house and its occupants, Mandy Ann
and Judy, the latter of whom was greeted with shrieks of laughter.

Here was something that would sell, but what price to put upon it was a
puzzle. No one had any idea of the original cost. Mrs. Biggs, who had
joined the working force and whose voice was loudest everywhere,
suggested ten dollars, with the privilege of falling, but was at once
talked down, as low prices were to be the rule for everything, and five
was quite enough. There were few who would pay that for a mere
plaything for their children, so the card upon it was marked five
dollars, with the addition that it had once belonged to Mrs. Amy
Crompton Smith. It was then placed conspicuously in a window before
which a group of eager, excited children gathered, and to which early in
the afternoon Peter came leisurely.

The Colonel had asked him several times why he didn't go, and had
finally grown so petulant that Peter had started, wondering how much
he'd have to pay and what excuse he was to make for wanting it himself.
His instructions were not to lie, but get it somehow without using the
Colonel's name. Finding Ruby Ann alone, he began, "I say, do you make
any sales before the thing opens?"

"Why, yes, we can," Ruby answered. "Several antiques are promised, if
not actually sold, your boot-jack with the rest. Could sell another if
we had it. Any particular thing you want?"

"Yes, I want that house in the window and the two women in it,--Mandy
Ann and Judy. It's marked five dollars. Here's your money," and he laid
a crisp five-dollar bill in her hand.

"Why, Peter,--why, Peter," Ruby exclaimed in surprise, with a sense of
regret that more had not been asked, and a feeling of wonder as to why
Peter wanted it. "Are you buying it for yourself?" she asked, and Peter
replied, "Who should I buy it for? I knew Mrs. Amy when she was a little
girl and played with it and slept with that nigger baby Judy. I've
bought it. It's mine, and I'll take it right away. There's a drayman
now, bringing a worn-out cook-stove and an old lounge."

"Oh, but, Peter,--please leave it till the sale is over. It draws
people to look at it, and then they'll come in," Ruby said, while others
of the ladies joined their entreaties with hers.

But Peter was firm. He had bought the doll house and paid for it. It was
his, and in spite of the protests of the entire committee which gathered
round him like a swarm of bees he took it away, and an hour later