Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

MR. BINGER less value as a work of art, enhanced by the romantic associations which surround it, I am confident you all appreciate. It is my proud distinction to submit for your kind consideration the royal state bed of Godfrey, the mad King of Bavaria, and I give you my assurance that it will be sold to the highest bidder, regardless of its real values’ He paused dramatically. “‘ Now, who’ll start the bidding at forty thousand dollars? Of course it is going to bring sev- eral times that figure before we are through, but we’ve got to start somewhere, and I am willing to hear any bid.”’ There was a rustling of catalogues, a clearing of throats, and a hushed murmur among the audience. Then Ralph Henry spoke up. ‘‘T’ll bid ten thousand dollars!” he cried, his voice pitched, nervously, high above its normal register. The auctioneer’s eyebrows’ went up. “Now, really, my dear young man,” they protested, ‘ this is ridiculous! In the first place, it is quite apparent to me that you cannot afford to pay ten thousand dollars for a bed. In the second place, even if you were serious, the roa oni of es bid is positively shocking.” Of course he didn’t give Secieal expres- sion to these thoughts, but his eloquent eyebrows plainly conveyed the message. “ Will anybody start the bidding at forty thousand?” he inquired, haughtily ignoring Parker’s offer. ‘“‘ Thirty thousand, then? Will somebody please say thirty thousand —just to break the ice? Ah, thank you, Mr. J.!” smiling at a white-mustached gen- tleman in the front row who had just care- lessly nodded. “I knew you~ wouldn’t overlook this unparalleled opportunity to add to your collection, sir! Thirty thou- sand dollars I am bid, ladies and gentle- men! Thirty thousand! Do I hear any advance?’’ ‘Thirty-one thousand,” said young Mr. Parker. “ Thirty-two thousand, ” a woman’s voice put in. “ Forty thousand,’”’ came from Mr. J., in the front row, who was one of the world’s most famous millionaire art col- lectors. BUYS A BED, o45 ‘Forty thousand I am bid!” cried the auctioneer, with a reproachful glance at Ralph Henry. ‘“ Going at ales thousand dollars? Do I hear any—” ‘“ Forty-one thousand,” -spoke up Parker. ‘ Forty-three thousand, ” came from the woman who had bid against him before, She was sitting three rows ahead of him, and he identified her as the attractive young woman with whom he had come into collision on entering the auction-room. Several new bidders now joined in. One thousand-dollar advances came from all parts of the room. Apparently the bed of the demented Bavarian monarch was very much in demand, and Mr. Binger’s anni- versary present to his wife was going to cost him dear. ‘Sixty thousand,” the Croesus known as Mr. J. offered presently, becoming impa- tient. “Sixty thousand I am bid!” cried the gentleman with the hammer. “ Going at sixty thousand! Are you all done? Any advance on sixty thousand dollars? Go- ing! Going—” ‘“ Sixty-one thousand,” said the young woman with whom Ralph Henry had col- lided. ‘“ Sixty-five thousand,” the latter shout- ed, with reckless abandon. There followed an impressive hush. Sev- eral lorgnettes were turned in Parker’s di- rection. The young men at the reporters’ table in front of the room glanced at him curiously and whispered among themselves. The auctioneer’s face wore a_ dubious frown. ‘Seventy thousand,” snapped Mr. J., and stood up in his seat to glare at the pre- sumptuous young man in the back row who was giving him all this trouble. “Seventy thousand I am bid!” cried the auctioneer, beginning to love Ralph Henry now, although he suspected the sincerity of the latter’s intentions. The fellow might be—and undoubtedly was—an irresponsi- ble four-flusher; but, at all events, he was serving a useful purpose by compelling the affluent Mr. J. to extend himself. “Going at seventy thousand! all done? Who’ll say seventy-five? obvious, ladies and gentlemen, that we are Are you It is | Gomichbooks (E(0)