The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-03-24

iauHI come Oh deck JUST tlen ana
took command.
.'See here, Rogers" he says; lets
understand this thing. Have you got
set Of dishes like that?"
Ad0nfan, looked at him. "Will
gG jair.l |. say yesY' he answers.
MAYBE you VIII II you don't" says
Peter. Now. then. ladies' and gentle
men. TIN is something we're all inter-
ested In. and think everybody ought,
to have fair show. Rogers will bring
those dishes down here tomorrer, and
we'll pu. em on exhibition In the ho-
tel parlor Next day Wen have an
auction and sell 'em TO the highest
cash bidder. And. provided there's no
objection. I'll sacrifice my reputation
and be auctioneer."
SO twas agreed to have the auction.
Next day AdonIram heaves alongside
with the dishes In a truck wagon. and
they was strung out on the tables Ia
the parlor. And such paving over
and gabbling you never heard. The
''antiquers" handled 'em and admired
'em and p'inted 10 the three holes In
the back Of each dish. the same being
proof Of age. and got more covetous
every minute. But the Joy was linn
tied.
| Milo and Eddie was the most wor-
ried Of all. because each Of 'em had
been commissioned by their command
ing officers not to let t'other family
/ win.
That auction was the biggest thing
that ever happened at the Old Home.
We had II on the lawn out back of the
billiard room. and folks came fro.n
Harniss and orham and the lani
knows where. The sheds and barn
was filled with carriages. and we
served thirty-two extra dinners at q
dollar a feed. The dishes was piled
on table. and Peter T. done his auc-
tioneer preaching from kind Of pull.
pit made out Of two cracker boxes and
tea chest.
But there want any real bidding ex-
cept from the smalls and Thompsons.
A few Of the boarders and some Of the
out Of towners took shy long at FIRST.
but their bids was only ground bait.
Milo and Eddie. backed by the dow
ager and the duchess. done the real
fishing.
The price went up and up. Peter
T. whooped and pounded and all but
shed tears. IL he'd been buryins q
competition hotel keeper he couldn'i
have hove more soul into his work
Twas. FIFTY! Do hear sixtyf Six.
ty do heary Fifty dollars! Think Of
II. Why. friends. this ain't a church
pound party. Look at them dishes
Look at EN-! Why. the pinfeathers
on those blue dicsy birds In the cor
ners are worth more N that for mat
tress stuffing. DO hear Sxtyf Sixty
I'm bid. Who says seventy
Milo said II. and Eddie was back al
him afore he could shake the reefs
out Of the last syllable. She went W
10 hundred. then TO one hundred and
thirty-two. and with every raise Ado
hiram Rogers smile heightened out.
And Just then two things happened
One was that servant girl come run
ming from the Old Home House to tel
the duchess and Irene dear" that
some swell friends Of theirs from the
hotel at iIarniss had driven over q
call and was waiting for 'em In the
parlor. The female sinalls went In
though they want joyful over IL
They give Eddie his sailing orders
afore they went too.
The other thing that happened wal
Bill Saltmarsh's arriving In port. BIZ
IL an .'antiquer" for revenue only. III
runs an antique store over at Ostable
and the prices he charges are enough
70 convict him without hearing th'
evidence. knew he'd come.
| salfmarsh mods to Peter 4. and pick
up one Of the plates. lie looks ut !
nrst ruther casual. then more ant
more careful. turning Il over and tax
ing up another.
/ tttiU WI " btuut't 1tVW'f t"tT ~,
Are these the dishes you're sellingf'
"sure thing" comes back Peter
think we're serving free Iunchf No
sirl Those are the genuine articles. Mr.
saitmarsh. and you're cheating The
widders and orphans n you don't pa
IN a1bid quick. One thirty.two City
I'm bid. Now. Saltmarshg'
| But Bin only laughed. Then he pick
up another plate. looks at IL and laughs
ngain.
Good day. Brown" says he. 'sorrl
can't stop" Aud on he puts toward
his horse and buggy.
Eddie Small was watching him
Aillo. being on the other side Of th'
pulpit. hadn't noticed 30 particular.
who's thatr asks Eddie. suspicious
Docs he know antiqucsT
remarked that II BiiI didn't tibet
4