The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-10-19
sGtonicIes Of
! AddinQtonPeace
FLETCHER RODlnSON

Peace" said. making note OF the
number on my shirt cum.
He nodded. with faint shadow OF a
smile at the corners OF his mouth,
shook a finger OF warning, and trotted
out OF the room.
/ was punctual at my appointment
and shouldered my way through the
crowd OF chattering dealers into the
big dining room of No. 204. A private
auction to me always seems a melan-
choly business. True. l knew that In
this case the owner was a rich man,
that his furniture and carpets and MT
tings had been bought only a year or
two before. and were not the loved col
lection OF years. But the tumbled dis
order. the mud OF many feet upon the
floor, the noise OF the bidders answer
ing the raucous voice OF the auction
eer, were all an insult TO the peace,
the privacy and the hospitable mem
cries OF stately home. II was with
relief that saw Colonel Gunton's
eyeglass shining near the window, and
elbowed my way towards him. he had
a little boy with him, whom he car
ried perched on his shoulder. well out
OF the way of the crowd.
Hello, Phillips" he shouted, In a
tone that successfully competed with
the auctioneer's. Come TO see the
last OF old Taubery's household gods.
Ell? Confound those dealers. what a
noise they make bidding for that TIA
BILE. Pom my soul, when / think how
many good dinners I've had with my
toes underneath II. feel quite senti-
mental, do, Phillips. strike me"
To emphasize his sensations he
glared ferociously at a weak individ-
ual who was pressed against him by a
swirl in the crowd. and asked him
what in thunder he thought he was
doing
The great table was bought, the last
OF the heavy furniture; and there
only remained few details that were
auctioned, some separately. some In
oddly assorted lots. II was during
their sale that my talk with the col
onel was interrupted by the little boy
upon his shoulder.
"Oh. father" he cried. there's
Georges bicycle horsel Won't you buy
me Georges bicycle horse?"
A long-tailed, long-maned toy was
raised by one OF the auctioneer's men,
who grinned under running fire or
chan. | had an idea that had seen
that gallant charger before, though
where could not remember.
who is George7' l asked the col
onel.
IT'S Taubery's grandson. His
daughters widow, you know; she
and the boy live with the old people.
HI. there! ten shillings"
A gray.haired man in an oyercoat
who stood near by nodded his head at
the auctioneer.
Eleven shIllings-going at eleven
shilIings"
Fifteen" bawled the colonel
"One pound said the gray-haired
man.
had no idea what the cost OF such
toys might be; but the price, second
hand. seemed high. Several OF the
dealers gathered about the chair on
which the auctioneer was standing
looked back at us over their shout
ders.
"Confound those dealers!" cried
the colonel. III an outside buyer
wants anything they try TO squeeze
him out. They're all In league. It
ought to be stopped. It's a monstrous
shame It's Ubiquitous. Twenty-Five
shillings to you. sir"
Thirty" said the gray.haired man.
1.-TWO pounds"
As the bids increased the temper
OF the colonel grew worse and worse
Those who were well out OF hir reach
began to chuckle. and finally TO laugh
outright. At four pounds ten he hest
tated. With supreme effort he mado
II FIVE.
"Guineas." said the gray-haired man
am sorry 20 say that the colonel