“Why you’d pay more than that for kindling wood,” exclaimed the auctioneer. “But two I’m offered. Will anyone make it three?” I nudged Ruth but she didn’t open her mouth. “Three,” called someone. “Three I’m offered, who’ll make it four?” No one answered. “Three I’m offered, once,--” I nudged Ruth again but she remained as though dumb. I was standing on tiptoe. “Three I’m offered; twice. Going, going--” I was all out of breath when Ruth spoke up as cool as you please, “Four.” “Four I’m offered.” He extended his finger towards the first bidder. “Now make it five,” the auctioneer coaxed. The man shook his head. “Make it a half.” Again the man shook his head. “I’m offered four cents a piece for these fine hardwood chairs. Make it a half. Make it a quarter. Going--going--” He paused again with an eager tantalizing smile. Then he brought his hands together. “And sold to Mr.--” “Carleton,” I answered quickly. “Oh,” gasped Ruth. “They are ours!” We bought another lot of eight at twelve cents a piece. We bought a third lot, cane seated and painted a handsome black, for nine cents. Besides this we bought a mahogany veneered bureau with old brass handles, in perfect condition, for four dollars and a quarter. I learned later that it was worth at least twenty-five dollars. We bought a grandfather’s clock with pine case and wooden works, made in Winchester, England, for thirteen dollars and a half. We bought a solid mahogany four-poster bed for twenty-two dollars. We bought a hardwood kitchen table for two dollars. We bought three feather beds at a dollar and a half a piece--the goose feathers alone in each being worth five or six dollars. We bought a set of black and white ware consisting of a tea pot, sugar bowl, milk pitcher, and nine cups and saucers, in perfect condition, for five dollars--less than you’d pay for ordinary crockery. We bought a mahogany veneered kitchen clock for two dollars. We bought a bird’s eye maple, rope bed for four dollars. In addition to this we bought beautiful old bed spreads and rag rugs and mirrors--all for a song. In fact, we took about everything in the house that was of any value and paid less than ten cents on a dollar for what it was worth merely as furniture, and less than two cents for what most of it should have brought as antiques. I accomplished two things that day; I furnished my house for a song and I introduced myself to my future neighbors, for my reckless buying became the gossip of the neighborhood. CHAPTER III COLD FACTS It was the middle of August when we moved into our new home, and on the second Saturday following we gave a house warming. When we left our tenement we told our friends that instead of saying good-by to them there we meant to say howdy at the new home. And so this party was principally for them, although through the local paper we sent out a general invitation to everyone in the neighborhood.