"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."I know as much about boats as Tom Swift.I'll make it eighty.""No side remarks.I'll do most of the talking.You just bid, young man," remarked Mr.Wood."I have eighty bid for this boat-- -eighty dollars.Why, my friends, I can't understand this.I ought to have it up to three hundred dollars, at least.But I thank you all the same.We are coming on.I'm bid eighty---""Ninety!" exclaimed the quiet man at Tom's elbow.He was continually fingering his upper lip, as though he had a mustache there, but his face was clean-shaven.He looked around nervously as he spoke.
"Ninety!" called out the auctioneer.
"Ninety-five!" returned Tom.Andy Foger scowled at him, but the young inventor only smiled.It was evident that the bully did not relish being bid against.He and his crony whispered together again.
"One hundred!" called Andy, as if no one would dare go above that."I'm offered an even hundred," resumed Mr.Wood."We are certainlycoming on.A hundred I am bid, a hundred---a hundred--- a hundred---" "And five," said the strange man hastily, and he seemed to choke as heuttered the words.
"Oh, come now; we ought to have at least ten-dollar bids from now on," suggested Mr.Wood."Won't you make it a hundred and ten?" The auctioneer looked directly at the man, who seemed to shrink back into the crowd.He shook his head, cast a sort of despairing look at the boat and hurried away.
"That's queer," murmured Tom."I guess that was his limit, yet if he wanted the boat badly that wasn't a high price.""Who's going ahead of me?" demanded Andy in loud tones."Keep quiet!" urged Sam."We may get it yet.""Yes, don't make so many remarks," counseled the auctioneer."I'm bid a hundred and five.Will any one make it a hundred and twenty- five?"Tom wondered why the man bad not remained to see if his bid was accepted, for no one raised it at once, but he hurried off and did not look back.Tom took a sudden resolve.
"A hundred and twenty-five!" he called out.
"That's what I like to hear," exclaimed Mr.Wood."Now we are doing business.A hundred and twenty-five from Tom Swift.Will any one offer me fifty?"Andy and Sam seemed to be having some dispute.
"Let's make him quit right now," suggested Andy in a hoarse whisper."You can't," declared Sam'
"Yes, I can.I'll go up to my limit right now.""And some one will go above you---maybe Tom will," was Sam's retort.
"I don't believe he can afford to," Andy came back with."I'm going to call his bluffs.I believe he's only bidding to make others think he wants it.I don't believe he'll buy it."Tom heard what was said, but did not reply.The auctioneer was calling monotonously: "I'm bid a hundred and twenty-five---twenty- five.Will any one make it fifty?""A hundred and fifty!" sang out Andy, and all eyes were directed toward him.
"Sixty!" said Tom quietly.
