with him, and everybody else was determined they shouldn't. Wherever he
moved the "Antiquers" moved with him. Milo watched from the side lines.
Rogers got scared.

"Look here," says he, staring sort of wild-like at the boarders. "What
ails you folks? Are you crazy?"

Well, he might have made a good deal worse guess than that. I don't know
how 'twould have ended if Peter T. Brown, cool and sassy as ever, hadn't
come on deck just then and took command.

"See here, Rogers," he says, "let's understand this thing. Have you got
a set of dishes like that?"

Adoniram looked at him. "Will I get jailed if I say yes?" he answers.

"Maybe you will if you don't," says Peter. "Now, then, ladies and
gentlemen, this is something we're all interested in, and I think
everybody ought to have a fair show. I jedge from the defendant's
testimony that he HAS got a set of the dishes, and I also jedge, from
my experience and three years' dealings with him, that he's too
public-spirited to keep 'em, provided he's paid four times what they're
worth. Now my idea is this; Rogers will bring those dishes down here
tomorrer and we'll put 'em on exhibition in the hotel parlor. Next day
we'll have an auction and sell 'em to the highest cash bidder. And,
provided there's no objection, I'll sacrifice my reputation and be
auctioneer."

So 'twas agreed to have the auction.