Page:The Young Auctioneers.djvu/231

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THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER.
215

put you where you will not be able to steal any more for some time to come."

"Arrest me?" exclaimed Paul Barberry, in great alarm. Evidently he had not thought such a thing at all likely.

"Yes," put in Andy. "And unless you do as we wish you to it may go mighty hard with you."

"But I'll stick to it that I bought the turn-out," returned the corn salve doctor, trying to put on a bold front. "You'll have to prove that you didn't make the sale. I won't be bulldozed."

"Get a rope and bind him, Matt," said Andy, paying no attention to the last remark. "We'll take him to the nearest police station. I suppose there will have to be some papers made out before he can be taken back to New Jersey."

The young auctioneer sprang into the wagon and soon brought forth a long and stout rope. Paul Barberry watched these preparations with an anxious face, and when Ramson stepped forward to aid in making him a close prisoner he began to wilt.

"See here," he said, addressing Andy and Matt, "I don't want to be locked up. It would injure my reputation to a great extent. I am willing to admit that I have done wrong, but I—I—did it by mistake. I haven't felt well for several days, and my