is place among the bidders. He had found himself crowded in between a thin man and a stout one. He knew the stout one slightly; they called him John. The slim man was new and quite st

as if someone had brand

ring shrilly in his ear. Before the whisper had come he felt a sharp punch in the ribs. The punch may have been made with a

t's the big idea? This is an a

emember it the longest day you live! You bid on that next package! And get it! Take it away from 'em, see? Take it away! Me? I'm broke,"

rrugated box tied round with a stout hempen cord. There were scores quite like it. So

lf, "or old clothes, like as not, or jars of c

insisting. "Bid! Bid!

umbled in a whis

ways after a nap he felt cross. He wouldn't bid on the silly package

ent up, he did bid. "One dollar! T

ger's face; wanted to see how he felt about

.. No, not all of it," he amended ten seconds later. "Here comes the collecto

ging into his watch-pocket, he dr

package after the auction.

t his dollar. He debated this problem and decided to stay. The package d

ht before. Closing his eyes, he seemed to see again that frightful wavering skeleton which in time he ca

heir skins on-clothes too. It's a queer business! Eyes staring at a fellow from the wall!" He shuddered. "Fairly

ke them. They may be very good and they may be very bad, in certain ways, but you like them all the same. And you'll follow them a

mused. "Good thing we got out of that cellar before an

s trunks, 'with contents if any,' some puppies-hear 'em squeal!-pop-corn in a sack, six broken lamps a

, drab fog had come creeping in from the lake. Lights glowed through it like grea

he clerk. "Some busted thing, I guess. He

parcel man handed ou

corner of the box, he thrust in a hand. He touched somet

further exploring. "Metal affair made like a jug; br

m, he came out into the

d strangers. During the day, when the weather is fair, the cross streets swarm with men who onc

lfway through a block a chance flash of light from a passing car r

ive. He had seen faces like theirs before, in court rooms and behi

sing car came too late. Before he could turn an

he did not question. Why?

t. He kept himself fit for just such an o

of them!"

at that one's stomach. The man went over with a groan. But not Johnny. Regaining his balance in a f

well-formed fists. As the third man sprang at him, he squared away to give him an uppercut under t

hnny's skull. The fourth member of the gang, he wh

beam of his flashlight down that alley it fel

asleep, when something about the person's clothes caused him to l

ive!" he muttered after

ot him! I wonder