The auctioneer held in his hand a gaudy bauble of worldly pleasure. He cried in the full strength of his voice that such beautiful specimens of pleasure were very rare. At once the bidding for it grew lively. It was soon thrown out to a reckless mortal who seized it with unusual avidity. Then a door was opened in the rear, and lo, I beheld a series of rooms filled with baubles of every conceivable kind, enough to satisfy all who came for such lightsome things. One of extraordinary beauty was next offered. “What do I hear for it?” lustily shouted the auctioneer. The whole host bent forward eagerly to get a nearer view of the new attraction. “I’ll give one hour of time!” said an aged man. “An hour of time is bid, an hour of time! Who’ll give more?” “I’ll give one day!” joyously bid a thoughtless youth. He received it, and walked off in high glee. “Here is another! A novelty just out!” boldly cried the auctioneer. How anxiously all stepped forward, each one wishing to scrutinize the latest kind of pleasure offered. The highest bidder was a restless youth who offered his all for the coveted prize. Miss Church-Member was but little interested in these proceedings and urged her companion to the next auction-stand where certain rights and privileges were sold. On the stand stood a glib-tongued fellow who announced that he would first offer for sale the _Right to Sell Intoxicating Drink_. “How much do I hear?” shouted the auctioneer as the cosmopolitan crowd looked on. “Hundred dollars per annum!” cried the people of one state. “One hundred, one hundred, going at one hundred!” “Two hundred dollars!” bid the representatives of another state. “Three hundred dollars!” was another offer that immediately came in. “That is far below the value!” shouted the auctioneer. “Remember, all this money we get for licensing the saloon will go for charity or to help educate and civilise the people!” Thousands upon thousands cheered to the echo, while the wicked auctioneer and his allies were highly pleased at the spectacle. “Three hundred, three hundred! Altogether too low a sum for so great a privilege!” “Five hundred dollars!” cried the authorities of another state. “Going at five hundred, five hundred, five hundred!” rapidly and hilariously yelled the auctioneer, and the crowd cheered lustily. “Still going at five hundred, five hundred! Who’ll give six hundred? First, second, and last warning, and sold at five hundred dollars to the state represented by yonder group of delegates!” Thus the program continued, and the right to sell liquor under respectability was sold at varying prices. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member left long before the auction was ended. They paused not at the other centers where Satan’s agents were selling their worthless and death-dealing merchandize to the children of men. CHAPTER XXII. THE DEVIL’S HOSPITAL. 1. Miss Church-Member, suddenly attacked with heart trouble, is hurried away to the Hospital.