Gilpin observer., 1920-07-22

mysterious hieroglyph after the mum.
ber. 'Pretty cneap?"
| 'Ummhmm s'pect. so. You
sharge only twice about vat dey
vos vort'."
"Whatcher talkin' about?" clustered
the auctioneer. "Mr. Terhune1l never
get another chance to get these things
as cheap as that!"
mo-" The infection in the agents
voice was battery Of questions.
"Nol And you know It,"
II yet dom know it." Mr.. Gersten.
sang's voice was remarkable, In that It
| suggested so much more than the
words conveyed.
well. it's worth $50 for you to find
| 1t out"
Don bodder mel I'm bizzy."
"A hundred, then"
Say! Dis one-you got it marked
for three hundert dollars-vouldn't be
wort dat If 1t was from Won piece
made; and 1t is from more dan four
and two are pone and not ivory" said
the agent irrelevantly.
1.-TWO hundred" replied the auction
eer, equally irrelevantly.
"Say! Vat you mean? Are you dry
ing to pride me?" The look of vir-
tuouS indignation almost convinced
the auctiOneer that he had made
| mistake.
mo. no" he hastily assured the
man, who gazed at him in disconcert-
Ing manner. "But, you see. 1 thought
you might make a mistake, and I
wanted to give you a little token of
my esteem" 1t sounded ridiculous,
and the auctioneer shifted uneasily
as he mathematical the eyes that
seemed to bore holes through him.
"Oh! So, to you-my esteem two
hundert dollars is vort'?"
The auctioneer had the grace to turn
red.
"For two hundert dollars, should
pass on lot dat for more dan twice
vat it is vort has der prices down
marked? Vat said der COON song? I
dom like no sheep man." and he
leered cunningly at the auctioneer.
well! What's it WORTH"
"Oh! OF the bill, ten per cent is
der usual amount. but We will say seven
hundert and fifty dollars in circular
figures.
There was little more conversa-
tion.
"All right. When get Mr.. Ter
hune's check I'll give you mine."
"Vill your" said the agent. mo-
| you villn't. I got no use for snecks;
also. I do strictly cash bizness. Now
der money, and Meester Derhune gets
a rebort; now no money, and he gets a
rebort. Elder way Is von."
(The auctioneer demurred to some
extent, and then went to the safe and
produced some bills.
"Seven hundred is all I got"
Gerstensang counted them carefully.
"All ride. You want a recivetr' he
inquired. "No? Achl 1 will make a
rebort to Meester Derhune dat will
bring tears to your eyes"-and he de-
parted.
The auctioneer waited a week, and
then went to see Mr.. Terhune. That
gentleman was busily engaged with
certain papers. and hardly needed the
others oily salutations.
"Well. sir! What can 1 do for your"
did you get your agents report1"
| 81 did" The words were ominous
in their brevity.
The auctioneer fidgeted and stam-
mered. 'T have been expectin' to hear
from you"
Have you? Well. you need wait no
longer" He handed the auctioneer a
well-remembered piece Of paper. There
was the list Of 2s7 separate items-a
sum total Of $7,s39-and underneath,
in cramped German hand:
II beg to report that the articles Is
all for more than their value quoted;
they are bogus most of them.
| "Gerstensang."
The auctioneer grew livid.
"Why, what in h did he meant
He told me he'd make a satisfactory
| report"
"Did hep inquired Mr.. Terhune.
"Why?"
"Where is your d. agentr
my man, you forget yourself! I
shall have to bid you good morn
ing"
Mr.. Terhune turned to the papers
on his desk.
Hes a cheat, a robber. a thief,
swindler" screamed the auctioneer
with vehemence.
MY dear sir, are you crazy? have
known Gerstensang all my life, and
would rely absolutely on any report he
should make"
The auctioneer gazed at Mr.. Ter
hume. and his ruddy face paled. Again
he met pair Of eyes that seemed to
beat his glances to the earth and read
him through to his brazen, sordid. de-
ceitful soul.
"Why-I don't believe" he STAN.
mered. "There never was no You're