ou."

Polly smiled and said: "If your orders do not interfere with our studies
and other work, we will gladly accept the work."

So, by the time Jack Baxter hurried down the stairs, Polly and Eleanor
had made a new connection with one of New York's social leaders. Jack
looked about for his friends, for a moment, and then smiled in surprise
as he rushed forward.

"Why, Mrs. Courtney! I am delighted to see you here. Did you just
arrive?"

"Well, if it isn't Jack Baxter! No, my boy, I came out this morning
thinking this was a _bona fide_ antique sale. To my disgust, I found it
was 'fixed' by a clever dealer from the city, who chooses just such
suburban towns as are famous for its millionaire residents, then he plans
a campaign. He was wise enough, this time, to engage Mr. Van Styne to do
the selling for him, as the old man is so popular with the people of his
town, and he is a splendid auctioneer, at the same time."

Polly was dumbfounded. "Do you mean to say that anyone would take the
trouble to ship out all these antiques, so far from the city, just to
catch a lot of buyers?"

Mrs. Courtney laughed. "Of course, my dear. People will take any amount
of trouble to make a few extra dollars. This dealer owns his own trucks,
and why not let them put in a day's work carting a load of furniture
here, if he can get twice as much for his goods as in New York? All he
has to do, is to find the right type of old house conveniently near the
city for motoring and large enough to show off his wares to the best
advantage. This man is clever enough, too, to select only such places as
are rich with Revolutionary lore, and near enough to the estates of the
rich to be an attraction to owners to come. Then he mails announcements
to his city clientele, also. That is how I heard of the sale."

Jack frowned angrily. "I suppose that darned old high-boy I just bought
for a top-notch figure, could have been purchased at this man's city shop
for half the price! Now I have to pay to have it crated and shipped back
to New York."

"Oh, this 'fixer' will move it back in his trucks for a neat sum," said
Eleanor.

Her companions laughed. Polly then reminded him: "I said _not_ to bid on
it! I knew it would go too high for us to bother with."

Carl now drove up to the house, and Mrs. Courtney bid them good-day,
having reminded Polly that she and Eleanor were to telephone her at their
first opportunity.

Polly could not help speaking of the "fi