“If there was s-somebody in the crowd,” says Mark, “that folks didn’t suspicion b’longed to the auction, it might help some.”
“F’rinstance?” says Uncle Ike, making one word of it.
“If,” says Mark, “the real bid wasn’t h-high enough, then the auctioneer could m-make some kind of a sign, and the feller in the crowd could give her a boost.”
“Um!” says Uncle Ike.
“S’pose the bid was a d-d-dime,” says Mark, “and the thing you was sellin’ was worth more. What happens? Why, the auctioneer he wiggles his thumb like this—and the feller in the crowd bids fif-fifteen cents. See?”
“Calc’late to,” says Uncle Ike.
“Comin’ to the auction?” says Mark, grinning like everything.
“Calc’late to,” says Uncle Ike, grinning back.
“Got t-time to stay around?”
“Put in the whole day,” says Uncle Ike.