The Elbert County tribune., 1910-03-18


decided to what he could do
on the other side of the line. He still had a
little money and Chicago looked pretty good
TO him. He would what there was for
young college graduate in Chicago.
Naturally he told his Vancouver friends of
his new purpose. He had found no Vancouver
opportunity, but he had found few vancou-
yer friends and the circumstances would seem
to indicate that these friends were not among
the leading citizens. One of them was prop
erly solicitous for his financial welfare on SO
long trip.
why don't you make your expenses?r he
asked
"Tickled to death to do it," returned the
college man. promptly. Its the first ray OF
sunlight I've seen. But how?"
Take a little opium back with you"
Very likely the friend did not lead up to
the point with these exact words-I was not
there and l can't say positively just how the
subject was broached-but somebody with
whom the college man became chummy did
suggest to him that it would be shame for a
man In his financial condition to waste money
on trip to Chicago, when he might just
well make some on the same trip.
Opium smuggling, however. did not look
like a good and safe investment to the college
man. 1t seldom does look enticing to the man
to whom it is proposed for the first time
Somehow, 1t carries with it visions of all sorts
of unpleasant things, including revenue cut
ters, customs officers and jails The college
man had to be convinced but his friend con-
vinced him.
Easiest thing in the world for a man like
you,' said the friend. "a Chinaman can't
smuggle because he's always under suspicion
Besides. it's harder for him to get across the
line anyhow. Then there lots of others
who are always under suspicion when they
get near the border. But you have everything
in your favor The fact that you should want
to go to Chicago or anywhere else is quite nat
urai and nobody will give it passing thought"
The college man was tempted, but he was
curious to know how much there would be in
1t for him.
You make it ALL" said the friend barring
little commission to me for arranging it for
you. Nobody is going to employ you to do the
job, but you can do it yourself You buy the
opium here and sell 1t in Chicago. You can
get names and addresses here. before leaving
of people who will buy 1t from you in Chicago
They may even be notified that you are com
ing. 1t can all be arranged easily. You can
get 1t over the line and there will be no
trouble about the rest of it,
The college man not only assumed all the
personal risk. but he also assumed all the
financial risk. He bought rs pounds of opium
and received his instructions.
1t would have been cheaper. of course. to
have delivered the opium at Seattle or Port
land. man regularly engaged In the busi-
ness probably would have tried Seattle al
though the risk would have been greater at
that time. But the college man was going to
Chicago anyway. he decided to try Portal,
N. D.. and he was SO successful a result
of his Instructions that the opium was safely
stored away where nobody but the porter of
the car could find 1t when they crossed the
line. This added little to his expense. for
the porter naturally had to be remembered,
but he had been informed that 1t was by far
the safest plan when you could get hold of
the right porter.
Arriving in Chicago, he ambled down
South Clark street and presently he had
summated little deal that left him somewhat
better of financially than he had been when
he purchased the opium at Vancouver. In
other words. he had more than covered his
expenses.
There is one peculiar thing about SNUG
Cling; 1t never seems to be wrong. Dangerous
It may be. but never wrong. An ordinary NOR
tai, 30 honest that he will chssrfully tender