It got some outside men to come over from Brooklyn and New Jersey to bid against me.
Was I done?
Not much.

I went to each of the men and said: "How many of these 250,000 stories do you want ?" One said 20,000, and another wanted 15,000, and other wanted 10,000.

I said: "All right, let me bid for the lot, and I'll give each of you all you want for nothin'." They agreed, of course.

Then the auctioneer yelled: "How much am I bid for these 250,000 fine pavin' stones ?" "Two dollars and fifty cents," says I.
"Two dollars and fifty cents!" screamed the auctioneer.

"Oh, that's a joke! Give me a real bid." He found the bid was real enough.