The Auction

[Kimbo]

One Saturday morning in Whyte's Auction House the bidding was proceeding furiously and strongly when the Chief Auctioneer suddenly announced, 'A gentleman in this room has lost a wallet containing ten thousand dollars. If returned, he will pay a reward of two thousand dollars.

There was a moment's silence in the auction house and from the back of the room came a cry, 'Two thousand five hundred.