Part 16 (1/2)

”Yes, sir, ot no price sot on it?”

”No, sir; this is an auction store, and we take e can get for a thing Coive ye a quarter for it,” said the old man after considerable hesitation

”A quarter I a up the blade and holding it up so that allblades, a buckhorn handle, well riveted, and extra-teentle man, after an examination of the knife

”Thirty cents I am offered Thirty! thirty! Some one make it thirty-five----”

”Thirty-five cents!” put in the old countryuess that knife is wuth that tomore to tease the old countryman than because he desired the knife

[Illustration: THE YOUNG AUCTIONEERS AT WORK Y A]

”Forty I a out Matt, who did not care who obtained the knife, so long as a good figure was reached ”Forty! forty! Coher than that, please!”

”Forty-five cents, and that's rumbled the old countryman, who had, however, set his heart on the knife theout the young man promptly

”Fifty cents I am offered!” went on Matt, in a business-like way

”Fifty cents, gentleht to be in every one's pocket--a knife worth having! Who says seventy-five!”

Matt knew very well that no one in the croould ain, and his hope was realized Instead of going to fifty-five, the countryman offered sixty cents

He had hardlyhe had aroused the old man to a state of recklessness in which he would keep on bidding, offered seventy-five cents for the knife

”Seventy-five cents I aht-five--eighty?” and he glanced inquiringly at the old countryman

But the old man shook his head

”Not a penny over seventy-five cents,” he muttered in a low tone

”Seventy-five!” went on Matt ”Come, now, raise it just a bit! The knife is really worth it Who says eighty? Seventy-five-five-five!

Last call, re man for seventy-five cents!”

And Matt held out the knife to the last bidder, and rew red and drew back

”Oh, pshaw! I didn't want the knife!” he gruer price for it,” and he began to edge his way toward the door

”Hold on! Not so fast!” said Andy, in a low voice, as he caught him by the arm ”This company doesn't do business that way If you did not wish the knife you should not have bid for it We are not running this store for fun”