Evening star., 1911-10-22

holstered In tapestry, also two armchairs to match
Wheel em OUT Theodore. Now what is your price for
these eight fine pieces? Look EN- over and bid accord
ingly:'
aHa hal You Joke, Sir" laughed the auctioneer,
rubbing his hands in his most oval manner you joke!
accordingly Ha, ha! Thirty shillings for eight fine,
antique, tapestred hand carved Chars Oh very good,
excellent, upon my SOUL"
"Three pOund' said the fiery necked chandler.
"Guneas' said the rat eyed Parsons
-Four pound!' nodded the corn chandler
-Four pound ten!" roared Adam.
"Seven" from Parsons.
Eight" said Grimes.
"Ten!" roared Adam, growing desperate.
"Eeven!' said Grimes, beginning to mop at his neck
again.
Adam hesitated: eleven pounds seemed very
much for those chairs which he had Prudence and
the checked maids dust regularly every mOrning
and then, it not his money, after ALL Therefore,
Adam hesitated and glanced wisfuly toward certain
distant corner.
"At eleven-at eleven pounds-ths fine suit of hand
carved antique chairs at eleven pounds-at eeven-at
eleven -gong-going-'
"Ffteen' said voice from the distant corner; where
upon Adam drew great sigh of relief while the
chandler contorted himself in his efforts glare at
Bellew round the Sideboard.
@Fifteen pounds!" chanted the auctioneer, II have
htteen-l am given ifteen-any advance? These eight
antique chairs going at the last time
going gone! Sold to the gentleman in the be-
hind the sdeboard Theodore"
"They were certainly fine chairs, Mr. Crimes said
Parsons shaking his head.
"So-so" said the chandler, sitting down heavily,
soSo ParSOnS and he turned to glare at Bellew who,
lying back in easy chair with his legs upon another
putting at his pipe regarded all things with
not intended to record in these pages all the bids
that were made the afternoon advanced; for that
would be fatguing to write and WEAKNESS to read.
Suffice 1T that lots were put up and regularly knocked
down; but always to Bellew or Adam. Which last,
encouraged by Bellows bold advances, gaily roared
down and constantly outbid all competitors with such
unhesatng pertinacity that murmurs and sweled
into open complaint In the midst of which, the fiery
vlsaged corn chandler, purple now between heat and
vexat1on loudly demanded that he lay down sub
stanal deposit upon what he had already purchased;
failing which, he should there and then be took and
shook and throwed out into the yard.
"Neck and crop!" added Parsons.
"That seems to be fair proposition" smiled the
auctoneer, who had already experienced doubts
as to Adams financial capabilities, yet with his jovality
all unrued, "that be very fair proposal in
deed. If the gentleman will put down substantial
deposit now
"Aye, for sure, nodded ADAM stepping forward; and
unbutoning capacous pocket he drew handful of
banknotes "Shall gle we hundred pounds or will
fifty be enough?"
4Why," said the auctoneer, rubbing his hands as he
eyed the stful of banknotes ten pound will be all that
is necessary, Srust to insure good faith, you under
stand"
Hereupon, Beew beckoned to Adam and handed
him like amount, which duly deposited.
so once the bidding began once more lots were
- put up and knocked down-aways to Adam
and then Beew. The bed with the carved headboard
had fallen to Adam after lively contest between him
and Parsons and the chandler, which left the
last in state of perspring profanity from which he
by means recovered when the auctiOneer once
raped for silence
"And now, Gentlemen last but by no means least
we come to the gem of the sae,-a sideboard Gentle
men, magnificent mahogany sideboard being superb
example OF the carvers art. Here is sideboard, Cen
temen which, if it be equaled cannot be exceled-
Gentlemen not if you search all the baronial
halls and lordy mansions in this land of mansions and
a 1fI(art r,nrfao