`` Thirty , '' shrieked Pa. . He nearly bust a blood-vessel in his shrieking , but he had won . Clarke turned off with a laugh and a shrug , and the baby was knocked down to Pa Sloane by the auctioneer , who had meanwhile been keeping the crowd in roars of laughter by a quick fire of witticisms . There had not been such fun at an auction in Carmody for many a long day . Pa Sloane came , or was pushed , forward . The baby was put into his arms ; he realized that he was expected to keep it , and he was too dazed to refuse ; besides , his heart went out to the child . The auctioneer looked doubtfully at the money which Pa laid mutely down . `` I s ` pose that part was only a joke , '' he said . `` Not a bit of it , '' said Robert Lawson . `` All the money wo n't bee too much to pay the debts . There 's a doctor 's bill , and this will just about pay it . '' Pa Sloane drove back home , with the sorrel mare still unshod , the baby , and the baby 's meager bundle of clothes . The baby did not trouble him much ; it had become well used to strangers in the past two months , and promptly fell asleep on his arm ; but Pa Sloane did not enjoy that drive ; at the end of it ; he mentally saw Ma Sloane . Ma was there , too , waiting for him on the back door-step as he drove into the yard at sunset . Her face , when she saw the baby , expressed the last degree of amazement . `` Pa Sloane , '' she demanded , `` whose is that young one , and there did you get it ? '' `` I -- I -- bought it at the auction , Ma , '' said Pa feebly . Then he waited for the explosion . None came . This last exploit of Pa 's was too much for Ma .
With a gasp she snatched the baby from Pa 's arms , and ordered him XXXXX go out and put the mare in .
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