,
aces. like fish out of water .
At two hundred and fifty pounds Dick
It the stranger have that blue cup and
aucer. and felt exceedingly happy. p
.'Wil you sell any more. Mr. VaiIe?" a
sked Mr.. Evan Evans.
Dick went over to Gwen who sat in n
ream, and asked her in a whisper if she n
ared to sell more: but Gwen was dazed.
nd could only say. Have we all gone !,
lad. Dick?''
Then Dick said to Mr.. Evan Evans that
ilss Jones preferred not to sell more of I,
ne cups and saucers at present l
Then that's all. ladies and gentlemen"
lid the auctioneer. ai
ftHA