Evening star., 1928-10-24
The Auction.

The Auction.
uD o you know, Dora" Mrs. Ar
- cher said, pointing ex-
citedly to small yellow
- handbill she held in her
hand. that there's to be
an auction over on Miller avenue at l
o'clock this afternoon? A family by
| the name of Carter are selling every
thing they have. They are going away.
| l guess. called Mary France and she
said the Carriers had only been house
keeping a few years and their things
ought to be as good as new. She said
she would be ready to go when We
came by. I want you to go with me
you can, can't you?
why, I don't know" said Mrs. Fris
by doubtfully. II haven't much money
1 can take. bought so much at that
auction last week that I've been short
of housekeeping money all this week.
I've had to scrinp awfully and Jack
asked me this morning if he was TO
expect corned-beef hash and rice pud-
ding again today. don't know why he
said that, seeing I've only served it
let me see," and she thoughtfully count
ed a moment and then said with a
startled look at her friend. why, I
believe I've served 1t five times lately.
oh, dear, I don't see how dare go,
Fanny"
"Oh, pshaw!" protested Mrs. Archer.
"It won't kill Jack Frisby to eat hash,
and rice pudding is wholesome enough
for any one. And the chance Of going
to such an auctiin as this one over on
Miller avenue is an opportunity OF
lifetime. There isn't much I want, but
still it won't do any harm to go and
see what they've got. 1t won't cost
anything just to look
"No-o-I suppose not" said Mrs
Frisby. visibly weakening. Maybe I'll
go, but I mustn't stay long" And so
it was settled.
The two women sarted out after
hurriedly cooked dinners. They did not
even take time to wash their dishes.
simply piled them in the dishpan and
threw dish towels over them.
On their way over they stopped for
Mrs. French.
II know what I'd CATCH" said Mrs.
French, "if Fred French knew I was
going to another auction. The last time
/ went 1 bought lot of kitchen uten-
sils. and when Fred went after them,
he had perfect fit over my purchases
He found holes in every single piece
had bought. But then / tried to tell
him little solder would make EN- as
good as new And land knows got
the whole mess for almost nothing.
Well" said Mrs. F'rishy, did you
get it mended?"
"Um-urn, not yet" answered Mrs.
French. To tell the truth, haven't
had time. They are piled up out there
in my woodshed, but as I tell Fred
they'll come IN handy. Any day some
of my things may give out and then
I'll have those things to fall back on"
Arriving at the auction the three
friends were quite disguised to find that
the auctioneer had already begun to
sell and there was no chance to look
the things over that were going to be
sold.
The three women we're shy at first
and stood a little apart from the group
of people who were bidding. but gradu-
ually their curiosity overcame their de-
termination not to bid and they moved
up and finally joined the rest of the
crowd. Finally the auctioneer had his
assistant bring out several baskets piled
high with nondescript things and
bit of fun entered into the bidding.
The baskets and contentS-good, bad
and indifferent-were to be sold to
the highest bidder. The women craned
their necks in a frantic effort to catch
q glimpse of the contents OF the sew
eral baskets, but the auctioneer Kept
them oiscreetly behind him. The one
that was to be bid on he placed on a
table by his side. 1t was so far above
the heads of the bidders that nothing
could actually be seen. 1t was posi-
lively thrilling.
Here's your chance" sang out the
auctioneer, who was young fellow
with piercing black eyes. with CLINT
of fun in them. Here's your chance to
get your moneys worth! Every one of
these baskets contains more than
dozen articles that are just what you
will be crying for in less than
week if you don't seize this grand OPP
portunity I am offering. I'll start this
basket at one dollar-make 1t one
fifty-one fifty. make 1t two" and he
laughed and looked directly into Fanny
Archer's face. Here's chance that
will make you the envy of your neigh
bors-two dollars-maf1e it two-fifty-"
Fanny Archer got confused and bid
two-sixty, thereby starting the bid for
the basket. Mrs. Frisby had been peer
ing and thought she had glimpse OF
something that looked like brass and
as the auctioneer caught her eye just
then. she said "Two-seventy. And