ks, I'll proceed with the
auction here," went on Mr. Wood. "You can all see the boat from here.
It is, as you see, a regular family launch and will carry twelve
persons comfortably. With a canopy fitted to it a person could cruise
all about the lake and stay out over night, for you could sleep on the
seat cushions. It is twenty-one feet in length and has a
five-and-a-half-foot beam, the design being what is known as a
compromise stern. The motor is a double-cylinder two-cycle one, of ten
horsepower. It has a float-feed carburetor, mechanical oiler, and the
ignition system is the jump-spark--the best for this style of motor.
The boat will make ten miles an hour, with twelve in, and, of course,
more than that with a lighter load. A good deal will depend on the way
the motor is managed.

"Now, as you know, Mr. Hastings wishes to dispose of the boat partly
because he does not wish to repair it and partly because he has a newer
and larger one. The craft, which is named CARLOPA by the way, cost
originally nine hundred dollars. It could not be purchased new to day,
in many places, for a thousand. Now what am I offered in its present
condition? Will any one make an offer? Will you give me five hundred
dollars?"

The auctioneer paused and looked critically at the throng. Several
persons smiled. Tom looked worried. He had no idea that the price
would start so high.

"Well, perhaps that is a bit stiff," went on Mr. Wood. "Shall we say
four hundred dollars? Come now, I'm sure it's worth four hundred.
Who'll start it at four hundred?"

No one would, and the auctioneer descended to three hundred, then to
two and finally, as if impatient, he called out:

"Well, will any one start at fifty dollars?"

Instantly there were several cries of "I will!"

"I thought you would," went on the auctioneer. "Now we will get down
to work. I'm offered fifty dollars for this twenty-one foot, ten
horsepower family launch. Will any one make it sixty?"

"Sixty!" called out Andy Foger in a shrill voice. Several turned to
look at him.

"I didn't know he was going to bid," thought Tom. "He may go above me.
He's got plenty of money, and, while I have too, I'm not going to pay
too much for a damaged boat."

"Sixty I'm bid, sixty--sixty!" cried Mr. Wood in a sing-song tone,
"who'll make it seventy?"

"Sixty-five!" spoke a quiet voice at Tom's elbow, and he turned to see
the mysterious man who had joined the crowd at the edge o