Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-03
To the Highest Bidder.

Ut was such bright Spring morn
ing, birds singing in every shrub,
the flowers nodding "good-morn-
L ing" to the sun, that it seemed as
If the whole world must be in uni
son and q discordant note could not be
found.
But none of the Joy of the morning
was reflected in the manner of the
hard-visaged woman at the desk as
she gloWered at the tear-stained,
pleading face of the gray little woman
before her. whose eyes intermlttently
wandered to q large door through
which workmen were bringing boxes,
trunks and household goods when
were scheduled to be sold that day at
public auction to the highest BIDDER
for accumulated storage charges. sud
denly her eyes filled as the men
brought in a small, battered trunk.
She involuntarily started forward put
checked herself and once more turned
appealingly to the stony-hearted wom-
an who was experimenting the sale.
please give me little more time
and I will get the money"
The manager did not seem to hear
the words, but she felt the light touch
as a work hardened, tired old mana
was laid gently on her silk-coVered
arm. With a shrug of impotence she
moved away and brushed her sleeve as
if to remove the sensation OF the con-
tact.
"Why don't you go away?" she
GROSSLY inquired.
"If you would please wait little
Bit" tirnidly answered the little
woman.
"If YOU haven't the money I cannot
bother with you" And the very ell
-
age house turned coolly to her file OF
delinquent accounts.
But" hesitatingly sobbed the old
lady, sit is all 1 have left that was
Charles; he was my little boy and
| he went to war. but he didn't come
back"
The crowd of prospective bidders
who were idly inspecting the goods to
be sold paused at the sound of the
plaintive voice and watched the pro-
ceedings at the desk, some curious
and some visibly interested.
The auctioneer took his place and
very soon the sale was in progress.
The battered trunk was being hoist.
ed to the selling block where all might
see it. With a gtNping sob the little
woman again approached the man
ager.
What is the amount due on
Charles trunk?" she asked.
The manager held up her hand to
momentarily stop the sale as she re-
piled with irritation. Ten dollars. "
please, please give me until to-
morrow and will surely have it for
you"
Money talks here" savagely re-
sponded the woman. PAY or get
out Then turning toward the auc-
tioneer she shouted GO on"
Dry-eyed now. the little mother
watched with a sort of uncanny in
terest as the apparent ownership of
the trunk was shifted from one corner
of the room to another and always a
deep authoritative voice seemed to bid
little higher, which encouraged the
auctioneer to continued efforts.
"It has foreign labels on it and bears
evidence of having belonged to a globe
trotter. Probably contains antiques -
rang his sonorous voice. Twenty dol
lars 1 am offered-who will make it
twenty-five?"
Twenty piped a thin, ecxited
voice from the rear of the crowd.
Thirty" promptly came the heavy
voice from the center.
The bidding continued and the little
woman became almost happy in the
thought LnaL ner Cnarl1G trunk
should be so highly bid for. She was
almost lost in reverie when the boom
ing voice of the auctioneer aroused
her.
Going, once; going, twice; gone.
Sold for $50 to the gentleman in the
center of the room"
She Immediately bestirred herself
as the trunk was lifted to the shout
ders Of man and borne away toward
the street. Frantically she fought her
way to the door and leaned weakly
against the casing as she watched the
man securing the trunk to the running
board of a shining limousine. She
closed her eyes so she would not see
it driven away. The engine began to
purr. Her dearly loved baby's uni
form, medals and some little trinkets
she had put there would be taken
| away by stranger who could not ap-
preciate them.
| A kind, masterful hand took hers
and supporting arm encircled her