Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-07-23
glanced my way.

glanced my way.
tB3 extreme caution, I eliminate
accidents. Before l entered the
acution-rooms which were my destl-
nation, l glanced over my shoulder
to make certain that no extensively
right-minded person was guiding
mon my trail the man whom had
knocked down. If policeman in
teryened in a street-brawl in which
| was concerned, it is conceivable
that l might be asked my means OF
livelihood, question OF obvious
embarrassment.
So | entered the auction-room5,
and took chair in the rear. Half
an hour passed before l mad bid,
and then / offered fifty dollars for
mediocre tapestry. acquired it
at eighty-five, gave a check to the
attendant, ordered the thing sent to
my arartment, and settled back in
my chair to watch the rest Of the
proceedings. do not think it sd
visable that / should be merely a
spectator at auctions; a connoissear,
even though in a small way,
achieves an instant standing. And
my acquisition of the tapestry prov
ed that l had fair taste along with
probably modest means.
OF course ! had not come here
solely to purchase. Indeed, the
tapestry would hardly conform to
the color-scheme of my rooms.
Once again l felt the sentiment o.
springtime. / wanted a home,
permanence. l wanted place
where / could put things that l had
acquired for the joy of acquisition,
and because they belonged in tnat
home. Deliberately I dismissed the
dangerous thoughts.
No man can be a success in
business if he devotes his office
hours to sentimental mornings :;
these were my office hours, and Il
was here on business. For whore
in the world is one more likely TO
have opportunity to see and study
those possessed of wealth than in
an auction-room where articles of
tremendous value are put upon the
block? And the International Auc-
ton Company catered to a clientele
of millionaires. Such bargains as
my bit of tapestry only occurred
when they were minor parts of a
great collection.
Nearly everything else was pric-
ed in the thousands, and did nos
interest me, although occasionally
noted the names and addresses Of
the purchasers. And then came the
Gerald jewel-box. Gerald was a.
multimillionaire of vulgar antece-
dents and taste who had died few
years ago. Six months later. his
widow had followed him, and they
had left heirs who chose to rid
themselves of the miscellaneous col
lection which the Geralds had ac
CURED. / could not blame the heirs.
for most of the Gerald possessions
We're more suited to the walls or
cabinets Of museum than to a
private home.
And when the auctioneer held IN
a golden box, studded with Jewels
felt embarrassment for him, COM
PEELED as he was to declare that this
article was a work of art. It was
about nine inches long, six inches
wide and four inches deep; and
Workmanship, even high degree OF
Craftsmanship, had been expended
upon it. But the thing was too cor
Fgeous, too flamboyant, and one
readily believed the auctioneer,s
statement that the late Mr.. Josenb
Gerald had himself superintendent
the designing and the manufacture
OF the box. One also believed with
out hesitation that it had cost the
multi-milhonaire over ninety thou
sand dollars. Certainly the
precious stones that studded it were