Evening star., 1933-10-29


circumstances who would have
preferred joining a cannibalis-
tic pot-luck party Gas the luck parD rather
than face what he generally had to- But
nobody ever knew the feelings OF Mr.. Penwlodie
but himself
Mr. Penwiddie was one of those chaps VINO
are forever having adventures IN the world OF
trade. He could not resist bargain OF tne
bizarre type ever. Orthodox bargains, however
great. didn't interest him. But give the trans
action or the thing itself quaint favor-and
Mr.. Penwiddie would sign the dotted line
signature SO firm and famboyant as to make
John Hancock's timid and vacillatlng
That sale at the Unicorn Storage Warehouse
was as quaint and thrilling as any he had ever
participated in The vast, cold confines Of the
warehouse reeked with mystery, drama Goods
of other days, chattelS Of persons Of fame, queer
things from here and everywhere. Never any
two articles approached similarity Ana
of all. many of them sight unseen' GRAB
bags!
Mr. penViddie stood on the rim OF the eager
crowd while the auctioneer piled his trade.
Folks wouldn't fool you No. siri Now this
tremendous sale of unclaimed goods may have
a bonanza hidden here and there. 1t may have
also more or less junk. But think! Somebody
must have loved it or they wouldn't have taken
the trouble to store it! That's point
SOL don't see how you folks can be cheated
Here's the first item. An old telescope valise
Gosh, It's heavy. Maybe it holds bricks. And
maybe>gold! WhattamIoffered?"
THE valise went for As cents Its purchaser
opened it quickly and found lot OF old
clothes. He wasn't cheated-much!
bored husky emerged from the mysterious
dark of the warehouse with huge bundle on
his shoulder 1t was wrapped in sort OF quilt
of marvellous violence dusty and tied about with
heavy tape.
From the shape it might have been anything
at ALL A bass fiddle. bit of oversize Ming
pottery. stuffed crocodile. A what-haVe-
you The auctoneer glanced at it.
Piece No TO- he chanted. Bundle un-
claimed Hmm Been here 35 years. Say.
folks that's a record. Well, we don't know
what's in it. I'm weak from guessing and you
must be- too How much am offered for this
bundle, containing an unknown article? Some
body start it at so cents! C'mon!"
Mr.. Penwiddie had stood around Spectatoring
as long as he could without an explosion. With
scarcely glance at the thing he offered SO
cents And his pulse stepped itself up five
notches Temperature 100! = Respiration
sketchy!
'Hah! The gentleman bids so cents!" cried
the auctioneer. He has . hunch. Is there
somebody else who wants TO DID!
There was. lady bid feeble dollar MI.
Penwiddie gared at her. then bid a nom
chalant dollar and ten cents. The lady shrugged
but intoned a dollar and a quarter. Whereupon
Mr.. Penwiddie rasped out crisp dollar and
half
His antagonist was through. Nobody else
was interested in swathed juggernauts 1t
looked too much like roll of bedding or some
thing.
Mr.. Penwiddie paid his money and gave his
name and address. Then he reached for his
purchase. 1t proved to be fairly heavy. He
picked It up and left.
He speculated on the thing he had bought.
It was his now-and he had to take it home.
Home! There was a sudden twinge in his
mental process! Sabbatia! His wife What
would she have to say about this thing-which
She would undoubtedly call piece OF utter
idiocy"?
Well, he'd weathered Sabbatia before and had
come serenely back in port. (Wen, fairly
serene1yD So, suddenly, his decision was made
and he hoisted the thing his shoulder and
struggled out.
There was bus line at the end of the street
that passed his home. SO he started for it, his
heart singing with clear. unadulterated happi-
ness.
Wonder what was in the thing, anyway!
There were apparently so many layers Of pro-
tecting material over it that its nature could
orlv he p1essed at BUT there 4 of