hands to his mouth, and his voice was heard over
the Square as he said, "Three thousand!"

"Now, gentlemen," continued the auctioneer, "I am proud to be with you.
When it is my misfortune to stand up before a company, the members of
which have no appreciation of the value of the property to be sold, I
often wish myself at home; but, as I said before, on this occasion I am
proud to be with you, for a sum approximating to the true value of the
property offered for sale has been bidden. I am offered three
thousand--three thousand--three thousand--going at three thousand! Did I
hear a bid? No, it must have been the wind whistling through the trees."
At this sally a laugh came up from the crowd. "Going at three
thousand--going--going--going--gone at three thousand to--"

"Mr. Hiram Maxwell!" came from the score of voices.

"Gone at three thousand to Mr. Hiram Maxwell!" said the auctioneer, as
he brought down his hammer heavily upon the barrel head with such force
that it fell in, and, losing his hold upon the hammer, that dropped in
also. This slight accident caused a great laugh among the crowd.

The auctioneer continued, "According to the terms of the sale, five
hundred dollars in cash must be paid down to bind the bargain, and the
balance must be paid within three days in endorsed notes satisfactory to
the present owner."

Quincy and Hiram alighted from the Pettengill team and advanced towards
the auctioneer. Reaching the platform, Quincy took from his pocket a
large wallet and passed a pile of bills to the auctioneer.

"Make out a receipt, please," he said to Mr. Beers, "in the name of Mr.
Hiram Maxwell; the notes will be made out by him and endorsed by me. If
you will give a discount of six per cent, Mr. Maxwell will pay the
entire sum in cash within ten days; whichever proposition is accepted
by Mr. Hill will be satisfactory to Mr. Maxwell."

The show was over and the company began to disperse. Deacon Mason nodded
to Strout and turned his horse's head homeward. While Quincy and Hiram
were settling their business matters with the auctioneer, everybody had
left the Square with the exception of a few loungers about the platform
of the grocery store, and Strout and Abner, who stood near the big tree
in the centre of the Square, talking earnestly to each other.

The auctioneer, together with Quincy and Hiram, entered the store to
talk over business matters with Mr. Hill and his son. Mr. Hill argued
that Mr. Sawyer