e@ IN DAKOTA, 41 
were not used to it, and expected to see Bragdon bid 
in the property without competition. 
“Go ahead, gentlemen,” said the sheriff, “at this 
rate it won’t take many minutes to get this splen- 
did property up to something near its real value.” 
* Twenty-two,” said Bragdon. 
‘“ Twenty-five,’ rung out from the other side, at 
which there was some clapping of hands among the 
crowd. : 
_ Bragdon’s face at this time was a study. The 
malice there was in it was unpleasant to see. He 
hesitated a moment and then ventured another bid. 
“Twenty-six hundred,” he said. 
The sheriff scarcely had time to repeat the words 
before the response came from the other side in 
clear, emphatic tones: 
“Three thousand.” 
~ The crowd cheered again. Bragdon walked away 
' muttering, and the sale was over. After dwelling a 
few moments on this bid the sheriff announced, 
“ Sold’ for three thousand dollars to Mr. ——, 
what name, please?” 
‘Pll see you in your office,” answered the success- 
ful bidder. 
| THE BUYER. 
Who was he? During the bidding [ had not been 
able to see him at all, and got only a glimpse of him 
as he went into the sheriff's office. He was a stran- 
ger to me and no one in town seemed to know him. 
‘He had ‘arrived that morning, was seen to enter one 
