The daily Alaskan., 1905-08-04
in the Nick of Time
toriginaLl
"Who bidsr'


 "Who bidsG"
 The auctlJnecr held up chlld's dress beautifully embroidered, but hav- ing the appearance Of age. A sale of household effects was In progress at the house where they had been accu- mulating and wearing out for thirty years. The only residents were man and his wife. who had been gradually sinking from comfort to poverty until their house was to bc sold under fore closure of mortgage and the effects were going to pay individual debts. The couple stood together, the husband now and again vainly trying to mfuSc Into his wife courage to see her treas ures scattered.
 "I can't bear to see that go" she said to him. i've kept it ever since Tommy wore it I embroidered every bit Of it with my own hands. I can't. I can't!
 But Tommy proved disappoint- ment to us, mother l put him out of my mind long ago. At least I've tried to. thought when I grew old he'd take the burden I was bearing for him. hut he ran away and left us 10 @ to rack and ruin. Stand up, mother"
 "I can't I wish you hadn't been SO harsh with him. He was young and headstrong. He needed soothing You fretted him"
 "who bidsy" the auctioneer kept say Ing. "Is no one going Co bid on this childs dresSy That embroidery was an done by hand-none of your machine work. Every stitch shows the greatest care. Step up, ladies, and examine 1t
 Five dollars" cried a mans voice from the far end of the room.
 The auctioneer looked surprised.
 Five dollars I'm offered. Make it a half-S5. It can't be possible that V a man Is willing to give such price the ladies will not go higher. Why. the rattern has just come Into fashion"
 But there were no mere bids, and be pronounced the article sold.
 Then he took up the next, hahy's bonnet A lady bid 25 cents, but the purchaser of the dress Ia a dollar. and It was knocked down to him. A young woman hung on his arm who appeared to be his wife. The women present whispered Co each other and looked at the couple who seemed so anxious for babies clothes. The young husband sept on bidding. and the child for whom they were intended must be a boy and growing old rapidly First toys, then sled. tricycle., hobhyhorse, no matter how dilapldated their condition. were bid in by the man who was ready Co absorb an of them. Then when articles Of furniture were put up the buyer con tinued his purchases. Chairs, tables. sofas. mirrors, an went into the pos session Of the stranger.
 "Chcer up. mother" whispered the old man. "Thc thlngN are bringing more than they are worth"
 "They're not bringing tithe Of what they are worth to me" she sighed. "This young couple wbo are buying them an remind me of the time when YOU and I started out 90 happy. lts an over now. Thcyn have Co come to It some time poor things"
 "I 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 purcha '- ed. Then the auctoncer announced that he would sell the house lt was some time before any h'd could he got and then it came from thc nan who had bought the effects He bid SS.ooo Several persons wanted thc house and 1t was run up Co $500 before the bid ding began Co drop oft. At last the only two contestants remaining were a real estate operator and the man who had nurchased the toys The two ran tho price up to Sl0.OoO. when the unknown astonished an present by bidding SEo GOO That ended the sale, and the premises were knocked down.
 "why. mother" said the old man "that gives as SlOOo0 above an oui debtsr
 What name Is the decd to bc made inY asked the auctioncer.
 Thomas Coggeshall' VI
 "No, no" said the aactioner impa tiently; mot the last owner, the pres ent one"
 ! Thomas Coggcshnll'
 The auctioueer looked up surprised.
 Make the dccd to Thomas Coggc | shall" said the purchaser, ] ..aa-A. .. l-.-- La ....... --- n.l--l Lh. LII