The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-05-25
In the Nick of Time
tOriginal.1

"Who bIdsT'
The auctioncer held up child's
dress beautifully embroidered, but hav-
ing the appearance Of age. A sale of
household effects was in progress ut
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 Il 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 infuse
into his wife courage to see her treas
ures scattered.
IL can't bear to see that GO" she said
to him. "Ive kept it ever since Tommy
wore il. / embroidered every bit of it
with my own hands. can't l can't!'
"But Tommy proved disappolnt-
ment to us, mother. l put him out
of my mind long ago. At least I've
tried TO. I thought when I grew old
he'd take the burden was bearing for
him, but he ran away and left us to go
to rack and ruin. Stand up, mother"
II can't. wish you hadn't been so
harsh with him. He was young and
headstrong. He needed soothing. You
fretted him"
"Who bidsf" the auctioneer kept say
ing. us 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 dollars" cried a mans voice
from the far end Of the room.
The auctloneer looked surprised.
give dollars I'm offered Make II n
half-S5. 1t can't be possible that If n
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 up the next, baby's
bonnet A lady bid % cents, but the
purchaser of the dress bid 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 to each other and looked Mt
the 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 by the man who was ready to
absorb all OF them. Then when articles
Of furniture were put up the buyer con-
tinued his purchases. Chairs, tables,
sofas, mirrors, all went into the pos
session of the stranger.
Cheer up, mother" whispered the
old man. 1.-THE things are bringing
more than they are worth"
"Thcy're not bringing a 1.-THE of what
they are worth to me-" she sighed.
This young couple who are buying
them all remind me of the time when
you and I started out so happy. It's
all over now. They'll have to come to
It some time, poor things"
II 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 purchas'
ed. Then the auctioneer announced
that he would sell the house. 1t was
some time before any bid could be got
and then it came from the man who
had bought the effects. He bid $1,000
Several persons wanted the house, and
it was run up to $4,000 before the bid
ding began to drop off, At last the only
two contestants remaining were rea
estate operator and the man who had
purchased the toys. The two ran the
price up to $4,000, when the unknown
astonished all present by bidding 500,
600. That ended the SALE and the
, premises were knocked down.
"Why, mother" said the old man
that gives us $4,000 above all oul
debtsw
what name is the deed to be made
in?" asked the auctioneer.
Thomas Coggeshall."
mo, no." said the auctioner impa
tiently; mot the last owner the pres
' ent one"
Thomas Coggeshall."
The auctioneer looked up surprised.
MAKE the deed to Thomas Cogge