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.
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