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Rh come into the open as Trevelyan had expected.

It was five minutes past the hour when the auctioneer arose and briefly recapitulated what he had to sell, asking for a bid. There was no reply.

"How much am I offered?" he repeated, and then spoke in a perfunctory way of the possible value of the patent, as well as the up-to-date nature of the machinery which Mr. Sarsfield-Mitcham had purchased for the manufacture of the device. Again there was silence, broken at last by Mackeller.

"Five thousand dollars," he said.

"Five thousand? Thank you, sir. That will do as a beginning. Now, gentlemen, what's the next offer for this valuable property? Shall I say ten thousand?"

"Six," spoke up a man at the further end of the room.

"Six thousand I am bid. Any advance on six thousand? It's up to you, sir." He nodded at Mackeller.

"Seven," said Mackeller.

"Eight!" promptly replied the other.

"Nine," said Mackeller.

"Ten!"

"Eleven."

"Twelve."

"Thirteen."

"Fourteen."