The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-11-14

much as might a pair of baseball fans at the hero Of a home run with | two strikes and the bases full
 "Gawd." muttered McGuffey.
 "Great grief. Gdbl Can this be pos- sfble?" gasped Captain Scraggs.
 For answer MT. Gibney took out
 his fffty-dollar biM and handed it to l ito McGuffey. He never trusted
 valuable than pBpeful of tobacco. l Scraggsy," he said so1emnly, I'm | w1lEn' to back my imagination with
 my cash. You an MoGuffey hurry | in on the sale when they come to them two boxes. The sale is just about starin' now. Go as high as | you think you can in order to get the | Sing seng at a profitable f1gger an pay the auctioneer fifty dollars down to l hold the sale; that will give you boys
 time to rush around to dig up the balance O the money. Tack right street an get me some breakfast. I don't want Blunnenthal to see me around that sale. He might get sus- picious. After I eat I'll meet you
 here aboard the Maggie. and we'll di- vide the loot.''
 With a fervent handshake all around, the three shipmates parted. After dtsposing of a hearty break fast of devilled lamb's kidneys and coffee. Mir. Gtbney invested in a ten cent Sailors Delight and stro1led down lone deckhand. was aboard, and the moment Mir. Gibney trod the Mag Sie's deck once more as mate, he eX- ercised his prerogative to order Neils ashore for the remainder of the day. Since Halvorsen was not in on the ginseng deal, Mir. Gibney concluded that 1t would be just as well to have him out of the way should Scraggs and McGuffey appear unexpectedly with the two cases of ginseng. For an hour MT. Gibney sat on the stern bitts and ruminated over few advantageous plans that had occurred share of the deal should Scraggs and McGuffey succeed in landing what MT. Gibney termed ''the loot.'' About | eleven o'clock an express wagon dreams were pleasantly interrupted by a g1eeful shout from Captain Scraggs, on the lookout forward with the driver. McGuffey sat on top of the two cases with his legs dangling over the end of the wagon. He was the picture of contentment. MT. Gibney hurried forward, threw out the gangpfank, and assisted MT. McG uffey in carrying both crates aboard the Maggie and into her little cabin. Captain Scraggs thereupon three partners gathered around the dining room table, upon which the boxes rested.
 well. scraggsy; old pal old scout. OIo SOChSs SS1lo MI N1lDIlSNg DdlllHS the swipper across the cabin with an affectionate slap on the shoulder.
 "I did.'' said Scraggs- nd cursed MT. Gfbney's demonstrativeness Here's the bill O sale all regular McGuffey has the change. That bunch O Israelites run tn price up to, s10.00 each on these two crates O ginseng. but when they see We're de- ested in nothin' else. they lets 'em go to us. McGfey. my dear boy, what ever are you a-doin there-standin around with your teeth in your mouth? Skip down into tn engine room and bring up a hammer an coal chisel. We'll open her up an inspect tn swag."
 Upon McGuffeys return. Mir. Gib- ney took charge. He drove the chisel under the lid of the nearest crate and prepared to pry it loose Sudden Iy he paused. A thought had occur
 "GentIernen." he said (McGuffey nodded his head approvingly). this world is full O sorfrers an disap- pointments, an it may well be that these two cases don't contain even so much as a smell of ginseng after all. It may be that they are really Orfen- tai goods. What I want distinctly und egstood is this: no matter whats inside. we share equally in the profits even if they turn oot to be losses That's understood an agreed to, alnt it?"
 NdpId1n SCGaSSS anu ~ACIdIiCS All dicated that it was.
 aaThere's an element of mystery about these two boxes" continued MT Gibney, that fascinates me. They sets my imagination a-workin' an 1ogsles up all my sportin' instincts: Now, just to make it interestin an add a spice t tn grand openfn', m willin to bet again my own best Sc1:aggsy. that it ain't ginseng, but Oriental goods" r.
 'Tn go you five dollars just TT ducks responded Captain Scraggs heartily. 'McGufrey to hold the stakes an decide the bet
 Done" replied Mir. Gibney, The money was placed in McGufrey ands, and a moment later with a mighty effort, MT. Gibney pried off the | lid of the crate. Captain Scraggs had his head inside the box ftfth Of a
 Sealed gfnc box inside" he an- nounced. Get Q can opener. GIo' my boy"
 isGinseng, for a thousand" mourn | Cd MT. Gibney. 'Scraggsy. you're nVe dollars of my money to the good. Gin seng always comes packed in airtight | bOXeS.'' ,
 He produced a. can opener from the cabin locker and fell to his work on a corner of the hermeically sealed box AS he drove in the point Of the can 6opener, he paused. hammer In hand. and gazed solemnly at Scraggs and McGuHey-
 "Gentlemen," tagain McGuffey nodded approvirgly) f'do you know what q vacuum Is s?''
 'I know replied the imperturba- ole McGuffev, "A vacuum is an empty hole that ain't got nothin' in it."
 "Correct," said MT. Gibney, 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 opiumr'
 Captain Scraggs was forced to grab the seat of his chair in order to keep himself from jumping up and siasp- ing MT, Gibney around the neck.
 Forty dollars a pound" he gasped, "Gib-Gtb, my dear boy-you've made us wealthy"
 Quickly Mr. Gibney ran the can | onener around the edges of one | corner of the zinc box, inserted the | claws of the hammer into the open | ing, and with 8. quick. melodramatic | fIar-ra