patience, gentlemen, and willing to wait all day, if necessary, to
hear what you have to say."

Of course he was an auctioneer, and this was the regular fruit
auction that is held on this same corner every morning of the
year. Many other things besides fruit are sold at these auctions;
in fact, almost everything in Key West is bought or sold at
auction; certainly all fruit is. For an hour before the time set
for the auction a man goes through the streets ringing a bell and
announcing what is to be sold. This morning he had announced a
fine lot of oranges, among other things, and as Mrs. Elmer was
anxious to get some, she had sent Mark and Ruth to attend the
auction, with a commission to buy a hundred if the bids did not
run too high.

The children had already attended several auctions as spectators,
and Mark knew enough not to bid on the first lot offered. He
waited until somebody who knew more about the value of oranges
than he should fix the price. He and Ruth pushed their way as
close as possible to the auctioneer, and watched him attentively.

"Come, gentlemen," said the little man, "give me a starter. What
am I to have for the first lot of these prime oranges?"

"Two dollars!" called a voice from the crowd.

"Two," cried the auctioneer. "Two, two, two and a half. Who says
three? Shall I hear it? And three. Who bids three? That's right.
Do I hear the quarter? They are well worth it, gentlemen. Will no
one give me the quarter? Well, time is money, and tempus fugit.