desirable lot?"

One of the men standing by Andrew Jackson bid a hundred dollars.
The bid was raised to a hundred and fifty by a rough-looking
fellow standing in front of the platform. For some time the bidding
was confined to these two, and it rose until it reached seven
hundred and fifty, at which point the man near the platform retired,
and there was a pause.

Vincent felt uncomfortable. He had already been round to Mr.
Renfrew, who had told him that he had deputed an agent to buy;
and until the man near the platform stopped he had supposed that
he was the solicitor's agent.

"Now, gentlemen," the auctioneer said, "surely you are not going
to let this desirable piece of property go for seven fifty? She would
be cheap at double the price. I have sold worse articles for three
thousand."

"I will go another twenty-five dollars," a tall man in homespun and
a broad planter's straw hat said quietly.

The contest now recommenced, and by bids of twenty-five dollars
at a time the amount was raised to twelve hundred and fifty
dollars.

"That's enough for me," the man standing by Andrew Jackson said;
"he may have her at twelve fifty, and dear enough, too, as times
go."