"I do!" quoth the Double Chin; and he glowered upon his fellow-passengers wrathfully.
At this instant appeared Old Woollen on the scene. In one hand he bore his pocket-book; in the other, a paper covered with calculations. The latter he studied intently for a moment, then,—
"I'll give you sixteen dollars an' sixty-two 'n' a half cents; an' if you ever come round our way"—
The jubilant auctioneer, fairly dancing upon the fence in the energy of his delight, broke in here,—
"Can't take no bids, gentlemen, short of a half-dollar rise, each time!"
Old Woollen retired, discomfited, and was seen no more.
From this point the bidding ran up rapidly till it reached twenty-five dollars, where it stopped, Samson Newell being the successful bidder.
It was a study to watch the man, now that his chance for reaching home that day brightened. Instead of being elate, his spirits seemed to fall as he made his arrival at the village certain.
"Ah!" he thought, "are my father and mother yet living? How will my brothers and sisters welcome me home?"
How, indeed?