Middletown transcript., 1921-12-03
rhad his head inside the box fifth OF

Mr.. Gfbney. ScraggSy, you're HNe
dollars of my money to the good. Gin
seng always comes packed in air-tlgnt
boxes"
He produced a can opener from the
cabin locker and fell to his work on
corner of the Theoretically sealed box.
AS he drove in the point Of the can
opener. he paused, hammer In hand.
and gazed solemnly at Scraggs ana
McGuf'ey.
"Gentlemen," (again McGuffey
nodded approvingly) do you know
what vacuum 1872
II KNOW" replied the imperturbable
McGuffey. "A vdcuum is an empty
hole that amt got nothin' in it."
Correct" said Mr.. Gihney. my
head is a vacuum. Me talkin' about
ginseng root! Why, I must have wa
ter on the brain! Ginseng be dog
goned! It's opium!"
Captain Scraggs was forced to grab
the seat Of his chair in order to keep
himself from jumping up and clasp
ing Mr.. Gibney around the neck.
"Forty dollars pound" he gasped.
"Gib-Gib, my dear boy--you've made
US wealthy"
Quickly Mr.. Gibney ran the can
opener around the edges Of one corner
Of the zinc box, inserted the claws OF
the hammer into the opening, and
with a quick, melodramatic twist, bent
back the angle thus formed.
Mr.. Gibney was the first to get a
peep inside.
"Great snakes!" he yelled, and fell
back against the cabin wall. A hoarse
scream Of rage and horror broke from
Captain Scraggs. In his eagerness he
had driven his head 50 deep into the
box that he came within an inch OF
kissing what the box contained-whicf
happened to be nothing more nor less
than a dead Chinaman! Mr.. McGuf
fey, always slow and unimaginative
shouldered the skipper aside. ant
calmly surveyed the CHASTITY rappari
tion.
"Twig the yellow beggar, will you
Gib?" said McGuffey; zone eye hal
open for all the world like he wa
winkin' at US an enjoyin' tn joke"
Not a muscle twitched in McGuf
fey's Hibernian countenance. HI
scratched his head for moment, a
sort IF first aid to memory, thel
turned and handed Mr.. Gibney ten dol
lars.
"You win, Glib. It's Oriental goods
sure enough"
"Robber!" shrieked Captain Scraggs
and flew at Mr.. Gibney's throat. TIL
sight reminded McGuffey Of terrie
worrying mastiff. Nevertheless, MI
, Gibney was still so unnerved at tn
discovery Of the horrible contents 9
, the box that, despite his gigantic prt
, portions. he was well-nigh helpless.
, "McGuffey, you swab." he yellet
"Pluck this maritime outlaw off m
neck. He's tearin' my windpipe on
by tn roots"
, McGuffey choked Captain Scrage
until he reluctantly let go Mr.. Chine!
!, whereupon all three fled from the cal
in as from a pestilence, and gathere'
:, an angry and disappointed group, OF
on deck:
"Opium!" jeered Captain Scragg
= with tears of rage in his voice. "Gil
q seng! You and your imagination, yo
;, swine. you! Get off my ship, you lou
or I'll murder you"
:, Mr.. Gibney hung his head.
"Scraggsy-an' you, too, McGufey-
- l got to admit that this here Is one G
), Adelbert P. Gibney. IL"
n "Oh, hear him." shrilled Captal
- Scraggs. zone on him! It's two {
= you, you bloody handed ragpicker.
- suppose that other case contain
, opium, too! If there amt anoth
. dead corpse in No. 2 case hope n
u teeth may drop overheard"
n. "Shut up!" beloved Mr.. Gibney,
% towering rage. "What howl ha'
u you got comm? They're my Chin
men, amt they? 1 paid for 'em Ill
w man, didn't I? All right, then. l
: keep them two Cinnamon. You tv
= amt out a cent yet, an as for tn
~ five I wins off you, Scraggs, it's blo'
= money; that's what it is, an I herel
gives it back to you. Now, quit Y
- whinin', or by the tail O. the Gre
- Sacred Bull, I'll lock you up all mig
=, in th' cabin along O. them two defun
70 Celestials."
n Captain Scraggs "shut up" promI
T. ly. and contented himself with glove
al ing at Mr.. Gibney. The mate 6
- down on the hatch coaming, lit
! pipe, and gave himself up to medi1
N ton for fully five minutes, at the e
% of which time McGuffey was ava
that his Imagination was about
u. come to the front once more.
"Well, gentlemen" (again McG1
ut fey nodded approvingly) II bet I s
b. my twenty bucks back outer them t
ts Chinks," he announced presently.
es How'll yer do it?" inquired McG'
", fey politely.
How'll I do It? Easy as fall
n. through an open hatch. I'm ago
mt t. keep them two stiffs in tn box
". until dark, an then I'm a-gcin' to ia
al 'em out, bend a rope around tn
middle, drop 'em overheard an anct
fr 'em there all night. see tn lad
"a opens up in No. case has had a bes
es tiful Job of embalmin' done on hi
but If let them soak all night, Il
he a mackerel, they'll Timber up an lo
va kinder fresh. Then first thing in
q mornin' I'll telephone tn coroner
off tell him I found two f1oaters out
,gs tn bay an for him to come an
Z