The impression flashed through the crowd that Pa was in earnest , and meant thus to signify his intention of giving the baby a home . He was well-to-do , and his only son was grown up and married . `` Six , '' cried out John Clarke from the other side of the yard . John Clarke lived at White Sands and he and his wife were childless . That bid of John Clarke 's was Pa 's undoing . Pa Sloane could not have an enemy ; but a rival he had , and that rival was John Clarke . Everywhere at auctions John Clarke was wont to bid against Pa. . At the last auction he had outbid Pa in everything , not having the fear of his wife before his eyes . Pa 's fighting blood was up in a moment ; he forgot Ma Sloane ; he forgot what he was bidding for ; he forgot everything except a determination that John Clarke should not be victor again . `` Ten , '' he called shrilly . `` Fifteen , '' shouted Clarke . `` Twenty , '' vociferated Pa. . `` Twenty-five , '' bellowed Clarke . `` 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 XXXXX part was only a joke , '' he said .
at before besides for from in into of that through