e words "Go
easy," spoken so low that Tim did not hear them, and at once raised the
four dollars to four and a half, while quick as lightning Tom responded
with five dollars.

Jack hadn't really looked at him, but it did not matter. He was going
to have the apron, and turning to Howard he said, "I don't know how long
you mean to keep this thing up. I am prepared to go on all night."

Howard felt sure he was and decided to stop, and his hand dropped from
Tim's shoulder quite to the disgust of that young man, who said, "You
goin' to let 'em lick us?"

"I think I'll have to," Howard replied, while "Five dollars, and going!"
filled the room until the final "Gone!" was spoken, and the people gave
gasps of relief that it was over.

"Sold for five dollars to Thomas Walker, who will please walk up to the
captain's office and pay," Mr. Bills said, handing the apron to Tom, who
held it awkwardly, as if afraid of harming it.

"I guess it's yourn," he said, giving it to Jack, who knew as little
what to do with it as Tom.

Ruby came to his aid and took it from him. She had watched the
performance with a great deal of interest, comprehending it perfectly
and feeling in a way sorry for Eloise, whose lips quivered a little when
she went up to her, and bending over her said, "You should feel
complimented, but I'm afraid you are very tired."

"Yes, very tired and warm. I want to get into the fresh air," Eloise
said, shivering as if she were cold instead of warm.

Jack had gone to the cashier's desk to pay for the apron, and Tom
undertook the task of getting the wheel chair through the crowd, running
against the people promiscuously, if they impeded his progress, and
caring little whom he hit if he got Eloise safely outside the door. The
night was at its best, almost as light as day, as they emerged from the
hot, close room, and Eloise drew long breaths of the cool air which blew
up fom the sea, the sound of whose waves beating upon the shore could be
heard even above the din of voices inside the building. The auction was
still going on, and Mr. Bills was doing his best, but the interest
flagged with the sale of the apron and the breaking up of the group
which had attracted so much attention. Even Mrs. Biggs's grandmother's
brass kettle, on which so many hopes were built, failed to create more
than a ripple, as Mr. Bills rang changes upon it both with tongue and
knuckles, and when his most eloquent appeals could not raise a highe