CHAPTER II
SOME LIVELY BIDDING
"Attention, people!" cried the auctioneer. "Give me your attention fora few minutes, and we will proceed with the business in hand. As youall know, I am about to dispose of a fine motor-boat, the property ofMr. Bently Hastings. The reason for disposing of it at auction isknown to most of you, but for the benefit of those who do not, I willbriefly state them. The boat was stolen by a gang of thieves andrecovered recently through the efforts of a young man, Thomas Swift,son of Barton Swift, our fellow-townsman, of Shopton." At that momentthe auctioneer, Jacob Wood, caught sight of Tom in the press, and,looking directly at the lad, continued:
"I understand that young Mr. Swift is here to-day, and I hope heintends to bid on this boat. If he does, the bidding will be lively,for Tom Swift is a lively young man. I wish I could say that some ofthe men who stole the boat were here to-day."
The auctioneer paused and there were some murmurs from those in thethrong as to why such a wish should be uttered. Tom felt some onemoving near him, and, looking around, he saw the same man with whom hehad come in contact before. The person seemed desirous of getting outon the edge of the crowd, and Tom felt a return of his vaguesuspicions. He looked closely at the fellow, but could trace noresemblance to any of the men who had so daringly stolen his father'smodel.
"The reason I wish they were here to-day," went on Mr. Wood, "is thatthe men did some slight damage to the boat, and if they were hereto-day we would make them pay for it. However, the damage is slightand can easily be repaired. I mention that, as Mr. Hastings desired meto. Now we will proceed with the bidding, and I will say that anopportunity will first be given all to examine the boat. Perhaps TomSwift will give us his opinion on the state it is in as we know he iswell qualified to talk about machinery."
All eyes were turned on Tom, for many knew him.
"Humph! I guess I know as much about boats and motors as he does,"sneered Andy Foger. "He isn't the only one in this crowd! Why didn'tthe auctioneer ask me?"
"Keep quiet," begged Sam Snedecker. "People are laughing at you, Andy."
"I don't care if they are," muttered the sandy haired youth. "TomSwift needn't think he's everything."
"If you will come down to the dock," went on the auctioneer, "you canall see the boat, and I would be glad to have young Mr. Swift give usthe benefit of his advice."
The throng trooped down to the lake, and, blushing somewhat, Tom toldwhat was the matter with the motor and how it could be fixed. It wasnoticed that there was less enthusiasm over the matter than there hadbeen, for certainly the engine, rusty and out of order as it was, didnot present an attractive sight. Tom noted that the man, who had actedso strangely, did not come down to the dock.
"Guess he can't be much interested in the motor," decided Tom.
"Now then, if it's all the same to you folks, I'll proceed with theauction here," went on Mr. Wood. "You can all see the boat from here.It is, as you see, a regular family launch and will carry twelvepersons comfortably. With a canopy fitted to it a person could cruiseall about the lake and stay out over night, for you could sleep on theseat cushions. It is twenty-one feet in length and has afive-and-a-half-foot beam, the design being what is known as acompromise stern. The motor is a double-cylinder two-cycle one, of tenhorsepower. It has a float-feed carburetor, mechanical oiler, and theignition system is the jump-spark--the best for this style of motor.The boat will make ten miles an hour, with twelve in, and, of course,more than that with a lighter load. A good deal will depend on the waythe motor is managed.
"Now, as you know, Mr. Hastings wishes to dispose of the boat partlybecause he does not wish to repair it and partly because he has a newerand larger one. The craft, which is named CARLOPA by the way, costoriginally nine hundred dollars. It could not be purchased new to-day,in many places, for a thousand. Now what am I offered in its presentcondition? Will any one make an offer? Will you give me five hundreddollars?"
The auctioneer paused and looked critically at the throng. Severalpersons smiled. Tom looked worried. He had no idea that the pricewould start so high.
"Well, perhaps that is a bit stiff," went on Mr. Wood. "Shall we sayfour hundred dollars? Come now, I'm sure it's worth four hundred.Who'll start it at four hundred?"
No one would, and the auctioneer descended to three hundred, then totwo and finally, as if impatient, he called out:
"Well, will any one start at fifty dollars?"
Instantly there were several cries of "I will!"
"I thought you would," went on the auctioneer. "Now we will get downto work. I'm offered fifty dollars for this twenty-one foot, tenhorsepower family launch. Will any one make it sixty?"
"Sixty!" called out Andy Foger in a shrill voice. Several turned tolook at him.
"I didn't know he was going to bid," thought Tom. "He may go above me.He's got plenty of money, and, while I have too, I'm not going to paytoo much for a damaged boat."
"Sixty I'm bid, sixty--sixty!" cried Mr. Wood in a sing-song tone,"who'll make it seventy?"
"Sixty-five!" spoke a quiet voice at Tom's elbow, and he turned to seethe mysterious man who had joined the crowd at the edge of the lake.
"Sixty-five from the gentleman in the white straw hat!" called Mr. Woodwith a smile at his wit, for there were many men wearing white strawhats, the day being a warm one in June.
"Here, who's bidding above me?" exclaimed Andy, as if it was againstthe law.
"I guess you'll find a number going ahead of you, my young friend,"remarked the auctioneer. "Will you have the goodness not to interruptme, except when you want to bid?"
"Well, I offered sixty," said the squint-eyed bully, while his crony,Sam Snedecker, was vainly, pulling at his sleeve.
"I know you did, and this gentleman went above you. If you want to bidmore you can do so. I'm offered sixty-five, sixty-five I'm offered forthis boat. Will any one make it seventy-five?"
Mr. Wood looked at Tom, and our hero, thinking it was time for him tomake a bid, offered seventy. "Seventy from Tom Swift!" cried theauctioneer. "There is a lad who knows a motor-boat from stem to stern,if those are the right words. I don't know much about boats except whatI'm told, but Tom Swift does. Now, if he bids, you people ought to knowthat it's all right. I'm bid seventy--seventy I'm bid. Will any onemake it eighty?"
"Eighty!" exclaimed Andy Foger after a whispered conference with Sam."I know as much about boats as Tom Swift. I'll make it eighty."
"No side remarks. I'll do most of the talking. You just bid, youngman," remarked Mr. Wood. "I have eighty bid for this boat--eightydollars. Why, my friends, I can't understand this. I ought to have itup to three hundred dollars, at least. But I thank you all the same. Weare coming on. I'm bid eighty--"
"Ninety!" exclaimed the quiet man at Tom's elbow. He was continuallyfingering his upper lip, as though he had a mustache there, but hisface was clean-shaven. He looked around nervously as he spoke.
"Ninety!" called out the auctioneer.
"Ninety-five!" returned Tom. Andy Foger scowled at him, but the younginventor only smiled. It was evident that the bully did not relishbeing bid against. He and his crony whispered together again.
"One hundred!" called Andy, as if no one would dare go above that.
"I'm offered an even hundred," resumed Mr. Wood. "We are certainlycoming on. A hundred I am bid, a hundred--a hundred--a hundred--"
"And five," said the strange man hastily, and he seemed to choke as heuttered the words.
"Oh, come now; we ought to have at least ten-dollar bids from now on,"suggested Mr. Wood. "Won't you make it a hundred and ten?" Theauctioneer looked directly at the man, who seemed to shrink back intothe crowd. He shook his head, cast a sort of despairing look at theboat and hurried away.
"That's queer," murmured Tom. "I guess that was his limit, yet if hewanted the boat badly that wasn't a high price."
"Who's going ahead of me?" demanded Andy in loud tones.
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p; "Keep quiet!" urged Sam. "We may get it yet."
"Yes, don't make so many remarks," counseled the auctioneer. "I'm bida hundred and five. Will any one make it a hundred and twenty-five?"
Tom wondered why the man had not remained to see if his bid wasaccepted, for no one raised it at once, but he hurried off and did notlook back. Tom took a sudden resolve.
"A hundred and twenty-five!" he called out.
"That's what I like to hear," exclaimed Mr. Wood. "Now we are doingbusiness. A hundred and twenty-five from Tom Swift. Will any oneoffer me fifty?"
Andy and Sam seemed to be having some dispute.
"Let's make him quit right now," suggested Andy in a hoarse whisper.
"You can't," declared Sam'
"Yes, I can. I'll go up to my limit right now."
"And some one will go above you---maybe Tom will," was Sam's retort.
"I don't believe he can afford to," Andy came back with. "I'm going tocall his bluffs. I believe he's only bidding to make others think hewants it. I don't believe he'll buy it."
Tom heard what was said, but did not reply. The auctioneer was callingmonotonously: "I'm bid a hundred and twenty-five--twenty-five. Willany one make it fifty?"
"A hundred and fifty!" sang out Andy, and all eyes were directed towardhim.
"Sixty!" said Tom quietly.
"Here, you--" began the red-haired lad. "You--"
"That will do!" exclaimed the auctioneer sternly. "I am offered ahundred and sixty. Now who will give me an advance? I want to get theboat up to two hundred, and then the real bidding will begin."
Tom's heart sank. He hoped it would be some time before a two hundreddollar offer would be heard. As for Andy Foger, he was almostspeechless with rage. He shook off the restraining arm of Sam, and,worming his way to the front of the throng, exclaimed:
"I'll give a hundred and seventy-five dollars for that boat!"
"Good!" cried the auctioneer. "That's the way to talk. I'm offered ahundred and seventy-five."
"Eighty," said Tom quietly, though his heart was beating fast.
"Well, of all--" began Andy, but Sam Snedecker dragged him back.
"You haven't got any more money," said the bully's crony. "Better stopnow."
"I will not! I'm going home for more," declared Andy. "I must havethat boat."
"It will be sold when you get back," said Sam.
"Haven't you got any money you can lend me?" inquired the squint-eyedone, scowling in Tom's direction. "No, not a bit. There, some oneraised Tom's bid."
At that moment a man in the crowd offered a hundred and eighty-onedollars.
"Small amounts thankfully received," said Mr. Wood with a laugh. Thenthe bidding became lively, a number making one-dollar advances.
The price got up to one hundred and ninety-five dollars and there ithung for several minutes, despite the eloquence of Mr. Wood, who triedby all his persuasive powers to get a substantial advance. But everyone seemed afraid to bid. As for the young inventor, he was in aquandary. He could only offer five dollars more, and, if he bid it ina lump, some one might go to two hundred and five, and he would not getthe boat. He wished he had secured permission from his father to gohigher, yet he knew that as a fair proposition two hundred dollars wasabout all the motor-boat in its present condition was worth, at leastto him. Then he made a sudden resolve. He thought he might as wellhave the suspense over.
"Two hundred dollars!" he called boldly.
"I'm offered two hundred!" repeated Mr. Wood. "That is something likeit. Now who will raise that?"
There was a moment of silence. Then the auctioneer swung into anenthusiastic description of the boat. He begged for an advance, butnone was made, though Tom's heart seemed in his throat, so afraid washe that he would not get the CARLOPA.
"Two hundred--two hundred!" droned on Mr. Wood. "I am offered twohundred. Will any of you go any higher?" He paused a moment, and Tom'sheart beat harder than ever. "If not," resumed the speaker, "I willdeclare the bidding closed. Are you all done? Once--twice--threetimes. Two hundred dollars. Going--going--gone!" He clapped his hands."The boat is sold to Thomas Swift for two hundred dollars. If he'llstep up I'll take his money."
There was a laugh as Tom, blushingly, advanced. He passed Andy Foger,who had worked his way over near him.
"You got the boat," sneered the bully, "and I s'pose you think you gotahead of me."
"Keep quiet!" begged Sam.
"I won't!" exclaimed Andy. "He outbid me just out of spite, and I'llget even with him. You see if I don't!"
Tom looked Andy Foger straight in the eyes, but did not answer, and thered-haired youth turned aside, followed by his crony, and startedtoward his automobile.
"I congratulate you on your bargain," said Mr. Wood as Tom proceeded tomake out a check. He gave little thought to the threat Andy Foger hadmade, but the time was coming when he was to remember it well.
Tom Swift and His Motor-Boat; Or, The Rivals of Lake Carlopa Page 2