The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-07-04
CROSS OF HONOR

monplace and Misunderstanding 20 most
Of the men who SAT- half YEARLY round
the halke covered table anu looked Ian
gvidly mt medal after nednl as they
were 10 the nucfi0neer himself.
The score Or 50 on buyers We're as
varied crdhSd as any event could wal
bring together. Lord Wentlocke was
well known collector who never missed
an important sah Next TO him sat
man without cuffs. who bought all the
most expensive lots without apparently
looking at them. Opposite was a Jew.
who made all his bids by fnrtiye winks
and who endeavored by amusing sal
lies 10 distract his competitors atten-
ton nc critical moments. and between
him and the British museum represent.
ative a turbaned parsee. buying on be-
half OF Calcutta art gallery. Two
schoolboys had strayed In and looked
on silently or compared notes OF admi-
ration I'm apprehensive whispers
At last the auctioneer pulled himself
together Surely this Will rouse you.
gentlemen. IL anything VEIL, he said.
lot ISL Victoria CROSS presented 20
Private Thomas Young for conspicuous
bravery az Magdala. purchased by Mr..
Hutey from Messrs. Link and by them
from the original holder What shall
sayY'
IL seemed that the national collection
was not In want OF specimen. Lord
Wentlocke never by any chance opened
| the bidding. and the Jew always wait.
ed a little TO find out who was interest
ed. Some one else started with f10.
and In the twinkling OF an eye the
cross had advanced 10 eco and then.
hung a moment.
IL was then In the pause marking
what would probably have been the
halfway point that the silence was
broken by the poorly clad woman, who.
had sat. nervous and unobserved. near
the door. ~ sfS
"Oh. SIR" she cried IN a voice that
was half a sob. II don't understand.
but could save only e.. and--and l
am his motherv'
There have been many scenes OF
psychological suspense at Wetheby's.
Millionaires have plunged recklessiy
for historical pictures. relatives and
legatees have carried on their wran-
giles and snarled across the table for
the possession OF heirlooms. but never
In the annals OF that famous house has
there been so vivid n moment as when
the mother Of Thomas Young. the man
who had displayed conspicuous valor'
at Magdala, stood forth IN her neat
and pathetic poverty and tlmidly held
out the two pounds worth OF silver for
which she had starved and drudged
In order 20 redeem her sons medal.
The silence was only for second.
Some one down the table. woefully out
OF touch with the wave OF feeling gave
an amused laugh at the. absHrdlry OF
the thing and, anxious 10 share the ex-
quisite joke with the auctioneer. look
ed up, with a merry smile as he called
out. ''Twenty-onel"
The Jew was on hts feet In an In
slant. "Shut up. you fooIr' he shouted
furiously. cant you seer
The auctioneer-it was Mr. A.. ever
the most courteous and sympathetic OF
his profession-quietly tapped his ros-
trum once or twice. "Gentlemeu,ys }. bas
said. "this Is an unusual incident intds
I think we will all agree that soTSat
way must be found out OF the diff.
Guilty So far the prices have been
very satisfactory, and should II happen
by any means-I cannot make any
suggestion. gentlemen-but should II
happen that In this one instance the
price Is not maintained do not think
that the vender viii have any cause
for complaints. To my f1rm myself
will be responsible. The bidding when
I last took II stood at GO That was
Lord wentiocke.-
Mine. too said the man without
cuffs readily. Surely you heard me.
I thought you took mine.-
The gentleman IL quite right said
Il heard him myself-before Lord
wentiocks, n anything He had never
spoken a more obvious lie or one
which passed 20 unquestioped.
~As the matter II IN dispute. have
no option hot to start the lot again. |"
said the auctionecr, with infinite refief.
but. to take you completely into my,
confidence. must inform you that I
have against II reserve merely nomi-
nal a. II was thought nj the timer
OF e."
"0uineas." said Lord wentiocke
quietly. and when the hammer fell. a.
Il did without a seconds pause. II was
amid enthusiasm which rivalsd the
scene when the famous petition crown
created record OF $500.
Lord wentlocke never had any hest
tntion In the matter. "You must have
no scruples about accepting Il from
me- he said. crossing the room ana
putting the medal into the rough and
toll worn hand. "Your country IL heav-
lily IN your debt, and what we are do
ing Is little enough. How came your
son TO sell ltf'
II was ill.' she replied, the tears
RUNNING dawn hnv rhaaifa M0h NV