It was nearing noon. No one from outside Franklinton had appeared to bid on the property. Every one in the crowd was known to everyone else except for a beggar who had arrived in town just two days past. He joined the crowd and seemed befuddled as to why there was a crowd assembled. Everyone moved away from where he had chosen to stand at the bottom of the courthouse steps. He stood there now, swaying from side to side on his feet, his tattered cloak and filthy beard attracting scores of flies. Hopefully the sheriff would make him leave before the bidding started.

The bell in the church tower down the street broke the titter of voices. Dong ... Dong ... The crowd silently counted out the toll–ten, eleven, twelve–it was noon. The door of the courthouse opened and Adam Hosek appeared with Haggins by his side. Mr. Bipps, the clerk, followed them meekly through the door followed by Mr. O'Harra, the Justice of the Peace.

The sheriff cast his eyes across the crowd, appraising its make up. He talked quietly to Haggins for a moment and then to Mr. Bipps. Mr Bipps handed him a rolled

document. The sheriff walked to the center front of the landing at the top of the steps, unrolled the document, and asked for silence, which was unnecessary. It was stone silent except for the buzz of flies gathered around the beggar.

"By order of the court in the County of Franklin, State of Ohio," Hosek began and then stumbled as he noticed the beggar with his flies, swaying silently to and fro. Hosek gave the beggar a disdainful look, cleared his throat, and continued, "On this day, June 11, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and seven, there is offered for sale to the highest bidder the lands described as follows." Hosek seemed a bit nervous, the beggar was giving him his full attention and had even put one foot up on the step bringing him and his flies closer to the sheriff. But this was an official act and Hosek continued, "In the United States Military Lands as designated by Congress, in the sixteenth range, in the third township, all of the third quarter or section; bounded on the north by section two, on the east by section four, on the south by the lands of range XVI, township 2, and on the west by the lands of range XVII, township 3; and such described section being situate on the waters of Walnut Creek." Hosek paused, the beggar was causing him consternation.

Mr. Scott yelled at Hosek from the crowd, "Why don't you tell him to move on, Adam? We've no need for his like in our city." A few others echoed Mr. Scott's sentiment.

Hosek looked at the beggar who smiled at him broadly. "You in the cloak there, have you business here?" The beggar smiled and nodded. "Shouldn't you move on and attend to your business, then?" Hosek asked. The beggar considered that for a moment and then shook his head in a negative response. The crowd watched in rapt silence. Hosek thought for a moment and then said, "This is a sale of a large piece of property we're conducting here, you understand that?" The beggar nodded.

Hosek was getting a bit angry. "This is not your business here, yours is elsewhere so you need to move on. You're upsetting the crowd."

The beggar looked around him slowly and then turned back to the sheriff. "I want to bid."