g of the house. Here was a great open fire-place with
crane, and everything used in olden times for keeping a fire in good
order. Over the mantel hung a wonderful old mirror with a colored picture
of Washington crossing the Delaware in its upper panel.

A rare Empire table with both leaves up, stood in the middle of the room,
and Polly instantly made up her mind to own that table, if nothing more
that day.

As they went about admiring the antiques, Jack said: "Gee! But I'm sorry
we furnished the apartment so soon. What a lot of fine things we might
have had at this sale."

And Eleanor laughingly remarked: "Sell your flat out like so many New
Yorkers do, and start in again on another."

In the low-ceiled, wide dining-room, they found the typical round
mahogany table with twelve chairs--two arm and ten side chairs. The seats
were covered with rep, but must have had haircloth on them at one time.
The backs were very low and curved away from the small of the back in a
frightened manner. There was but one cross-piece in the back and that was
curved also.

The side-board was nearly eight feet long, with six claw feet, and a high
top. On it stood a tea-caddy of mahogany, a knife-box, and several silver
boxes. All of them must have been over a hundred years old. Very old
china and glassware stood on the large table, ready to be sold. The
collectors saw many desirable pieces there, but they were too anxious to
visit the upstairs to stop, then, and examine the plates and other
pieces.

There were four large square rooms on the second floor and in each one,
stood a wonderful four-poster bed--two with canopy-tops and two without.
Empire work-tables were in two rooms, and besides the high chests of
mahogany drawers, and low dressing-tables with tiny front drawers to hold
the comb and brush, there were also ottomans, foot-stools, and ornamental
pieces. Mirrors hung over each mantel, and old-fashioned prints and
paintings were on the walls.

By the time Mrs. Fabian and the girls went downstairs again, they were
dumbfounded to find that a farm-house so near to Morristown and railroad
stations, should have preserved such a wonderful lot of old mahogany
furniture without having been discovered by collectors. But being
strangers to the other people now gathering for the sale, they did not
speak of their wonderment.

Mr. Van Styne was late, and as soon as he arrived he began in the
kitchen, without any greeting to his followers.