Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-02-02
CHAPTER v.

tily. BY sixpences and shillings and
an occasional half crown the bidding
was run up to three pounds. Three
men only were bidding. and presently
with n laugh one droppeS out. leav-
Ing the contest to the two.
Just as Lockit was, In burleSQue
imitation Of an nuctioneer, exhorting
these two, Neville felt some one push
past him and saw it was Lavarlck.
He had come into the tent in his
usual stealthy fashion, and stood, his
, yes fiXed-the left, with the cast, on
the girl. the other on the men.
Neville disliked the man, suspected
him Of being the worst scoundrcl in
hand over that part OF his coat which
covered the nugget.
I.avnrick edged aud glided among
the crowd until he had reached the
end of the table, and with his left eye
still Oh the girl, listened to Lockit and
the two men with an intent cXpre
sion of suppressed eagcrness and ex-
element, and when Lockit shouted:
Three pounds nine; going. going!
Ned. you've got a handy parlor maid
in the future, cheap as dirt. Going,
going" Lavarick held up a dirty paw,
and with a sickly smile and assumed
Indifference, said:
"Three pounds ten"
"Hallo"' exclaimed Locklt. "hcre's
another. Bravo, Undertaken! But
amt you rather prcmature! It's a
live orphan we're ~disposlng off,
The roar that followed drowned Il
faint cry OF terror that escaped the
girls quivering lips; but Neville heard
it.. and his face grew pale and his eyes
flashed. He pushed aside the men in
front Of him and stepped forward,
pounds!" he said, quietly, but
! his. voice was clear and distinct
enough, though low. to be heard by
all; and there was a ring in it that
caused the laughter to stop suddenly
and drew every eye upon him.
The child, after that one glance ut
Lavarick, had turned and hidden her
face against the breast Of the woman
to whom she was cllnging; but she
moved her head and looked over her
shoulder in the big gray eyes.
"And here's another!" cried LOckit.
"And the Young 'un, too! Cupid YER
sus the Undertaken and Long Ned!
And -four pounds! -Four pounds! No
more shillings. gentlemen. Wei have
pounds now. l see that hospital, doc,
in my minds eye, l do"
Lavarick looked at Neville with an
ugly sneer. He knew that the lad had
,- - ynxl J,,n1- {hot htS no or
had left the claim in disgust, and he
smiled contemptuously. .-
"Well, five pounds" he said.
"Six." ....a
Seven, eight, ten. twenty, forty. An
intense silence prevailed as the bid
ding rose. $50 " p
The burlesque had died out of Lock-
It's manner, and a grim seriousness
had taken Its place. Every man In
the crowd recognized that a change
had come over the spirit Of the dream,
and that what had begun as a piece of
fun had developed into terrible ear
nest.
"One hundred!" said L.avarick.
The crowd exchanged glances Of
amazement, and waited breathlessly.
HAS he got the money? And where
did he get it," ran round.
zone hundred and fifty" said Ne
Vile.
Hes got the money, or he wouldn't
bid. He's straight enough, the Young
'un is; but where did ne get it,"
1.-TWO hundredy' dropped from Law
arlck's lips. -
Quick as thought Neville retortcd
with:
1.-TWO hundred and fifty"
Lavarick raised his eyes and looked
at Neville with a cunning suspicion.
SIS 1t a game of bluff ~ he said. "Is
the Young 'un just a-drawing ME out
for the fun of the thing?"
An angry murmur rose.
II should recommend any gentleman
inclined to play that game to drop it,"
remarked Lockit grimly. "We are
serious now. This is business; eh,
boys?"
"Three hundred!' broke in Lavarick.
"Four!" was the sharp response
from Neville.
"Flve!" snar1ed Lavarick.
Neville bid six. The crowd pressed
close to the two men, the excitement
became feyerish. Lavarick, his face
pale and distorted, paused a moment,
then said:
"Seyenr'
Neville was pale. He had weighed
his nugget. There was not a thou.
sand pounds in it; say nine hundred
and sixty, after deducting the agents
charges. It was just possible that
Lavarick possessed more-he was a
dark horse'-and would overbid him.
He could see the girls eyes fixed on
him as II she had not power to with
draw them, and they seemed to be
burning his heart, and sending fire in
stead Of blood through his veins. He
would save her, il 1t cost him every
ounce, every pennyweight, of his pre-
cious nugget.
"Nine hundred" said Neville.
A. shout arose. Lockit command.
ed silence. A dense stiffness fell In.
stantly, and all eyes were fixed on
Lavarick. He turned red, then white;
his lips opened as If he We're about to
speak, then with a sinister smile, he
turned aside.
"Going, comet" cried L.ockit.
Tho fn,f 0hpnE with fbn rro~ {h,i