The sun., 1917-09-14

face Looks as II you didn't bring
your money with you to-day"
But Gottfried Walbaum, fat, white
haired. with deep lines around his
mouth and penduious bags under his
inscrutable eyes, sat immovable In the
back room and watched the dismant-
ling Of the gambling house he ran with
out culver at the small sums offered
and accepted. After all. ~ the old negro
the gamblers observed. Walbaum has
cool 100000 or eS,0oo.oo0, and no
one but his wife to take care OF, SO he
can afford to lose on this sale.
1t was after 8 o'clock, the auctioneers
voice was near the breaking point. and
the crowd was growing tagged In the
hot rooms, but determined not to leave
until the bronze door was sold. A, last
II came-700. All day long men and
women had been lingering II where II
hung at the inner door, the one shut
ting In the dining room on the main
floor. They were mostly men who ex-
amined II, queer fox faced men with
dark skins whose lips moved as II
calculating what they could make out Of
the thing. It's strange and intricate de-
signs Of graceful nude women and dane
ing children, It's quaint Latin lettering.
Its reputed history of long years in
storied Venice before being brought here.
all this could have meant little to these
men. but they fiocked anxiously to the
block as the auctioneer announced It.
Door Started at 5000.
Smith confessed himself frankly
stumped by the lot II don't know
what to start It at" he said. ITS q
value no one knows, but It's great. The
Baron Monaco. or the Prince, II that's
his title, sent over to buy It for $500.
Ridiculous I'm going to- start 1t at
$780,"
But there were no takers. and he had
20 let It down TO $500 from which the
bids gradually rose to $1,000. A portly.
suave. middle aged man with graying
hair and a twinkle in his eye was the
individual who made the $1,000 offer
and carelessly peeled Off $500 yellow
eSsary deposit.
Make out the receipt to A. Zust," he
said.
None Of the crowd of auction fire.
quenters could recollect dealer named
A. Zust--dealer was what the buyer
first declared himself to be. "Of course
wouldn't think Of putting 1t In my
own home" ne remarked. sthe twinkle
In his eye becoming more Obvious. 1T
belongs on a wine cellar"
At this point a man who had bid
against "A. Zust" beckoned the re-
porters. "Tell you what" he said con-
fidentially. 'the buyers really George
ID. Leary Of Southampton. He's going to
put 1t in his show place down there u
Confronted with this statement the new
possessor of the bronze door gave a
start OF surprise that was either very
real or well simulated.
How'd you hnd my name?" he In
quired. N"Now. I don't want any pub
licity. II was really Mrs. Leary who
bought IT," But feeling Of distrust still
permeated the hearers. and Auctioneer
Smiths belief that he was neither A
Zust nor George D. Leary. but an agent
OF the Prince OF Monaco. gained ready
credence.
Well known jurists. actresses and
others mingled with the thronK of buy.
ers. Judge William X. Oicott was one
who made several bids. and Lee Shubert
Charles Burnham OF the Gaiety ant
Fanny Ward were some Of the repre-
sentativeef OF the theatrical world. Tit
sale began Wednesday. but few person,
attended then--kept away. II was said
by the history Of the house.