Part 1 (1/2)

Young Auctioneers

by Edward Strate Auctioneers” forms the initial volu Upward Series”

The tale is complete in itself, and tells of the adventures of a hoh not a penniless youth, who strikes up an acquaintanceshi+p with another young fellow experienced as an auctioneer The two purchase a horse and wagon, stock up with goods, and take to the road The partners pass through a nuer lad is continually on the lookout for his father, who has broken out of an asylued in mind over the loss of his wife and his fortune

I have endeavored in this tale to give a faithful picture of life a salese, especially to those who inhabit our large cities In country places the traveling auctioneer is looked for as ato the hu to the ains” offered on a previous trip

I sincerely trust that , and that the ht, honest life under any and all circumstances--will not escape them

EDWARD STRATEMEYER

THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER

CHAPTER I

MATT ATTENDS A SALE

”Now, ladies and gentleant vase, imported direct from Italy, a most marvelous piece of workmanshi+p, worth every cent of twenty-five dollars? Who will start it at five dollars? Start it at four? Start it at three? At two? At one dollar?

What is that--fifty cents? Rather low, lady, but as I said before, these goods ardless of the prices obtained Fifty cents, it is! Fifty--fifty! Who will make it one dollar?”

”Sixty!”

”What, only sixty? Well, well, well! Never o, and sixty cents is better than nothing Sixty--sixty----”

”Seventy-five!”

”Eighty!”

”One dollar!”

”At last I am offered one dollar! Think of it! One dollar for a beautiful vase such as ht well adorn the home of a Gould, or a Vanderbilt! But such is life One dollar--one dollar----”

”One and a quarter!”

”One and a half!”

”One and a half is offered! Oh, what a shaentlemen; a paltry dollar and a half for an article worth, at the very lowest estimate, twenty-five dollars Who makes it two dollars?”

”Two!”

”Two and a half!”