Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 5, 1928 — page 101: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BUM PRO the bids are taken. The highest bidder, of course, gets the lot. Then the buyer gives his name to the man at the table, posts a deposit with one of the men with the writing pads in the aisle, and receives a receipt. “The day after the auction ends he calls here, presents his receipt, pays the balance due, and takes away his purchase. Most of the buyers who ex- pect to make a lot of purchases post a large deposit before the sale starts, and in that way save themselves some trouble. Is that clear?” “Very clear,” she returned, “ and thank you.” | Afraid to let silence fall between them, Walt went on hurriedly: ‘“ Do you intend to bid for anything?” She laughed. “ Well, I didn’t intend to when I came. But maybe [ will. | noticed some silk stockings—” At that instant the man at the table next to the auctioneer called out: “Lot No. 76! Three pairs ladies’ blue fox silk hose.” “That’s just the lot I was thinking of!’ exclaimed the girl. “I'd like to buy them. What shall I do?” The bidding had already started. “How high do you wish to go?” Walt inquired quickly. “ Oh—two, or two and a half—” The bid was at one fifty. Walt, catching the auctioneer’s eye, raised a hand. “ Gentleman there gives two. ‘Two. Do I hear two and a half? Who'll give two and a half. Two asking two fifty! Who’ ll—ah, there, two fifty asking for three. Who'll give three—” “ Make it three!” the girl whispered to Walt, and he accordingly did. They got the lot at that price. “Name?” called the man at the ta- ble. ‘‘ Who bought that?” Walt turned to the girl, and she said, “ Carolyn Bradford.” “Cc. B.” Walt lifted his voice to give the letters, and then told the girl in an aside: “ The initials will be sut- ficient.” TEM. 667 “New buyer,” said the one at the table. “ Get a deposit.” He proceeded to call out the next lot. One of the men with the receipt pads came down the aisle and stood waiting. The girl opened her purse and brought out three dollar-bills and some silver. “All T’ve got with me,” she said, with something like a nervous little laugh. “I better pay the entire amount at once.” She handed over the money and re- ceived a slip of paper in return. Then she closed her purse and seemed to re- lax with a sigh. “And that’s that,’ she remarked. Walt, a trifle puzzled by her expres- sion, nodded. Then, for the next hour, Walt spoke to her but once, and that was when she dropped her pencil. She was very in- terested in everything that went on, and at intervals wrote in a small pocket notebook. Walt allowed himself to fall into an exceedingly gloomy state of mind. Wasn’t it his luck, though, to meet the most wonderful girl in the world just when he was broke and dressed like a tramp? She’d probably leave shortly, and that would be the last he’d ever see of her. He swore silently but fervently. He could not let that happen. Somehow he had to arrange to see her again when he was out of his difficulties—at the very least, he had to find out where she lived. He was trying to evolve some meth- od of procedure, when he heard the auctioneer say that it was twelve o'clock and there would be a half-hour intermission for lunch, and that those who wished might avail themselves of the service of the post office employee’s restaurant upstairs. As the people began to mill about, Walt caught the girl’s glance. He plunged. “Td like very much to invite you to lunch, Miss Bradford,” he said, EOPMIC OOO KS (F@)