Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-05-13

Pervus DeJong, standing beside Selma,
viewed the proceedings with an air of
detachment. High Prairie was looking
at MIN expectantly, openly. The widow
DIT her red lip, tossed her head. Per
vus DeJong returned the auctioneer's
meaning smirk with the mild gaze of a
disinterested outsider.
"Gentsi~ Adam Ooms' voice took
on fearful note-the tone of one who
Is more hurt than angry. Gents !"
Slowly. with infinite reverence, he lift
ed one corner Of the damask cloth that
concealed the hampers contents-lifted
It and peered within as at a treasure.
AT what he saw there he started back
dramatically, at once rapturous. de-
spalring, amazed. He rolled his eyes
He smaeked his lips. He rubbed his
stomach. The sort of dumb show that,
since the days of the Greek drama. has
Deen used to denote gastronomic de-
light
Eighty J! was wrenched suddenly
from Goris Won Vauren, the nineteen
year7oid fat and gluttonous son of
ldEUlHT.
Adam Ooms rubbed brisk palms to
gether Now then! A dollarl A
dollar! It's an insult to this basket to
make 1t less than a dollar" He leaned
far forward over his improvised pulpit.
DID L hear you say a dollar, Pervus
DeJong?" DeJong stared, immovable.
unabashed. "Eighty-eighty-ei ghty-eighty
gents I'm going to tell you some
thlng. I'm going to whisper a secret"
Ills lean face was veined with crafti-
ness. Gents. Listen. 1t isn't chicken
In this beautiful / basket. 1t isn't
chicken. lt's"-a dramatic pause
its roast duck" He swayed back,
mopped his brow with his red handker,
chief, held one hand high in the air.
His last card.
"Eighty-tivel" groaned the fat Goris
Won Vuuren.
"Eighty-five EIghty-five! Eighty
Observation-Disclosures eighty five
Gents Gentlemen! Eighty-five once
Eighty-five-twice!" (Crash Gone
to Goris Won Vuuren for eighty-five."
A sigh went up from the assemblage;
sigh that was the wind before the
storm. There followed a tornado of
talk. 1t cracked and Numbered. The
rich Widow Paarlenberg would have to
eat her supper with Won Vuuren's bow.
the great thick Goris. And there in
the doorway, talking to teacher as If
they had known each other for years.
was Pervus DeJong with his money in
his pocket. 1t was as good as a plav.
Adam Ooms was angry. His lean,
| fox-like face became pinched with spite.
He prided himself on his antics as auc-
tloneer; and his chef d'oeuvre had
brought a meager eighty-fve cents. be-
sides doubtless winning him the en-
nifty of that profitable store customer,
the Widow Paarlenberg. Goris Won
Vuuren came forward to claim his prize
amidst shouting, clapping, laughter.
The great hamper was handed down
to him.
Adam Ooms scuffied about among
the many baskets at his feet. His nos.
trils looked pinched and his skinny
hands shook little as he searched for
one small object.
When he stood upright once more he
was smiling. His little eyes cleaned
His wooden scepter pounded for ST.
! lence. High in one hand, balanced
daintily on his finger tips, he held
Selina's little white shoe box, with its
red ribbon binding it, and the plume OF
evergreen stuck in the ribbon. Affect
ing great sOlicitude he brought it down
then to read the name written on It !;
held it aloft again, smirking.
He said nothing. Grinning. he held
1t high. He turned his body at the
waist from side to side, so that all
might see. The eyes of those before
him still held mental picture Of the
huge hamper, fOod-packed, that had
just been handed down. The contrast
was too absurd, too cruel. A ripple of
laughter swept the room; rose; swelled
to roar. Adam OOms waited with a
nice sense Of the dramatic until the
laughter had reached its height, then
held up hand for silence. great
scraping "Ahem!" as he cleared his
throat threatened to send the crowd off
again.
"Ladies-and gents! Here's a dainty
little tidbit. Here's something not
only for the inner man, but feast for
the eye. Well, boys, if the last lot was
too much for you this lot ought to be
just about right. If the food amt quite
enough for you, you can tie the ribbon
in the lady's hair and put the posy In
your bOttonhoe and there you are.
There you are What's more, the lady
herself goes with it. You don't get
country girl with this here box, gents.
A city girl, you can tell by looking at
it, Just. And who is she? Who did
up this dainty little box just big enough
for two?" He inspected it again, sol
emily, and added, as an aTterthought,
IF you amt feeling specially hungry.
Who?-" He looked about, apishly.