s what he's doing!"

Mr. Absolom listened for a while and then returned to the rostrum.

"Mr. Waddington," he asked, "ith it the truth that there are one or two
pieces of real good stuff here, thent in by an old farmer in Kent?"

"Quite true," Mr. Waddington declared, eagerly. "Unfortunately, they
all came in together and were included with other articles which have
not the same antecedents. You may be able to pick out which they are.
I can't. Although I am supposed to be in the business, I never could
tell the difference myself."

There was a chorus of guffaws. Mr. Waddington mopped his forehead with
a handkerchief.

"It is absolutely true, gentlemen," he pleaded. "I have always posed as
a judge but I know very little about it. As a matter of fact I have had
scarcely any experience in real antique furniture. We must get on,
gentlemen. What shall we say for lot number 17? Will any one start the
bidding at one sovereign?"

"Two!" Mr. Absolom offered. "More than it'th worth, perhaps, but I'll
rithk it."

"It is certainly more than it's worth," Mr. Waddington admitted,
dolefully. "However, if you have the money to throw away--two pounds,
then."

Mr. Waddington raised his hammer to knock the chest down, but was met
with a storm from all quarters of the room.

"Two-ten!"

"Three!"

"Three-ten!"

"Four!"

"Four-ten!"

"Five!"

"Six pounds!"

"Seven!"

"Seven-ten!"

"Ten pounds!"

Mr. Absolom, who so far had held his own, hesitated at the last bid. A
gray-haired old gentleman looked around him fiercely. The gentleman was
seemingly opulent and Mr. Absolom withdrew with a sigh. Mr.
Waddington eyed the prospective buyer sorrowfully.

"You are quite sure that you mean it, sir?" he asked. "The chest is not
worth the money, you know."

"You attend to your business and I'll attend to mine!" the old gentleman
answered, savagely. "Most improper behavior, I call it, trying to buy
in your own goods in this bare-faced manner. My name is Stephen
Hammonde, and the money's in my pocket for this or anything else I care
to buy."

Mr. Waddington raised his hammer and struck the desk in front of him.
As his clerk entered the sale, the auctioneer looked up and caught
Burton's eye. He beckoned to him eagerly. Burton came up to the
rostrum.

"Burton," Mr. Waddington exclaimed, "I want to talk to you! You see
what's happened to me?" he went on, mopping his forehead with his
handkerchief.

"Yes, I see!

"It's t