Bart Stirling's Road to Success; Or, The Young Express Agent

by George A. Warren

  CHAPTER XXIV

  MR. BAKER'S BID

  The attitude, actions and announcement of the mysterious Mr. Bakerfilled Bart Stirling with profound surprise and wonderment.

  The young express agent well knew the erratic temperment of his singularfriend, but Baker had been so placid and natural up to the presentmoment, and this excitable outburst was so vivid and unaccountable, thatBart felt sure that there was some important reason for the same.

  All eyes were now fixed on Baker. He seemed to put a dramatic climax toa varied entertainment, and appeared unconscious of everything exceptthe package Bart held in his hand. His eyes were fixed upon thissteadfastly--they seemed to burn right into it.

  Lem Wacker had also arisen to his feet. Bart noticed him intentlystudying Baker, sidling up to him and sinking to the bench directly nextto him.

  There was a suspiciousness in the action that enhanced Bart's interestand curiosity, but he preserved his composure.

  "Three dollars, did you say?" he inquired, in an insinuating andsoothing, but strictly business tone.

  "Yes!" gasped out Baker.

  "I am bid--"

  "Four."

  Bart looked fixedly at Lem Wacker, for it was he who had spoken. DarryHaven dropped the cover of the cash box, and also stared at Wacker.There was something suggestive in the sensation of the moment.

  Lem Wacker's face was as bold as brass. He was dressed pretty well andlooked prosperous, and there was a mean sneer on his lips as heshamelessly returned the glance of the boy he had wronged, defiantlyrelying, apparently, on some reserved power he fancied he possessed.

  Baker did not even look at the rival bidder. His very soul seemedcentered on the package in Bart's hand.

  "Five," he uttered with an effort--"six, seven!"

  "Eight," said Wacker calmly, striking a cigarette between his lips.

  "Ten."

  "Twelve."

  Baker was silent. A frightful spasm crossed his face. He swayed fromside to side. Then, grasping at the bench rails to steady himself, hecame up to the platform.

  "Stirling!" he panted hoarsely, "I have no more money, but I must--musthave that package! Lend me--"

  "Whatever you wish," answered Bart promptly.

  "Fifteen dollars!" said Baker.

  Lem Wacker jumped to his feet, excited. He shot a hand into a pocket,drew it out again holding a pocketbook, ran over its contents, andshouted!

  "Sixteen dollars!"

  "Twenty!" cried Baker.

  "I am offered twenty dollars," said Bart, outwardly cool as a cucumber,inwardly greatly perturbed over the incident in hand, and hastening toclose it in favor of a friend. "Twenty dollars once, twenty dollarstwice--"

  "Stop!" yelled Lem Wacker.

  "Do you bid more?" asked Bart.

  "I--I do!"

  "How much?"

  "Double--treble--if I have to!" retorted Wacker. "Only I want you towait until I can get the cash. I have only sixteen dollars with me--Ican get a hundred and sixty in two minutes, I--"

  "Terms strictly cash," said Bart simply. "Going, going, at twentydollars--"

  "Hold on! Don't you dare!" raved Wacker, swinging his arms about like awindmill. "I demand that this sale be suspended until I can get furtherfunds."

  "Twenty dollars--gone!" sung out Bart in the same business tone, "andsold to--cash."

  With a sigh of relief and weakness Baker swayed sideways to a bench,first extending to Darry Haven with a shaking hand a little roll ofbills.

  "Charge me with the balance," said Bart quickly to his assistant, in alow tone.

  "You've no right!" raved Lem Wacker loudly, shaking his fist at Bart,and in a passion of uncontrollable rage. "You'll suffer for this! Iprotest against this sale--I demand that you do not deliver thatpackage, you young snob! you--"

  Lem Wacker was getting abusive. He pranced about like a mad bull.

  A heavy hand dropped suddenly on his collar, McCarthy, the watchman,gave him a shove towards the door.

  "No talk of that kind allowed here," he remarked grimly. "Get out, orI'll fire you out!"

  As Wacker disappeared through the doorway, Bart leaned from theplatform.

  "Here is your package, Mr. Baker," he said. "What is the trouble--areyou ill?"

  Baker struggled to his feet. He was in a pitiable state of agitation andnervousness.

  "No! no!" he panted, "you keep the package--for a time. Till--till Iexplain. I've got it! I've got it at last!" he quavered in an exultanttone. "Air--I'm choking! I--I'll be back soon--"

  He rushed to the door overcome, like a man on the verge of a fit.

  Bart started to follow him. Just then, however, one of the recentbidders came up to ask some question about a purchase which requiredthat Bart consult the record book.

  When he had disposed of the matter, Bart hurried to the outside. Bakerwas nowhere in sight.