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Who will give me a 50?” A hand went up, and the auctioneer pointed to the man. “I’ve got a 50. Who will give me a 60 dollar, dollar? Who will give me a 60?” Another hand went up and the auctioneer pointed at the woman. “I’ve got a 60. Who will give me a 70 dollar, dollar? Who will give me a 70?” The bidding continued with the man and the woman continuing to bid. “Hey, John,” someone yelled. “Ain’t that your wife you’re a bidden’ against?” John and his wife turned and looked across the auditorium at each other, and sure enough, they were the two bidding. Amidst the laughter, John said, “Well, maybe she didn’t think I was bidding enough for it, since she is the one who painted it.” John ended up winning the bid at $100. He paid the money and took the painting from the stage. He disappeared with it out of the back of the auditorium. A few minutes later I saw him, ever so carefully, trying to stay hidden, slip the painting back through the side stage door. Soon the painting was brought to the front of the stage again. The auctioneer raised his hand. “We have 3