!"

"Still better," cried the auctioneer; "the gentleman, as I supposed, has
shown that he is a person of discernment; he did not imagine that I was
engaged simply to make a present of this fine establishment to any one
who would offer any sum that suited his convenience for it. He knew as
well as I did that there would be a sharp contest to secure this fine
property. Now, gentlemen, I am offered twenty-five hundred, twenty-five
hundred I am offered, twenty-five hundred--"

Again a voice was heard from the team on the outer limits of the crowd,
"Twenty-five fifty!"

The crowd again turned their gaze upon Strout; the Professor was not an
extravagant man, and he had saved a little money. He had in his pocket
at the time a little over a hundred dollars; he would not put it in the
bank, for, he argued, if he did everybody in town would know how much
money he had; so he called out, "Twenty-six hundred!"

"Ah, gentlemen," continued the auctioneer, "let me thank you for the
keen appreciation that you show of a good thing. When I looked this
property over I said to myself, the bidders will tumble over themselves
to secure this fine property'; and I have not been disappointed."

Again the faces of the crowd were turned towards the team in which sat
Quincy and Hiram. Hiram stood up in the team, and masking a horn with
his hands, shouted at the top of his voice, for the time overcoming his
propensity to stammer, "Twenty-seven hundred!"

"Better! still better!" cried the auctioneer; "we are now approaching
the figure that I had placed on this property, and my judgment is
usually correct. I am offered twenty-seven hundred, twenty-seven
hundred; who will go one hundred better?"

At this moment Abner Stiles, who had been watching the proceedings with
eyes distended and mouth wide open, went up to Strout and whispered
something in his ear. Strout's face brightened, he grasped Abner's hand
and shook it warmly, then turning towards the auctioneer cried out,
"Twenty-eight hundred!"

By this time the crowd was getting excited. To them it was a battle
royal; nothing of the kind had ever been seen at Mason's Corner before.
A great many in the crowd were friends of Strout's, and admired his
pluck in standing out so well. They had seen at a glance that Abner
Stiles had offered to help Strout.

Again the auctioneer called out in his parrot-like tone, "Twenty-eight
hundred! I am offered twenty-eight hundred!"

And again Hiram put his