preciation of the splendid business of the day, would throw
open to their friends the new Cornish Opera House, where Porter's
celebrated band would give its regular high-class concert. Tolliver &
Company, the bill went on, took pleasure in further informing the public
that, in view of the great success of the day's sale, and the very small
amount to which their holdings in the _Herald_ Addition were reduced,
the remainder of this choice piece of property would be sold from the
stage to the highest bidder, absolutely without any reservation or
restriction as to the price!

I had received a telegram from Jim saying that he would return on a
train arriving that evening, and asking that Cornish, Hinckley, and
Lattimore be at the office to meet him. I was on the street early in the
evening, looking with wonder at the crowds making merry after the dizzy
day of speculative delirium. At the opera house, filled to overflowing
with men admitted on tickets, the great band was discoursing its music,
in alternation with the insinuating oratory of the auctioneer, under
whose skilful management the odds and ends of the _Herald_ Addition were
changing owners at a rate which was simply bewildering.

"Don't you see," said Giddings delightedly, "that this is the only way
to sell town lots?"

Jim came into the office, fresh and buoyant after his long trip, his
laugh as hearty and mirth-provoking as ever. After shaking hands with
all, he threw himself into his own chair.

"Boys," said he, "I feel like a mouse just returning from a visit to a
cat convention. But what's this crowd for? It's nearly as bad as
Broadway."

We explained what Giddings and Tolliver had been doing.

"But," said he, "do you mean to tell me that he's sold that Addition to
this crowd of reubs?"

"He most certainly has," said Cornish.

"Well, fellows," replied Jim, "put away the accounts of this as
curiosities! You'll have some difficulty in making posterity believe
that there was ever a time or place where town lots were sold with magic
lanterns and a brass band! And don't advertise it too much with Dorr,
Wickersham and those fellows. They think us a little crazy now. But a
brass band! That comes pretty near being the limit."

"Gentlemen," said Mr. Lattimore, "I shall have to leave you soon; and
will you kindly make use of me as soon as you conveniently can, and let
me go?"

"Have you got the condition of the Trescott estate figured out?" said
Mr. Elkins.