"Ponies are no good in this town," cried one man. "Lead 'em away.
Come on, neighbors."

"Wait, wait!" urged the auctioneer. "There are some bargains
yet to come that will interest you all. Since we have the ponies
on the spot let us begin to run them off. It will teach you all
how to bid quickly when you see wonderful bargains bought up under
your noses!"

The bidding, however, was lax at first. A stable boy mounted
one of the little animals, riding about at reckless pace.

"Now, start the bidding!"

After five minutes talking an opening bid of five dollars for
the pony had been made and this had been advanced to seven.

With all the zeal at his command the auctioneer drove the bidding
along. It reached fourteen dollars, and there stopped. At last
the pony was knocked down to a man who thought he could use the
animal in a very light delivery wagon.

"Now, gentlemen, wake up!" begged the auctioneer. "Let us have
some bidding worthy of the fair name of Gridley for good judgment
in business matters. Lead the roan pony forth."

Undoubtedly the first pony had been a fair bargain at fourteen
dollars. The bidding on the second animal began at ten dollars,
going quickly to eighteen. From that point the offers traveled