Mr. Potter, seeing the rising storm, essayed to stem the torrent, and exclaimed:
"Don't show temper, friends; anger and pride are both unwise; vinegar never catches flies."
"Ther' hain't no flies on Potter," cried a voice, and a general laugh followed. Then, in spite of his protest, Leon saw Lossy offered again for sale.
Mr. Potter lifted the dog in his arms and said:
"Now here's a dog, by name of Lossy.
Just feel his fur, so fine and glossy.
I'm told that twixt his loud bow-wows
He often fetches home the cows.
Besides that, he can tend the sheep,
And bring the butter in the churn.
So buy him dear, or buy him cheap,
He'll eat no more than he can earn.
"How much for the dog?"
The competition excited by the occurrences, and the verses, was now so great, that the bidding was spirited until fifteen dollars was reached, to which sum it had mounted by jumps of fifty cents. Then a man said quietly but distinctly:
"Twenty dollars," and a glad cry escaped from Leon, as he recognized Dr. Medjora's voice, and knew that his purpose was to restore his dog to him. But at the same instant Miss Grath also comprehended the situation, and determined that Leon should not have Lossy. She cried out to Mr. Potter:
"The dog's wuth twice as much. You kin stop sellin' him. I'll keep him myself."
At this Leon's hopes fell, only to be revived again by the auctioneer's words. Mr. Potter knew Miss Grath thoroughly, and he readily appreciated the fact that she was selling the dog to spite the lad, and that, in withdrawing him, she was actuated by some sinister motive. Sympathizing with Leon, against whom he had none of the prejudices of the neighborhood, he turned now to Miss Grath and said: