The guardian., 1940-08-10
Auction
90
By JOE FINCKLY
ASSOCIATED Newspapers.)
WNU Service.
MRS. MINToN was about to sell

CalIle Dacre declared-Callie the
tcmboy who read stories and poetry
when she was not outrunning her
competitors in marathons-a ''weep-
| full auction. 1t was just that Sarah
Minton was captivated by mail
order catalogues and city apart
ments. So, now she was widowed,
she determined to "get rid of all
that old junk" and start afresh.
Mrs. Minton disliked Callie. Once
she was sure she saw her smoking.
Another time she was "all but run
over" by Callie's roadster. And
therefore Mrs. Minton determined
to prevent the attaining of the de-
sire of poor Callie's young heart by
withholding her pewter candlesticks
from the sale.
Callie was to be married in the
fall and she loved pewter. Not be-
cause it was a fad, but because in
her curious soul there was a sense
of beauty that was certainly rare
in the prosaic countryside where her
folks had lived since pioneer days.
Old Grandfather Dacre said Callie
took after him. Maybe she did.
can picture Callie doing valiant
things on prairie schooner, be-
cause I've seen her extraordinary
patience when Aunt Mildred had
spells of rheumatism.
Now she was to marry a land
scape architect and go away from
the village and Mrs. Minton made
sure the candlesticks would not 60
with her.
Therefore, on the day appointed
for the sale, when Callie, in a bright
red sweater, her gallant curls toss
ing above tanned cheeks, drove the
offending roadster into Mrs. Min
toms yard, she was coldly informed
that ''lot 98" had been withdrawn
from the sale.
Callie sat down and grinned boy
ishly at the old auctioneer.
"That will disappoint someone"
she said casually.
"You bidding, Caller" said the
shrewd old man.
20, maybe, I'm just here to see
the fun," was the gay response. Bill
Nuttall, the fiance, often said there
was diplomatist lost in the amaz-
ing Callie.
A few dealers appeared to see
what treasure might lie among Mrs.
Minton's "junk." They found some
good things, a delicious old chest,
painted atrocious blue by the thrifty
Mrs. Minton. They fought hard bat
ties over a rather nice four-poster.
Seeing that the owner knew nothing
of the values they did not scruple
to keep prices down. At last Callie,
who hated to see unfair play, stood
up and bid briskly-for a warming
pan, nice piece.
She got it, too, although the deal
ers ran up a stiff price. She also
bought some luster-Ware, tremulous-
ly lovely, and an old imported Chip
pendale chair with gracious curves.
Some folks have money to burn"
shifted Mrs. Minton.
Children are spoiled these days.
That crack-brained old Dacre gives
that girl enough pocket-money to
run farm. And what's she do?
Almost pays for young Joe's gas
station with that car of hers, rae
ing up and down the roads till
there's not chicken or a child,
either, for that matter, that's safe.
And now buying rubbish that's only
fit for the scrap-pile. Well, it's your
advantage, Millie Minton. You
should carel"
So the neighbors talked, while
they ate ample lunches from pack
ages they had brought. Everyone
had been curious to see just what
would be offered in this unusual
sale.
When evening came Callie stopped
with her hand on the brakes to say
"good night and good-by" to her
cross-grained acquaintance.
"It amazes me, Callie Dacre,
what you could find to want in that
old chair and that warming-pan."
Il couldn't bear to see you cheat
ed, Mrs. Minton," said Callie. "You
don't know how lovely your things
are. If l could, 1 would furnish my
home with what you've thrown
away. What made you do it?" Mrs.
Minton gasped. "Do-you really
mean you wanted to help me?"
II like to see everyone get a
square DEAL" said Callie. "You see,
I'm used to sporting events and in
sports fairness is everything. And
those dealers weren't fair to you.
But of course l wanted the lovely
old chair, terribly, too. Only I paid
you what was right. They didn't.
1t was horrible"
Mrs. Minton mumbled an excuse
and hurried into the house. In a
few moments she came back carry
ing the pewter candlesticks.
MY dear" she said, with tears
very near the surface. II guess
I've misjudged you. Won't you take
these for a wedding gift? l didn't
know you had friendly thoughts for
me; just thought you only cared to
tear around in that car of yours
Callie hoped out of the car and
huupnd fha acfOpichad Mre Nin+o,,