Page:The Young Auctioneers.djvu/169

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER.
153

ling, and greatly enraged, but unable to say a word in his own defense, and fearful that an officer might appear, he withdrew.

This little incident served to make Matt many friends. People always like to see persons stick up for their rights, and in this particular case they were pleased to see the mean store-keeper "talked-down," as he well deserved to be.

The album was again put up, and after consider able talking was knocked down to Podders, the very individual Isaac Marvelling had endeavored to persuade away from the sale. Matt purposely let Podders have the album quite cheaply, and as soon as it was his Podders declared he would call at Marvelling's store and see if it could be duplicated at the price he had paid.

The young auctioneer knew this could not be done, and he offered to buy the album back at double the price should Podders succeed.

This pleased the farmer, and also many others, and, as a consequence, Matt had a brisk run of luck until closing-up time. The boy felt highly elated, especially when, on counting up the cash, he found he had taken in sixteen dollars, one third of which was profit.

On the following morning another heavy rain came up, and Matt found it of no advantage to open