Evening star., 1921-04-17

'em are just what you want. Be pa
tient with me. folks. I'm slow
guesser, but I'll get around after a
while. Now, what's in that there
crate. Jim? Hoist it up here so these
good people san see"
That was the exact moment when I
should have gone away from there
fought my way out, IL necessary. I
had the hunch. all right. that this
was my cue for fitting. Why I didn't
I can't say. Maybe I was curious to
see what was in that fool crate. 1t
was a solid built affair. about the size
of a roll-top desk, and under the Stats
is a linin' Of heavy buildin' paper.
"Eh?" says the auctioneer. lookin'
it over. THAT doesn't help much.
does 1t? Look it over. Jim. and see
If there are any marks to show whats 8
is. Come on. now, let's see If there's
any sporting blood in this crowd.
Here we have. good people. an article
so rare and costly that 1t was Grated
with great care. Idon't know what's
inside. You don't. Might be half a
ters. including the missing Mona Lisa.
Or maybe a couple Of genuine Hep
plewaite chairs brought over in the
Mavhower. Will you take a chance
II will? Let's see. Somebody start
it,"
NOBODY did. though. One hard
~ faced old girl with peroxide hair.
probably some boardin' house land
lady, did venture to step up and take
peek. but that's as far as she'd go.
Gentlemen" says the auctioneer.
I'm surprised and panied. Here I
put up to you a perfectly good sport
ing proposition and you shy of as
though 1 was trying to sell you stock
in an outdoor skating rink located in
Havana. Honest. this isn't a gambling
not asking you to bet on which shell
the little pea is under. Nothing like
that. I'll guarantee you'll get some
thing for your money. Come! Give
US bid. You. young man in the new
straw hat Show 'em the way. will
your
And once more I have all the SEN
sations of being called on by the
toastmaster. Everybody turns and
rubbers at me. and 1 could feel my
ears tintin' ur. And the next thing
I knew I heard myself sayin'. husky:
Five dollars"
The man seems mighty grateful for
that. He stops and thanks me. He
says he's glad to find one true sport
in the bunch. Also he asks earnest
who'll make it ten. That was too
much of jump. though. After a
good deal Of eloquent pleadin'. how
ever. salTow faced gent on the other
Now we're off" says the auction
eer. svingin' back at me. will you
make ii Iseven?"
BY that time ! was gettin' over my
stage fright a bit. I mods casual that
would. ! was kind Of enjoyin' the
90
the biddin' once or twice more and
then dropped out I could make rv
getaway with a clear conscience. I'd
have been some help. even II hadHt
bought anything.
But they sure were a lot Of hard
boiled eggs in that crowd. The man
talks his smoothest. but he can't seem
almost before I know what's hap
penin' I find that the prize package
has been knocked down to me.
"All right" says !. stepping up and
countin' out the money. Send 1t up
Nothing doing" says the cash
Say. I don't know yet how I could
be buffaloed the way I was by that
auction room gang. TIL admit I was
fused and all that. but they sure did
work me. Seems I not only had to
pay spot cash for the thing. but IL ]
didn't take IL with me they'd soak me
twice as much for storage charges
Wouldn't even let me go out along
to look for a truck. but sends along
n special cop to see that / got one
OF course. I couldn't pick up q stray
delivery truck on Broadway. Ever
try ito We find an express ofiice on
side street, but they had no trucks
in and couldn't promise one until
next day.
Better get a taxi" suggests the cop
That's what most Of EN- do
So / hailed a brown and black and