The Marshall republican., 1911-01-27

"Confound IT, he muticred. "If
something doesn't happen soon Ilr'--
"GOing. golng-gonc!"
Blngs prlckcd up his ears and has.
tened his steps. An auction and he
not to know II! Turning n corner. he
came full upon n familiar scene Just
ns n table was knocked down to the
highest bidder. Bings' eyes gioatcd
over the unusual display OF household
goods spread before him.
FIFTY cents." bid n voice I'm the
crowd M the nuc,Ionccr held up an
article. II was whItlock's voice.
BInns' wrath famed up. and before he
had time TO think he was bidding IN.
rIously against his rival. Fast In the
grip OF 'bnrgnln fever" and whcttcd
on by whitlock. Bings rapidly became
possessor OF various articles that were
OF NJ much use 10 him at that period
OF his existence as a celestial harp and
a pair OF wings. Had Bings intercept
ed the exchange OF wlnks between
whitlock and the auetionecr he might
have been more cautious. As IL was.
the barrIcade around BIngs grew and
grew.
"Golng. going-gone!' shouted the
auctionecr. "Dlrt cheap at that. Mr..
Blngs. Here. Sam, wheel this pefdm.
bulator around 10 Mr.. Bings."
Perambulator! Heavens! Had he
bought a peraml ulatorf Bings wiped
his perspirlng brow and glared defiant
ly around.
why. Billy Dlngsv" cried a laugh
Ing feminine voice mt his elbow.
what do you want with q perambu-
lator?'
Bings' e~xasperated gaze encountered
that Of Mrs. Marston, a merry faced
woman. by her side stood the pretty
widow with the coveted cherub cling
Ing 10 her hand.
Bings turned fiery red and caught
wildly ut his hat. or where he supposed
1t to be, only to find that he was fan
ming himself with II. Making IN en-
barrassed bow. he began to mop his
perspirIng face violently.
Here's yer p'ramb'lat'r." snid Sam
laconically. pausing I'm front OF Bings.
Bings turned fascinated eyes on the
thing. which seemed to him to have
greatly increased In size during its
progress from the auctioneer's stand.
"And a baby's high chair" announced
another laughing voice ns the speaker
craned forward and inspected Bingn'
barrlcade.
There was a general craning Of necks.
And u little red rocker" exclaimed
another.
"A doll and a doll carriage"
"a child's cot"
"Foo'stool, workbaskct. sewing chair
and sowing machine" enumerated
Whitiock, pushing nearer. "Great Ju-
piter. Bings! What does this mean?'
with mock severity.
Poor Bings thanked his stars that
none OF them knew OF that cradle IA
the attic. the result of a former aberra
ton. He gazed helplessly around ri
his tormentors. then at his barrlcadc
What on earth had induced him TO bid
n all that stun?
He had made himself so ridiculous III
her eyes he'd not stand a ghost OF !,
show now. The only thing left for him
to do was to make his escape as hes,
he could.
Bings glanced furtively around, bu,
all Were closed by laughinl
faces. He grew desperate. Just as he
was contemplating a dash for liberty
along the line OF the least resistance
the miracle that he had been so skep-
tical about happened.
A fractions horse, a womAn's scream.
q scene Of confusion. and when Rings
came to he found his arms around the
pretty widow, who was clasping tho
pretty cherqb to her breast and sob,
bling ~hysterically on his shoulder; "Oh.
Bnly- dear. dear Piliy! Save me. save
mel'
At thcse Inspiring words nings' cour.
age rose to the occasion. his bashfuI.
nsss slipping dom him Inc . cloak.