you mean?" asked Isaac Marvelling in a lower tone, and
much disturbed.

"I mean to have you put out as a disorderly character, that's what I
mean," returned Matt firmly. "I have paid my license, and so long as I
do business on the square I do not intend to allow any one to bulldoze
me or call me a swindler."

"That's right! That's right!" cried several men in the crowd, and the
woman who had first spoken nodded approvingly.

"You're a mighty big boy!" sneered the store-keeper, but all noticed
that he retreated several steps toward the open doorway.

"I am big enough to defend myself," replied the young auctioneer
quickly. "I want you to leave. I am no more of a swindler than you
are--perhaps not as much. I am conducting this business on an honest
basis, and I will not stand by and let you or any one else blacken my
character."

"We'll see--we'll see," muttered Isaac Marvelling, and greatly
enraged, but unable to say a word in his own defense, and fearful that
an officer might appear, he withdrew.

This little incident served to make Matt many friends. People always
like to see persons stick up for their rights, and in this particular
case they were pleased to see the mean store-keeper "talked-down," as
he well deserved to be.

The album was again put up, and after considerable talking was knocked
down to Podders, the very individual Isaac Marvelling had endeavored
to persuade away from the sale. Matt purposely let Podders have the
album quite cheaply, and as soon as it was his Podders declared he
would call at Marvelling's store and see if it could be duplicated at
the price he had paid.

The young auctioneer knew this could not be done, and he offered to
buy the album back at double the price should Podders succeed.

This pleased the farmer, and also many others, and, as a consequence,
Matt had a brisk run of luck until closing-up time. The boy felt
highly elated, especially when, on counting up the cash, he found he
had taken in sixteen dollars, one third of which was profit.

On the following morning another heavy rain came up, and Matt found it
of no advantage to open up for business. Shortly after dinner Andy
came back from New York, and to him Matt related all that had
occurred.

"That's right, Matt, always stick up when you are in the right, and
you'll come out on top," said the senior partner of the firm.

Andy had struck several decided bargains in goods in the metropolis,
and had invested ever