The auctioneer glared.
“Stay out of this.”
The collector remained calm.
“I haven't claimed the machine is authenticated. I'm saying it deserves investigation.”
The auctioneer turned toward the crowd.
“The equipment may have been incorrectly identified. I'm exercising my right to withdraw the lot.”
A middle-aged woman standing near the barn entrance stepped forward.
She was the executor of the deceased farmer's estate.
Her late uncle had owned the property where the tractor had been stored, and she had hired the auction company to sell the equipment so the estate could be settled.
She had been watching the entire exchange.
“Vernon,” she said, “you struck the gavel.”
He turned.
“This is a professional matter.”
She folded her arms.
“Then explain it professionally.”
He hesitated.
The woman continued.
“The auction was advertised as no reserve for that lot. I authorized the sale, and your clerk has already recorded the winning bid.”
The auctioneer glanced toward the clerk.
The young man behind the payment desk lowered his eyes.
He had written down the transaction.
Lot 47.
Paddle 47.
Fifty-five dollars.
The estate executor looked toward May's aunt.
“Did you register this paddle?”
“Yes.”
“And did you authorize the bid?”
“Yes.”
The executor nodded.
Then she looked at the auctioneer.
“What's the problem?”
He became angry.
“The problem is that nobody knows what the tractor really is!”
The executor stared.
“Then why did you catalog it as an ordinary machine?”
For several seconds, he said nothing.
The elderly collector slowly stood.
“That is an excellent question.”
The crowd began murmuring.
Several farmers who had been laughing only minutes earlier were now examining the tractor with serious interest.
Earl Dawson pushed forward.
He looked toward the identification plate.
Then toward May.
“Kid, you really think that's worth something?”
May hesitated.
“I think Grandpa knew what it was.”
Earl studied the notebook.
Then he looked at the auctioneer.
“You told me it was junk.”
The auctioneer's expression tightened.
“It is junk until somebody proves otherwise.”
Earl glanced toward the collector.
The elderly man shook his head.
“That's not how historical equipment works. Its present condition and its historical significance are different questions.”
Earl frowned.