The Washington herald., 1917-03-20

Their Married Life, produced BY
Mabel Herbert Urner for four years
The Married Life of Helen and War
ren,' appearing exclusively In this pa
per, IL the only series now being writ
ten BY Mabel Herbert Urner.
An auctioneer's flag and a glaring white
sign desecrated the front OF the Trailol
residence. The stately old house seemed
TO shrink from this fragrant indignity.
Before Helen could ring. the door was
opened by a watchful attendant.
They're selling upstairs now" he said
as ne handed her a catalogue
Thank you. but I'll look at the china
and glass first
Passing on she found the dining-room
crowded with prospective purchasers. ex-
arnining the articles in this last mo-
ment before their sale.
Everything was ticketed with a cata-
.oGue humber. The piled china and glass
hlled the long center table and side
board, while the silver was shown In
the china closets.
Helen Immediately concentrated on the
glasses. The set that most Interested her
was heavy old English cut. Accord
ing to the catalogue, there were, Of this
design. II wines, II hooks and water
tumblers
Because the lots were so broken, Helen
1elt sure they would go cheap. The
hocks could be used for cocktails and
the wines were claret size
As attorney for the Trailor estate,
warren had known OF the sale, and al
MS suggestion she had come down yes
terday to look through the house The
glasses some bed and table linen, a CASH
mere rug. and an antique clock were
the things she had marked.
Inc glasses came first and Warren had
promised TO be there before they were
q 0NWN1
Eanted him to do the bidding.
In the library the linen. each lot tied
ana tlcketed. was displayed on a long scaf-
r9'd-like table made OF boards 1t seemed
rcredible that any private house could
ave used so much linen. It was all ex-
De1sive. but as every piece was mono
s'amei. j. c. T.. surely it would not
60 high.
Hello Kitten! See anything you want?''
warren had come up unobserved
On. / m so glad you're here-' Joyous
". Some Of this linen IS wonderful.
Look at those embroidered sheets-and
the pillow cases to match. And all these
line table-cloths and napkins. Dear, you
know how high linen is now. If this goes
cheap we ought to stock up"
Sure, mark the lots you want" passing
on to inspect the library furniture. Did
you see this desk? Wouldn't be bad for
my ONCE"
1t was a massive hat-topped MAHOGANY
desk with side drawers.
"Oh, that's an expensive piece Won't
that bring a good price,
You can't tell. I'd give sixtv. 1t cost
nearer two hundred. How about that
chair for our library?"
That's much too heavy 1t wouldn't
90 with anything We have. Come in here
Il want you to see the glasses. It's this
SET Feel how heaVy-aren't they beau
They've made three lots of them. "
Warren consulted the catalogue. That's
awkward. If We get the first lot some-
body may run US on the others
But II We get the first lot-would
any one want the others?"
well. we'll take a crack at 'em any
way" he marked the three numbers.
How about those decanters? That's a
fine old pair
Not unless they go absurdly cheap
we've no place to put them
ANY silver" viewing the display in
one of the china closets.
Mono. we've more silver now than
\ she can keep clean. Dear. don't bid on a
| lot Of things we don't really need "
knowing Warren's weakness.
A nearing rumble. The auctioneer ana
audience were coming downstairs. Ac-
cording to the catalogue the glassware
and china came next
The dining-room was soon crowded to
the doors. The auctioneer mounted q
chair, while an attendant held up the
first piece to be sold.
'.SN, Salad Bowel old Waterford cut,
How much? Five dollars! Six-seven-
eight! Eight! Ten! Ten I have. That's
your bid, sir. Eleven-twelve! Twelve!
You all through with poised pencil.
Sold
''why. wasn't that high?' whispered
Helen.
"tGet good prices at these house-sales.
And everything here's A l. Trailor only
brought good stuff. 1 thought this would
20 we'll"
s.sss Pair Antique Decanters. with sill
YER Shoppers. Ten dollars to start them!
Twelve Twelve-fifty for
."Fifteen," bid Warren. raising his
1 Tstxteen! Sixteen by two bidders!
| FZyenteenI"
'sDon't-don't. dear" restrained Helen.
That's an awful price"
| But though Warren, in spite Of her
tuxEing protests. bid up to twenty-five.
the decanters went to thirty before they
were knocked down.
1t took constant whispered pleadings,
that they did not have room and did not
need the things. to keep Warren from
Kidding on other lots before the coveted
Kfasses finally came up.
"Now dear not more than fifty cents
apiece! I'm nervous about the three
lots. oh. perhaps you'd better not try
for them
Leave this to me-" in a gruff under
tone, Jerking free his arm.
go, Eleven Cut Glass Wines. Old Eng
lish zlasses-extra heavy. Eleven of
thenni How much? Three dollars for the
lot. -three-four!" taking Warren's
bld. Observation-Disclosures
ignoring Helen's whispered Don't
don'tr" Warren nodded again.
''six-1fty! Six-ffty. That all? Sold
to Mr.. Curtis
Breathlessly Helen waited for the
IHkhers What II they should bring more?
A3s, Fourteen Hooks. Old English cut
sxms design a. the last lot. Five dol