Evening journal., 1905-06-05
In the Nick of Time
[orIgInaIl
"Who bids p

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 be sold under a fore
closure of mortgage and the effects
were going to pay individual debts.
The couple stood together, the husband
now and again vainly trying 10 infuse
into his wife courage to see her treas
ures scattered.
Il can't bear to see that go" she said
TO him. "Tve kept It ever since Tommy
woreNit. / embroidered every bit of It
with NV own hands. l can't. / can'tv
But NTommy proved a disappoint
ment to us, mother. / put him out
of my miad long ago at least I've
tried TO. Tthought when / grew old
he'd take theeDurden / was bearing for
him. but he ranNaway and left us to 60
to rack and ruin. stand up, mother"
Il can't l wish you hadn't been so
harsh with him. He>was young and
headstrong. lie neededNsoothing. You
fretted him."
'Nho bidsY the auctiOneer kept say
ing rs no one going TO bid on this
child's dress? That embroidery was all
done by hand-none Of your machine
work. Every stitch shows the greatest
care. Step up.. ladies, and examine it,
give dollarsw cried a mans voice
from the far end Of theNroom.
The auctioneer looked surprised.
give dollars I'm offered Make It a
half-S5. II can't be possible that II a
man is willing to give such price the
ladies' will not go higher. Why, the
pattern has just come into fashion"
But there were no more bids, and he
pronounced the article sold.
Then he took mp the next babys
baunet A lady bid % cents, but the
purchaser Of the dress bid a dollar, and
II was knocked down 10 him. A young
woman>aung on his arm who appeared
10 be his wife. The women present
whispered 10. each other and looked ai
the couple WHO seemed SO anxious FOR
babies clothes.N Bhe young husband
kent on bidding. a1kilthe child for whom
they were iftendedN must be a boy anf
growing old rapidly First toys, her
sled, tricycle. ahobbyhorse. no matter
how dilapidatedrth their condition. wer'
bid In by the man whotwas ready e
absorb all Of them Then,when articles
OF furniture were putAup the buyer con
tinnod his purchases. Chairs. tables
sofasA mirrors. all went into the pos
session\of the stranger.
ttrst--... 80. ,,,tbar- lruhfanarn1 fhl
old man. The things are bringing
more thar, they areworth."
They're not bringing 1.-THE Of wha
they, are worth TO, me-" she sighed
'.This young couple who are buyinl
them ali remind me ofNthe time whei
you and I started out soNhappy. It'
all over now. They'll havelto come t
ii sometime. poor things"
II hope the boy they're buying IN
TOYS for won't desert them" sighe
the man
There was not very much to'sell, an
what there was the stranger purchal
ed. Then the auctioneer announce
that he would \sell the house. It wa
some timeNheforeAany bid could be go
and then It came from the man wh
had bought the effects, He bid 5000
Several persons\wauted the house, an
It was run up to,Ss.OO0 before the bic
ding began TO drop off. At last the onl
two contestants remaining were res
estate operator and the man who ha
purchased the toys. The two ran th
price up to,S10OOO. when the unlmow
astonished all presently bidding 500
600. That ended the sale, and III
premises wereel1nockedldown.
"Why. mother" said the old mai
that gives us SlO.00Os above all ol
debtsH
"What name is thesdeedz to be mad
in p asked the auctioneer-
"Thomas Coggeshall"
"No. no." said the auctioner imp
tiently; mot the last owner, the pre-
ent one"
"Thomas Coggeshall."
The auctioneer looked up surprised.
'Make the deed to Thomas Cogg
shall" said the purchaser.
'What does It meanT asked the O
woman of her husband. He did not r
ply. He was as much befogged as sh
"Come, hand in 10 per cent of Il
1 purchase money! shouted the auctio
eer, land give me your name, or
? you're going to back out say so rigl
. Off. and I'll make the sale over"
y The stranger took out check boo
drew check for $1,000 signed
Thomas Coggeshall. Jr., and handed
to the auctioneer, who looked at It
, much puzzled as ever.
"Will you please explain this riddle
Z, asked the auctioneer.
Yes. but to my father and mother
a Approaching the old couple, he tOG
d them both in his arms with: dor
. you know me, father? Don't "
know me, mother? I'm Tommy. T.
, made money and got married al
y come back to find you This is Evely
e my wife. She says I've treated "
= abominably, and she's right But
l. make up FOR it. Father, you meant Z
p the best, but couldn't profit by 70
, experience. Mother I've been wor
than neglectful When l saw the cloth
you made for me and the toys al
things you bought for me saw no
D. ungrateful I've been. But they're {
'e yours, mother, all my old shoes al
o. dresses and broken toys, and you ne
)r never part with them, They shall |
ie main in this house, and you and faith