Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-02-17


10 do for II friend.'
"Of course II isn't" agreed, feel.
ing rather ashamed OF myself, "and
after all. us you say, If the things are
really very valuable. 1t would he u
shame TO let the dealers get them too
| cheaply."
Yes" she agreed. and dealers are
horribly tricky. you know. have
asked u good many people to 20 to
'his sale. because If outsiders don't
go, the dealers will get all the things
at Knockout prices"
My dear Isabel, whatever ara
knockout prlces?"
Don't you even know what
Knockout is?"
No"
Why. it's like this--so many deal.
ers combine together TO buy, say. n
valuable Chelsea group of figures,
que one only bids. and the others re.
irain from bidding so as not to spoil
his chance
oh! well. that's rather nice of
them"
And then" continued Lady Isabel.
IGNORING my comment, they all meet
anerwarh, generally at the nearest
public house, where they select Il
chairman from among themselves,
ana me thing is put up again and
Knocked down TO the highest bidder,
while the surplus above what is real
lied In the action Is divided up among
the rest"
i sighed What very complicat.
ed world 1t is"
Very said Isabel laconically: "and
now. my child. Wei dress and 20 to
the sale and hid"
! was feeling phllanthropic. The
room was growing hot and sturfy and
was tired and rather overwhelmed
by stout lady who now and again
Murmured cultural observations I'm my
ear.
The Veringham drawing.room was
being sold. and we had inst arrived
at Lot o. The sale was going very
well. and now and again tho bidding
became extremely keen. and Indy Is
abel. who was sitting almost opposite
me- never even glanced my way. She
mad told mo to buy for her two Seyrcs
Jars, three Chelsea figures and good
many pieces of jewelry. and she had
marked on my catalogue the reserve
TO which ] was to go. but told me not
10 notice her. as the dealers might
think that we were friends.
Amused In spite of being boral.
watched her bidding with cold bus.
mess air that suggested knowledge
and valuable possessions TO the deal.
ers. However. she did not obtain a
single thing and her look OF disup.
pointment filled mo with sympath3.
because. she told me- she wanted To
very much get the particular things
a ri oil OIL.
went far beyond the reserve to which
She had limited me, and. bendIag ,ag.
crly forward, only relinQuishel the
jewelry to n higher bid of nalf n
sovereign
AT last ne sale Excepting 70 lie /
rooms that she said were not worth |
With was over, and we
we're In the sweet. fresh air again.
1T was splendid sale" said LAZY !
Isabel, "and n good deal due to me
you know. Won't the vcringhams be
pleased?"
''They ought to be-" said Grossly,
for was very hot and tired. too. III
am sure the prices were high enough;
but I'm sorry, Isabel, that, after all
your trouble, you did not get the
things you want"
She smiled as she leaned comfort.
ably back In my brothers. car. "ItI
did seem pity"-she paused-"but
then, you see. I'll get the check"
THE check" echoed. overwhelm-
ed by sudden feeling of Indignation:
but surely the ,Veringhams aren't
paying You for helping them to sell
their things"
MY dear Majorie," said Lady Isa-
bel in Mortified voice, what put
such dreadful idea intn your head?"
We'll. what do YOU mean, then,
about getting check?"
oh! well, you sce.' she said hur-
riedly, things one doesn't want--use-
less wedding presents. and all that,
YOU know-sell so much better when
they are put in sale as part OF
well known collection. and the things
marked on your catalogue-you
know, the things that went SO very
well. she hesitated, and leaned for
ward to how to friend.
We'll, isabelle"
Well. my dear Majorie, those es-
nocial things, you see. were mine."-
Baltimore News.