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[Illustration: LET GO OF THAT HORSE!--PAGE 144.    Y. A.]




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  YOUNG AUCTIONEERS;
      OR,
  THE POLISHING OF A ROLLING STONE.

  By EDWARD STRATEMEYER,

  Author of "Bound to be an Electrician," "Shorthand Tom,"
  "Fighting for his Own," etc., etc.


  W. L. ALLISON COMPANY,
  NEW YORK.


                  *       *       *       *       *


Popular Books for Boys and Girls.


Working Upward Series,

  By EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

  THE YOUNG AUCTIONEERS, or The Polishing of a Rolling Stone.
  BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, or Franklin Bell's Success.
  SHORTHAND TOM THE REPORTER, or The Exploits of a Smart Boy.
  FIGHTING FOR HIS OWN, or The Fortunes of a Young Artist.

  Price, $1.00 per Volume, postpaid.


Bright and Bold Series,

  By ARTHUR M. WINFIELD.

  POOR BUT PLUCKY, or The Mystery of a Flood.
  SCHOOL DAYS OF FRED HARLEY, or Rivals for All Honors.
  BY PLUCK, NOT LUCK, or Dan Granbury's Struggle to Rise.
  THE MISSING TIN BOX, or Hal Carson's Remarkable City Adventures.

  Price, 75 Cents per Volume, postpaid.


Young Sportsman's Series,

  By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL.

  THE RIVAL BICYCLISTS, or Fun and Adventures on the Wheel.
  YOUNG OARSMEN OF LAKEVIEW, or The Mystery of Hermit Island.
  LEO THE CIRCUS BOY, or Life Under the Great White Canvas.

  Price, 75 Cents per Volume, postpaid.


Young Hunters Series,

  By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL.

  GUN AND SLED, or The Young Hunters of Snow-Top Island.
  YOUNG HUNTERS IN PORTO RICO, or The Search for a Lost Treasure.
    (Another volume in preparation.)

  Price, 75 Cents per Volume, postpaid.


  W. L. ALLISON CO.,
  105 Chambers Street, New York.


COPYRIGHT, 1897, BY W. L. ALLISON CO.




CONTENTS.


  CHAPTER.                                                        PAGE
        I. Matt Attends a Sale                                       5
       II. A Lively Discussion                                      12
      III. Something of the Past                                    19
       IV. An Interesting Proposition                               26
        V. Matt Is Discharged                                       33
       VI. A Business Partnership                                   40
      VII. Getting Ready to Start                                   47
     VIII. An Unexpected Set-Back                                   53
       IX. The Result of a Fire                                     60
        X. On the Road at Last                                      68
       XI. Harsh Treatment                                          77
      XII. Matt Stands up for Himself                               84
     XIII. The Corn Salve Doctor                                    92
      XIV. The Young Auctioneer                                    100
       XV. The Charms of Music                                     108
      XVI. The Confidence Man                                      116
     XVII. The Storm                                               124
    XVIII. A Hold Up                                               132
      XIX. Out of a Bad Scrape                                     141
       XX. Accused of Stealing                                     150
      XXI. The Tell-Tale Cap                                       157
     XXII. The Shanty in the Woods                                 165
    XXIII. Something is Missing                                    173
     XXIV. Along the River                                         181
      XXV. A Bitter Mistake                                        189
     XXVI. Something of a Surprise                                 197
    XXVII. Timely Assistance                                       205
   XXVIII. Back to the Village                                     213
     XXIX. Undesirable Customers                                   220
      XXX. A Dash from Danger                                      229
     XXXI. Dangerous Mountain Travelling                           238
    XXXII. An Interesting Letter                                   245
   XXXIII. The Rival Auctioneers                                   252
    XXXIV. Matt Speaks His Mind                                    260
     XXXV. Tom Inwold                                              268
    XXXVI. Lost in the Snow                                        277
   XXXVII. More of Auction Life                                    284
  XXXVIII. A Surprising Discovery                                  291
    XXXIX. A Mystery Cleared Up                                    298
       XL. The Mining Shares                                       304




PREFACE.


"The Young Auctioneers" forms the initial volume of a line of juvenile
stories called "The Working Upward Series."

The tale is complete in itself, and tells of the adventures of a
homeless, although not a penniless youth, who strikes up an
acquaintanceship with another young fellow experienced as an
auctioneer. The two purchase a horse and wagon, stock up with goods,
and take to the road. The partners pass through a number of more or
less trying experiences, and the younger lad is continually on the
lookout for his father, who has broken out of an asylum while partly
deranged in mind over the loss of his wife and his fortune.

I have endeavored in this tale to give a faithful picture of life
among a certain class of traveling salesmen who are but little known
to the world at large, especially to those who inhabit our large
cities. In country places the traveling auctioneer is looked for as a
matter of course, and he is treated according to the humor of the
inhabitants, or rather, according to the merits or demerits of the
"bargains" offered on a previous trip.

I sincerely trust that my numerous boy readers will find the tale to
their liking, and that the moral--to lead an upright, honest life
under any and all circumstances--will not escape them.

EDWARD STRATEMEYER.




THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER.




CHAPTER I.

MATT ATTENDS A SALE.


"Now, ladies and gentlemen, what am I offered for this elegant vase,
imported direct from Italy, a most marvelous piece of workmanship,
worth every cent of twenty-five dollars? Who will start it at five
dollars? Start it at four? Start it at three? At two? At one dollar?
What is that--fifty cents? Rather low, lady, but as I said before,
these goods must be sold, regardless of the prices obtained. Fifty
cents, it is! Fifty--fifty! Who will make it one dollar?"

"Sixty!"

"What, only sixty? Well, well, well! Never mind, the goods must go,
and sixty cents is better than nothing. Sixty--sixty----"

"Seventy-five!"

"Eighty!"

"One dollar!"

"At last I am offered one dollar! Think of it! One dollar for a
beautiful vase such as might well adorn the home of a Gould, or a
Vanderbilt! But such is life. One dollar--one dollar----"

"One and a quarter!"

"One and a half!"

"One and a half is offered! Oh, what a shame, ladies and gentlemen; a
paltry dollar and a half for an article worth, at the very lowest
estimate, twenty-five dollars. Who makes it two dollars?"

"Two!"

"Two and a half!"

"Three!"

"Three and a quarter!"

"Three and a quar-- Ah, four dollars? Four dollars! Who says five?
Going at four--at four--at four. Four and a half--four and a
quarter--this is your last chance, remember. Did you say five, sir?
No? Well, four it is, then. Going--going--the last chance, ladies and
gentlemen! Going--going--gone, to the lady in the brown dress, Andrew,
for four dollars!"

The scene was a small store on Nassau street near Fulton street, in
New York City. Outside of the open doorway hung a red flag, indicative
of an auction sale. The single window of the place was crowded with
vases, imitation marble statues, plated tableware, and gorgeous lamps
of highly-polished metal.

Among these articles was a sign in black letters on white cardboard
bearing these words:

  ROYAL CONSIGNMENT AUCTION CO.,
  Sales Daily from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M.

Inside, toward the