I am offered twenty-seven hundred, twenty-seven
hundred; who will go one hundred better?"
At this moment Abner Stiles, who had been watching the proceedings with
eyes distended and mouth wide open, went up to Strout and whispered
something in his ear. Strout's face brightened, he grasped Abner's hand
and shook it warmly, then turning towards the auctioneer cried out,
"Twenty-eight hundred!"
By this time the crowd was getting excited. To them it was a battle
royal; nothing of the kind had ever been seen at Mason's Corner before.
A great many in the crowd were friends of Strout's, and admired his
pluck in standing out so well. They had seen at a glance that Abner
Stiles had offered to help Strout.
Again the auctioneer called out in his parrot-like tone, "Twenty-eight
hundred! I am offered twenty-eight hundred!"
And again Hiram put his 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.
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