The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-02-02


crouched an old woman, with gentle
but haggard face. More than one
friend of the old doctors wife had
begged her to spend the day with
them, thinking to save her some of
the anguish of the sale. But the old
woman was positive in her refusal.
She must stay at home, she said, to see
that no harm came to any of the
treasures and to bid them goOd-by and
to know into whose care they were
going.
"Going-going called the auc-
tioneer. "Why, gentlemen, it's ridicu-
,lous! That desk is worth S40 if it's
worth a cent. Offer something in rea-
son"
give dollars" said voice in the
doorway.
give dollars and ten CENTS" rasped
Ia harsh voice quickly.
The old woman shivered. She had
heard that rasping voice many times
during the day, from one room to an
fother, and now it had come to the
doctors loved library, where she was
icrouching. Giles Cady in his very
young days had entered her husbands
,employ as office boy, then had studied
medicine with him and finally been
taken into partnership. In those days
doctor Brooks had been considered
very Well-to-do, and Giles Cady had
nothing Giles Cady was now we'll
TODD, and it was he who was closing
out the doctors wife under mort
gage for some money the doctor had
borrowed.
"Going-going," repeated the auc-
!tioneer; going"
"Six dollars" from the doorway.
"Six-ten," rasped Giles.
A quick step came up the stairs and
along the hall into the library and its
owner glanced around. Then he
walked straight to the old doctors
wife.
81 reached town only an hour ago,
Mrs. Brooks" he said in a low voice,
''and just heard. I came straight
here. I'm sorry. Isn't there some
thing l can do?"
mot thing, Harry" smiled the old
woman, the tenderness returning to
her eyes. "Just your coming has
made me feel better. The doctor
loved his young people, as he called
them, and you were one of his favo-
rites"
I "He saved my life when had that
fever" said the young man in
troubled voice. "He sat up with me
at least half a dozen nights in sue
cession, l wish l could"
-going-going," singsonged
the auctioneer. "Why, gentlemen"
"Six-fffty," from the doorway.
"Six-sixty," snapped Giles.
twenty-five dollars" called the
young man sharply.
All in the room turned quickly. The
iauctioneer smiled. Giles glared
"Twenty- fve-ten," he yelled.
"Thirty."
Giles stamped across the room.
"What do you mean, sir-what do
you mean?" he spIuttered.
"Why, that I may get the desk, of
course. What did you mean by bid
ing against the others? You wanted
the desk, too, of course. It's really a
very valuable article. l believe the
doctor was your benefactor, though,
so naturally you want it."
Giles half opened his mouth, as
though to make some angry retort.
but the room was watching and he
forced a sickly smile to his face and
turned away"
"Thirty-ten," he muttered.
'"Tnirty-fve."
"Thirty-fve-ten."
The young man looked at his COM
,panion with an amused smile, In
which was wonder at the manner of
his competitors bidding. Giles repu-
'tation did not lean that way.
"Forty."
"Forty-ten.'
"Forty-fve."
"Forty-fve-ten."
The rooms amusement had changed
Ito amazement. What did it mean?
There evidently was something behind
lit all, for Giles was not man to
throw away even cent.
"Fifty."
"Please, Harry" whispered Mrs
Brooks. you've goaded him far
enough. The desk is invaluable to me-
but couldn't be to Giles. / don't I'M
sderstand."
Harry nodded, and when the savage
t'Fifty-ten' came, remained silent.
At the "Gone to Giles Cady," the
new owner sprang forward and began
Ito open drawer after drawer in his
evident anxiety, seemingly forgetful
of the onlookers. The old Doctors
wife watched him curiously.
Nothing there, Giles" she called,
Except in the third drawer from the
right, which has several of the doc
tors letters. I meant to have taken
them out, but neglected it. You may
hand them to me now. as they are of
no use to you"
81 bought the desk, which means
everything about it." Giles retorted
|ungraciously.
He pulled out the third drawer and
took from it several letters, which he
examined carefully, opening and shak-
ing them out and looking into the en-
.velopes. Then he tossed them con-
temptuously to the old woman.