Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

o42 opportunity, he told himself, he would be undeserving of another smile from fortune. ‘“T want you to go up-town for me, and buy a bed,” his employer went on. ‘* A bed!” Parker echoed, unable to con- ceal his disappointment. “ I—is that all, sire “Tt is not an ordinary bed,” Binger ex- plained, frowning at the interruption. ‘The piece of furniture I have in mind is —well, read this before we go any further, and you will understand.” He picked up a newspaper from his desk and handed it to Ralph Henry, pointing with a pudgy forefinger to a news item marked with a blue pencil. FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLAR BED TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION Magnificent Piece Of Furniture, That A Bavarian King Once Slept On, Among Famous Morseman Collection To Go Under Hammer To-day All the personal effects of Mrs. John K, Morseman, who, since the death of her hus- band, the millionaire copper man, has met with financial reverses, are to be sold under the auctioneer’s hammer at the Marlborough Galleries. The sale, which will begin this morning, is to include the entire famous Morseman collection of art and antiques which cost the late copper-mine owner several million dollars. One of the most notable articles on the catalogue is the historic, massive bed which once belonged to the “mad king,” Godfrey, of Bavaria. Mr. Morseman bought it in Europe five years ago, at the time of the death of its royal owner, and prized it above all the other treasures of his superb collec- tion. Aside from its historic associations the bed is a magnificent piece of furniture, truly “fit for a king.” It has a. high head-board of rare, polished wood, and supports a canopy of heavy drapery. ‘The foot-board is heavily overlaid with bronze carvings, and its trimmings of bronze run around the ‘sides and up the corners. Mr. Morseman is said to have paid fifty thousand dollars for it, and to have considered that he was getting a rare bargain. The well-known, feud between Morseman and Horatio Binger, ‘the Peanut King,” is said to have originated over this bed. At the time it was in the market Binger wished to buy it for his wife, who was ambitious to sleep in a bed on which a royal head had Henry eagerly. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “once reposed. The copper man got there first, however, and a bitter quarrel resulted be- tween the families of the two millionaires. Whether the peanut king still wants the bed, and will be a bidder at the sale is not known. There is no doubt, however, that there are several millionaires in New York who would like to acquire this remarkable piece of furniture, and the bidding on it is expected to be brisk. “You see,” said Mr. Binger, as his em- ployee finished reading, ‘‘ the job I’m giv- ing you, young man, is one that is going to require a lot of tact and horse-sense. I want to buy that bed as a wedding anni- versary present for my wife. I want it to be a surprise. That is one reason why I cannot attend the auction sale myself. The newspaper reporters would be sure to recognize me, and would publish my name as the purchaser, which would spoil the whole idea. Besides, if they knew that I was after it, those auction fellows would be likely to run up the price. I understand that sort of thing is done, even at the most reliable auction-rooms. ‘So I want you to go up there and. bid for the bed as though you were buying it for yourself. Not under any circum- stances, you understand, are you to let it be known that you are acting as my agent, or are connected with me in any way. You look—er—like a gentleman, so you ought to be able to manage it all right. That is why I have selected you for the errand.” ‘T understand, Mr. Binger,” said Ralph “You can depend on me, sir, not to give the secret away.” He paused. “ How high do you wish me to bid, in case there should be keen compe- tition?” ‘Go the limit,” his employer responded, his eyes glinting. ‘I want that bed, even if it costs me a million.” I can’t think of anything in the world that would please Mrs. Binger more than to receive that bit of furniture on the morning of our wed- ding anniversary. ‘You'll have to look out for those re- porter fellows, though,” he added. ‘““They’re a sharp lot, and when the bed’s knocked down to you they’ll probably buzz around like a flock of bumblebees, trying to find out who you are and what you are Comicboo (9) <S (EC)