"The cheat! The contemptible cheat!" hammered in Amanda's brain.
After the distribution of prizes, cheap reprint editions of well-known
books, an auctioneer stepped on the platform and drew from a corner a
bushel basket of packages of various sizes and shapes.
"Oyez, Oyez," he called in true auctioneer style, "we have here a
bushel of good things, all to be sold, sight unseen, to the highest
bidder. I understand each package contains something good to eat,
packed and contributed by the pupils of this school. The proceeds of
the sale are to be used to purchase good books for the school library
for the pupils to read. So, folks, bid lively and don't be afraid to
run a little risk. You'll get more fun from the package you buy than
you've had for a long time, I'll warrant."
With much talk and gesticulation the spirited bidding was kept up until
every package was sold. Shouts of joy came from the. country boys when
one opened a box filled with ten candy suckers and distributed them
among the crowd. Other bidders won candy, cake, sandwiches, and loud
was the laughter when a shoe-box was sold for a dollar, opened and
found to contain a dozen raw sweet potatoes.
After the fun of the auction had died down all rose and sang "The Star-
Spangled Banner," and the Spelling Bee was over.
The audience soon began to leave. Laughing girls and boys started down
the dark country roads. Carriages and automobiles carried many away
until a mere handful of people were left in the little schoolhouse.
Lyman Mertzheimer lingered. He approached Amanda, exchanged greetings
with her and asked, "May I walk home with you? I have something to tell
you."
"Oh, I suppose so," she replied, not very graciously. The dishonest
method of gaining a prize still rankled in her. Lyman walked about the
room impatiently, looking idly at the drawings and other work of the
children displayed above the blackboards.
A moment later Martin Landis came up to Amanda. He had been setting
chairs in their places, gathering singing-books and putting the room in
order.
"Well, Manda," he said, "it was a grand success! Everything went off
fine, lots of fun for all. And I heard Hershey, the director, tell his
wife that you certainly know how to conduct a Spelling Bee."
"Oh, did he say that?" The news pleased her. "But I'm glad it's over."
"I guess you are. There, we're all fixed up now. I'll send one of the
boys over next week with the team to take back the borrowed chairs.
I'll walk home with you, Manda. What's Lyman Mertzheimer hanging around
for? Soon as those people by the door leave, we can lock up and go."
"Why--Martin--thank you--but Lyman asked to walk home with me."