The daily Alaskan., 1905-06-17
in the Nick of Time
lorisinaL

The auctisnecr held up a chlld's dress beautifully embrcldorcl but hay. ing tho appearance of age A sale ot household clrccts was in prOgrcss at the house where they had been accu- mulating and wearing out for thirty wears. Inc only residents were man sna h,s wife. who had been gradually sinking from comfort to poverty until ihcir house was to be sold under Tore closure of mortgage and the enects were going tO pay individual doots, The courle stood together. the husband now and again vainly trying Co intuse Into his wife courage Co see her trcas- urcS scattered
 si can't bear to sec that co," she said to him. "rve kcpt lt ever since Tommy wore lt. I embroidered every bit or it with my own hands. l can't ! cant'
 But Tommy proved a disonroint mcnt Co us. mother, put hlm out or my mind long ago Al least I've tried to. thought when l grew old he'd take the burden was bearing Tor him. but he ran away and left uS Co @ to rack and ruin. stand ur mother.
 ~I can't. I wish you hadn't been 90 harsh with him. He was young and headStronc. He needed soothing You frettei him"
 'Nyho hidsy" the aucuoncer kept say inc "IS no one going Co bid on this child's drcSSy That embroidery was all done hy hand-none Of your machine work. Every stitch shows the greatest care. Step m. ladies, and examine it
 Five dollars" cried a mans voice from the far end of the rcom.
 The auctionecr looked surprised,
 Five dollars I'm offered. Make it a half-S5. It can't be possible that " a man Is willing to give such price the ladies win not go higher. Why, the natfern has just come Into fashion
 But there were no mere bids, and he pronounced the article sold.
 Then he took up the next a hahy's bonnet. A lady bid 2s cents, but the purchaser Of the dress tld a dollar, and It was knocked down to him. A young woman hung on his arm who appeared Co be his wife. The women present whisncred Co each other and looked at fhe couple who seemed SO anxious for babies clothes. The young husband kept on bidding. and the child for whom they were intended must be boy and growing old rapidly. First toys, then sled, tricycle.. hobbyhorse, no matter how dilapidated their condition, were bid in hy the man who was ready Co absorb an Of them. Then when articles Of furniture were put up tho buyer con timed his purchases. Chairs, tables. sofas. mirrors, all went into the pos session of the stranger.
 Cheer up, mother" whispered the old man. "The thinGs are bringing more than they are worth"
 "Thcy're not bringing E tithe of what they are worth to me" she sighed. ''This young couple wbo are buying them an remind me Of thc time when you and started out SO happy. It's | all over now. They'll have Co come to r some time. poor things"
 q hope the boy they're buying the toys for won't desert them" sighed the man.
 There was not very much to sell, and what there was the stranger purchos' ed. Then the auctionaer announced that he would sell the house, It was some time before any bid could be got and then n came from the man who had bought the effects. He bid SSopo | Several persons wanted the house, and ft was run up to $500 before the bid ding began to drop off. At last the only two contestants remaining were a rea' estate operator and the man who had l purchased the toys. The two ran tho nrice un to SlO.OeO. when the unknown astonished an present by bidding S2o, ooO. That ended the sale, and tho II premises were knocked down.
 "Why. mother said the old man that gives us SlO,OOO above an oui debtsr'
 What name Is the deed to be made II tnT' asked the auctioneeT.
 Thomas Cogceshall"
 "No. no" said the aactioner imPa ucntIy: mot the last o,sner, the pres Pnt one"
 Thomas COgceshall"
 The auctloneer looked up surprised.
 Make the deed to Thomas Cogge shall" said the purchaser.