they----"

But Matt could go no further. His unexpected speech brought forth a
sudden applause that for the moment drowned out every other sound.

CHAPTER XX.

ACCUSED OF STEALING.

It was plain to see that the store-keeper who had thus thrust himself
into the young auctioneer's business was not in high favor with the
residents of the country town. To tell the truth, the man was not
liked by any one, and was only patronized by force of circumstances or
through long-standing habit. He was a thoroughly mean man, and the
fact that his trade had been falling off steadily for several years
had not tended to sweeten his temper.

"Thet's one on Ike Marvelling, sure!" laughed a young man near the
auction stand.

"Yes, an' Ike deserves it," returned a woman beside him. "He has no
right to come in here and abuse the boy."

"That's so, he ain't," added another woman.

"Ike was always high-priced in everything," remarked a jolly-faced
farmer. "If he had Pickle Mountain to sell he would want double price
for it."

This bit of humor caused a laugh at the store-keeper's expense, and
put him in even worse humor than had Matt's caustic remarks.

"See here, I didn't come in here to be abused!" he cried, addressing
the young auctioneer in a bullying tone.

"You were not asked in here at all, to my knowledge," returned Matt.
"And you should have remained away unless you intended to do the right
thing."

"See here, boy, what do you mean?"

"What would you think of me if I came over to your store and told your
customers that I could sell them goods cheaper than you could? I
rather guess you would be for running me out--and mighty lively,
too!"

"That he would!" laughed several. "He wouldn't give you time to open
your mouth."

"I came in here because I know all these auction sales--they ain't
really auctions at all--are frauds!" blustered Isaac Marvelling,
finding it hard to say anything in the face of so much opposition.
"These chaps oughten to be allowed to sell a thing--they swindle folks
so, and if I had my way, the constable would----"

"Stop right there!" interrupted Matt, his eyes flashing. "When you
insinuate that I am a swindler, you go too far. You must take back
those words!"

"Must I?" sneered the store-keeper. "Well, I reckon not."

"Very well, then." Matt turned to several men standing by the door.
"Will one of you gentlemen kindly call in the constable or some other
officer?"

"What--what do