306 A CALIFORNIA TRAMP. 



dollars. The clerk assumed a particularly angry look and 

 said, with an oath, to the buyer who seemed ready to sink in 

 his boots with fear: 



" What did you bid on that watch for when you knew you 

 could not pay for it and when we might have sold it to the 

 next lowest bidder and got the cash. Get out of the way, 

 hay-seeds, and give me that watch." 



The buyer was taken all aback by this rude rebuff. He 

 humbly returned the time-piece and begged pardon. But he 

 was inconsolable for the loss of his bargain, which was again 

 put up and bid on with renewed interest. I never saw people 

 so crazy for a watch. As each bid was put on our new 

 acquaintance acted as if he was having a tooth pulled. Com- 

 ing up to my shipmate he said : 



" Come, won't you buy it ? I'm a watchmaker myself and 

 live in Jersey City. I am putting up at the Astor House, 

 where I left the rest of my money. The watch will go for 

 twenty dollars, buy it and come over with me and I will give 

 you thirty for it. Oh, it's too bad they wont let me have it." 



He then turned to the clerk and implored him to wait until 

 he could get his money. The actuary told him not to bother 

 him with his foolishness, while the auctioneer went on with 

 his intonations. Thus shabbily treated the case of the would- 

 be buyer was becoming pitiable. The contortions of his face 

 betokened a man in the first stages of colic. We felt sym- 

 pathy for him and detestation for the others. My shipmate 

 was at last induced to buy the watch, being assured by the 

 auctioneer that if it was not all he represented it the money 

 would be refunded, and was the possessor of it for twenty 

 dollars. I need hardly say that, wrapped up as I was in the 

 transaction, I envied him his bargain, on which he would soon 

 make ten dollars. On looking around for the watchmaker he 

 was gone ; his appealing face no longer met our eyes. The 

 amount of the matter was, he was a " Peter Funk," and my 

 friend had been swindled. 



