The practice in the industry was that the customer order would be executed only if the dealer's bid rose to $20.125.

The bids started at $500 and rose quickly: $800, $1,500, $2,750, $2,900, $3,300.

The bid rose to 76 percent of par value yesterday.

The bids rose quickly as the men got into the excitement of the sale, even knowing that Clintner would take the girls anyway.

Joshua gritted his teeth together as the bids rose through four million.

His bid for Theo's conversion rose to a pitch of lyricism.

And the bids were rising from everywhere.

Gasps could be heard in the salesroom as bids rose slowly but steadily.

Two years later, when it was Mr. Holmes a Court's turn to try unsuccessfully to buy the group, the bid had risen to $295 million.

Ms. Korb started bidding when the dress was in the $1,000 range and the bids were rising by $100 each time.