"Sixty-five from the gentleman in the white straw hat!" called Mr.
Wood with a smile at his wit, for there were many men wearing
white straw hats, the day being a warm one in June.
"Here, who's bidding above me?" exclaimed Andy, as if it was
against the 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 interrupt me, 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 bid more you can do so. I'm offered sixty-five, sixty-five I'm
offered for this boat. Will any one make it seventy-five?"
Mr. Wood looked at Tom, and our hero, thinking it was time for
him to make a bid, offered seventy. "Seventy from Tom Swift!"
cried the auctioneer. "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 what I'm told, but Tom Swift does. Now,
if he bids, you people ought to know that it's all right. I'm
bid seventy--seventy I'm bid. Will any one make it eighty?"
"Eighty!" exclaimed Andy Foger after a whispered conference with
Sam.
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