Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1930-02-13
County Thursday February

over the prospect of getting sew
ing machine, that she couldn't bear
the thought of letting this oIpor-
tunity slip, so she decided 81
would go anyway and see what 81
could do herself. The husband r.
sisted that she go, but to be carefn
in bidding, to watch that she didn I
bid against herself. Betty thought
that if she could just get started
right, she would come out in the end
all right. OF one thing, she was a
little fearful, that if there were
very many bidding, she might get
mixed up, and not understand the
auctioneer, and lose out Again the
husband cautioned, not to get ex-
cited nor get in too big hurry,
and quoted an old saying for her
benefit, "Never be in hurry to
shoot if the game is coming toward
YOU As they talked it over,
Betty's confidence in herself grew
amazingly. Suppose" says the hus-
band, that no one starts it? Then
what? Someone'll start it don't you
forget" says Betty. Yes, but sup
pose they DON'T insists the hus-
band. well, by the flames and
smoke if no one does, l can," re-
torted Betty. BY this time Betty's
confidence in herself was so built
up that she believed that she could
go to a sale and bid on a farm, if
necessary. 1t was mutually under
stood between husband and wife,
the price, approximately, if it would
happen that Betty would have to
put in the first bid, and no one
knew better than Betty herself,
where to stop at,-not penny be-
yond her pile.
Donning her bonnet and shawl,
the woman, full of determination
and expectation, was soon on the
way Among the little typical bunch
of rural folks that crowded into the
rather dark low ceiling room, was
Betty Brittin. When the sale COM
menced and articles in the room
were being sold, Betty made it a
point to not be far from the auc-
tioneer After the disposal of a
few pieces of furniture, then came
the sewing machine. After the US
ual harangue, the auctionecr began
crying for bids. 1t seemed that no
body wanted to start it. Apparent
ly everybody waiting, holding their
breath. What can / hear, to start
it," shouted the crier, What can
l hear?" Somebody start it! Give
us bid" "How much," How
much, how much can / hear?-
quick! Don't anybody want this
nice sewing machine, good as newt"
Give me a bid, d,-somebody, There
was tremulous voice, something
like cross between a squeak and
a squeal, that broke the silence.
Under most any other circumstances
it might have easily been taken for
a signal of distress But the quick
trained ear Of the auctioneer caught
it, it was Betty Brittin, she had
piped in bid. The auctioneer
caught Betty's eye, and with a
pleased and somewhat puzzled look,
began crying the bid vociferously.
Betty was trembling from head to
foot. her own voice had scared her
NO one seemed disposed to put in a
second bid "Once. Twice. -
Lookout, bidders and buyers, your
last chance, Once, Twice Three
Times. and gone, to this lady here,
Mrs. Brittin, your name to the
clerk"
The poor woman appeared some
what dazed by the rather sudden
transaction, and as she glanced
despairingly over the crowded
room, it seemed that every eye was
upon her. Some even looked at her
curionsly. There was babel Of
voices in an undertone and she
thought she heard an old aunt, who
was present, say Good Lordy!"
and then something was said about
finding gold mine" Other sim
liar remarks reached the poor wom-
ans ears. There was mingling of
joy and depression that Betty
couldn't fathom and as she crowd
ed past her new acquisition, to the
clerk, feeling came over her that
was weakening, yea even nauseat
ing, she was feeling heart sick
There was a something about the
whole transaction that was not just
right She was seized with a sudden
impulse to go home. She thought
that if she could get out of doors to
the fresh air it would help some.
She got around to the clerk, paid
the purchase price, grabbed up her
shawl and away she went across the
fields toward home. On the way
she thought it out. When she a."
rived home she was almost out of
breath. "Well, what! Not already?"
said the surprised, and still pros
trate man" Yes, ready" gasped
The half irate woman An I'm mad
at myself too, that's more Of it.
feel like kickin' myself. clear cross
the township "Ah! l see" says the
husband, somebody had a little bit
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