good many years. What do you offer for it, sir?"
"Offer?" repeated the old man in astonishment.
"Yes, sir, make an offer, please."
"Ain't you got no price sot on it?"
"No, sir; this is an auction store, and we take what we can get for a thing. Come, make an offer."
"I'll give ye a quarter for it," said the old man after considerable hesitation.
"A quarter I am offered for this beautiful knife!" shouted Matt, taking up the blade and holding it up so that all might see it. "It is a knife with four strong blades, a buckhorn handle, well riveted, and extra-tempered springs, fully warranted. A quarter, ladies and gentlemen; who says thirty cents?"
"Thirty!" returned a young man, after an examination of the knife.
"Thirty cents I am offered. Thirty! thirty! Some one make it thirty-five"
"Thirty-five cents!" put in the old countryman. "I guess that knife is wuth that to me."
"Forty!" said the young man promptly. He appeared to be rich, and was bidding more to tease the old countryman than because he desired the knife.
"Forty I am offered!" sang out Matt, who did
