The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1907-07-04

What are you -eading so attentive |
ty. lsabel7''
Lady Isabel looked up absenty, and
smiled
I'm only looking at this catalogue"
She handed 1t to me across the table.
-'lt's a sale at the Veringham's-you
know, that lovely place of theirs In
Sussex. and you remember poor Lord
Neringham going smash the other
day."
Did he'"
YES he financed some company, or
they unfiuanced him. or something
she explained vaguely; but, as you
know. | don't understand finance, Mar
jcrie."
Don't yous' I asked innocently
Lady Isabel laughed little as she
leant back in her chair. We'll, per
haps do little" she admitted but
only my own It's a pity they've had
10 sell Marsdeu Hail." she continued;
~'but he's 80 fearfully honest he will
insist on paying off all he can; how
ever daresay the things will fetch
very big prices"
Are you going to the sale?
"Oh. yes" she answered. ''and so are
youI want you to help me 10y bid
ding for some OF the things
But I don't want to buy anything,
] protested.
My dear child" expostulated Lady
Isabel. you surely don't suppose all
the people you see at auction sales
wish to buy things why, lots of them
are trying to sell
How SELF" I patiently awaited ex-
plantations.
We'll, you see the art of supplying
IS to create "a demand. Now supposing
you bid fer things and | bid for them
TOO, it makes other people bid as well,
because seople always want what
other people are trying to get
Some people | corrected gently.
II wish you'd give up that horrid
habit Of arguing Marjorie; most peo-
pie do" she repeated; "and then the
bidding becomes very brisk, and every
body gets awfuily keen to get things
away from every one else, and even
dealers sometimes lose their heads a
Iittle--especially ii the things are real
sy valuable"
But supposing bid and the thing
is knocked down on me?" ] said, feel
ingly once more inclined to argue.
oh that won't matter" she said
arily, because you will only bid up tC
the reserve-and will mark the re
serve price On the side of your cata
logue. It's only decent sympathy ant
friendship to try aud help the sale tt
go" said Lady Isabel Just think how
often you and have been to the Yer
fnghams parties--yes | know the,
were horrid bore as rule she add
ed hastily, in reply TO a look, but =
reproachfuliy-"s surely. my dear Mar
iorie. it's not very much to do for {
friend"
"Of course Il iSnt," | agreed, feel
ing rather ashamed of myself, "anC
after all as you say. if the things arr
really very valuable, it would be
shame to let the dealers get them to,
cheaply.
Yes" she agreed, "and dealers ar
horribly tricky, you know. l hav
asked a good many people to go L
this sale, because il outsiders don't &C
the dealers will get all the things a
Knockout prices"
My dear Isabel, whatever ar
knockout prices?"
Don't You even know what KNOCK
out is9"
NO"
why. it's like this-so many dea
ers combine together to buy, say,
valuable Chelsea group of figures, bu
one only bids. and the others refrai
from bidding SO as not to spoil hi
chance"
"Oh well, that's rather nice {
them"
And then" continued Lady Isabe
ignoring my comment, they all NEE
afterwards. generally at the neares
public-house. where they select
chairman from among themselves, an
the thing is put ny again and knOcke
down to the highest bidder, while tn
surplus above what it realized in tn
action is divided up among the rest
sighed What very complicate
world it is"
Very" said Isabel laconically; IAN