The Crisis, Complete

he had finished his oration upon the girl's

here was a long pause no one

Jenkins. He knows what she's worth to a cent

at the auction jo

undred!"

offended. Then some one crie

ognized at once, by name, evide

hand in his direction, while the crowd twisted their necks to see him. He stood v

seventy

sculptor for a figure of despair. Her hands were folded in front of her, her head bowed down. The auctioneer put his

eyes there shot a magnificent look of defi

hite

s of the people he had a quick vision of a young man with a det

over the sensation he made. Apparently the others present had deemed competition with such as Jenkins and young Colfax the gro

at gentleman. And the chubby i

fifty!" said Mr.

coping. The auctioneer paid no attention to this manoeuvre. But Mr. Brice and Mr. Colfax, b

o pull out. And let Colfax have the girl? Never. That was pride, and most reprehe

nty-five!"

k you

said the wag, and the cro

ed!" snappe

A glance at his adversary showed that his blood was up. Money was plainly no consideration to him, and yo

l possession of himself now, and proof against the thinly veiled irony of the oily man's remarks in favor of Mr

hings happened

he hum of excitement died when Stephen, glancing at Colfax for the next move, saw that young gentleman seized from the

?" the Colonel cried. "T

x shook hi

buy her now,

d the Colonel. "You

assed Stephen, at whom he did not deign to glance. The humiliation of it must have been

Stephen's. They seemed to regret that this young man, too, had not a guardian. Then uncle and nephew recrossed the street

without bitterness. Then he wheeled to face Mr. Jerkins. Out of respect for the personages involved, the auct

h two thousand. I've been in the business twenty yea's, and I neve' see

and thirty-five

now, suh! we've got

ty!" said

aid Stephen, and

is cigar out of hi

enty-five!

ty-five!" s

a breath

red!" said

d and ten!"

is hat from off his head, and

I've struck my limit. I can do bettah in Louisville fo' l

grew scarlet, and the

e. Nine hundred and ten dollars, gents, nine hundred and ten. We'

his head, and puf

ndred an' ten-nine ten-going-going-" down came the hammer-"gone at

fainting, and was dragging her back. Stephen did not hee

tly, you blackg

ook his h

y, sah,"

led with such gratitude and trust that su

he demanded, s

, ma

" he said, "a

the Court House, with a quill in his hand, and a

d him to a desk, from the drawer o

, ple

Atterbu

nce, Mr

him, while the fat creases in his face deepened and deepened. Finally he put down

he fat man, as s

us? That the's a Ya

s part of your business, t

lead to another explosion. Finally, after a deal of pantomime, and whispering and laughter with the notary behind the wire s

all seemed a nightmare. The son of Appleton Brice of Boston the owner

nstantly darted over his shoulder and dilated, But Stephen, summoning all

s-this person to se

until she heard Mrs. Brice's door open and slam, and then she strode up the stairs and into the apar