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THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER.

five feet of space between the show window and the raised platform upon which the boy stood. He did not seem to wish to leap the span, nor did he appear inclined to step down to the floor and then up upon the platform.

"Why don't you let him have it?" yelled Andy, as he saw Matt raise the pistol and then lower it again.

"I don't believe he's so mad after all," returned the boy. "I'm not going to shoot until I have to. Say!" he went on suddenly, "give him a tune on one of the accordions"

"What's that?" gasped Andy in astonishment.

"Play him a time. He may be a trained bear, and if so, the music may soothe him."

Andy at once caught Matt's idea, and, taking up an accordion which stood close at hand, he began a lively tune of a popular sort.

At the first bars of the tune the brown bear appeared surprised. He raised himself up higher than ever on his hind legs, until his head touched the top of the show window. Then he started as if to dance, crashing over every article which was on exhibition. Finding he could not dance in the limited space around him, he leaped to the pavement outside, and there, to the bystanders' amazement and relief, began to execute a clumsy jig.