The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-12-30

spice Z tn grand openIn'. I'm willln'
to bet again my own best judgment
an lay you even money. Scraggsy.
that II amt ginseng, but Oriental
goods"
I'll 20 you FIVE dollars. Just fr
ducks" responded Captain Scraggs
heartily. "McGuffey to hold the stakes
an decide the bet"
Done" replied Mr.. Gibney. The
money was placed In McGuffey's
hands, and a moment later, with
mighty effort, Mr.. Gibney pried OF
the lid Of the crate. Captain Scraggs
had his head inside the box fifth of
second later.
Sealed zinc box inside" he an
nounced. Get can opener, Glib, my
boy"
"Ginseng, for a thousand" mourned
Mr.. Gibney. "Scraggsy, you're FIVE
dollars of my money to the good. Gin
seng always comes packed in alright
boxes"
He produced can opener from the
| cabin locker and fell to his work on a
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 and
McGuf1ey.
Gentlemen" (again McGuffey
nodded approvingly) do you know
what a vacuum is?''
II know" replied the imperturbable
McGuffey. "a vacuum is an empty
hole that aln't got nothin' in It,"
Correct" said Mr.. Gibney. my
head is vacuum. Me talkin' about
ginseng root Why, l 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 a 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
VI thc IihS DoA, iiSSItcu the CidWS VI
the hammer into the opening, and
with 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 so deep into the
box that he came within an inch Of
kissing what the box contained-whici
happened to be nothing more nor les!
than a dead Chinaman! Mr.. McGuf
fey, always slow and unima ginative
shouldered the skipper aside, an,
calmly surveyed the CHASTITY apparl
ton.
"Twig the yellow beggar, will you
Gibr 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 McGui
fey's Hibernian countenance. H
scratched his head for momeat, q
a sort If Hrst aid to memory. the
turned and handed Mr.. Gibney ten do
lars.
"You win, Glib. It's Oriental good
.. sure enough"
"Robber!" shrieked Captain Scragg
and few at Mr.. Glbney's throat. Til
sight reminded McGuffey Of terit
worrying a mastiff. Nevertheless, N
Gibney was still so unnerved at Il
discovery OF the horrible contents
the box that, despite his gigantic pr
portions. he WINS well-nigh helpless.
i. "McGufrey, you swab," he yelle
"Pluck this maritime outlaw OF n
!. neck. He's tearin' my windpipe o
! by tn roots"
N McGuffey choked Captain Scrag
. until he reluctantly let 60 Mr.. Gibne
n whereupon ail three fed from the ca
in In as from a pestilence, and gathert
ia an angry and disappointed group, Q
re on deck.
nd "Opium!" jeered Captain Scrag
In with tears Of rage In his voice. "G
ng seng! You and your Imagination,
n swine, you Get off my ship, you 10
or I'll murder you"
lev Mr.. Gibney hung his head.
IN "Scraggsy-an' you, too. McGuffe!
nd l got To admit that this here Is one
,ly Adelbert =. Gibney. II"
ed "Oh, hear him." shrilled Capt.
Scraggs. "One on him! It's two
'ey you, you bloody-handed ragpicker.
his suppose that Other case cOnta
mt. opium. too! II there amt anot
ese dead corpse In No. 2 case hope
,ch teeth may drop overheard"
II "Shut up!" beloved Mr.. Gibney
tai a towering rage. what howl h
Ter. you got comm? They're my Oh
de, men, amt tleyi l paid for 'em
zen a man, didn't II All right, then.
IT'S keep them two Cinnamon. You
amt out cent yet. an as for
,di- five I wins OF you, Scraggs, It's b
money; that's what It Is, an ! hel
out gives It back to you. Now, quit
lib whinin', or by the tall O. the q
sets Sacred Bull, I'll lock you up all .
giss in tn cabin along O. them tive oec
oW. ColeHtials."