Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-12-01

Joints az all four corners were cum
nlngly dove-tailed and wire strapped
II was a BIT interested IN them two
boxes. an seein as this is a free coun-
Try. thought Ia JUST step In an make
A bid on them" and with the words.
Mr.. Gibney walked over and busted
himself IN an inspection OF the two
crates IN question.
The fact az the matter was that So
enibarra ssed was Mr. Gibney az the
exposition ~ his ignorance that he
.sesiFed 20 hide the confusion evident
in his Sun-tanned face. SO he stopped
over the crates and pretended 10 be
exceedingly interested in them. haul
Ing and pushing them about and read
Ing the address OF the cOnslgnee who
had failed 70 call for his goods. The
crates We're both consigned 20 the Gin
Seng company. TIA Dupont street, san
Francisco. There were several Chic
neSe characters scrawled on the top OF
each crate. together with The words.
in English: "Orlental Goods"
As he ceased from his fake inspec-
ton OF the Two boxes. the King OF the
Forty Thieves approached and sur
veyel the sailor with an even greater
amount OF distrust and suspicion than
ever. Mr.. Gibney was annoyed. He
disiked being stared az so he said:
Hello. Blumenthal, my bully boy.
What's aggrayatin' youT
Blumenthal (since Mr. Gibney. in
the sheer riot OF his imagination
elected 70 chrlsten him Blumenthal,
the name will probably suit him as
well as any other) came close 20 Mr..
Gibney and drew him aside. In a
hoarse whisper he desired 10 know II
Mr. Glbney attended the auction with
the expectation OF bidding on any Of
the packages offered for sale. Seek
ing 10 justify his presence, Mr.. Gibney
advised that il was his intention 20
bid on everything IN sight; whereupon
Blumenthal proceeded 20 explain 70
Mr.. Glbney how impossible IL would
80 for him. ARA we'd against the Forty
Thieves, 70 buy any article az a rea-
sonahle price Further: Blumenthal
desired 10 inform Mr.. Gibney that his
(Mr. Gibneys) efforts to buy in the
"old horses" would merely result in
his running the prices Up. for no benef-
icent purpose. since IL was ever the
practice NJ the Forty Thieves 10 per-
init no man to outbid them. Perhaps
Mr.. Gibney would be satisfied with n
fair days profit without troubling him.
self 10 hamper the Forty Thieves and
Interfere with their combination. and
with the words, the king surreptitious-
" slipped Mr.. Gibney f-ty-dollar
greenback.
Mr.. Gibney's great fist closed over
the treasure. he having first. by e coy
glance, satisfied himself that it was
really fifty dollars. He shook hands
with the king. He said:
"Blumenthal. you're a smart man.
I am quite content with this fifty 10
keep or Your course and give you a
wide berth 10 starboard. I'm sensi-
bic enough 10 know when I'm licked,
an a fight without profit amt in my
line. I didn't make my money that
way. Blumenthal I'll cast OF my lines
and haul away from the dock" and
sulting the action 10 the figure, Mr..
Gibney departed.
He went first 70 the Seaboard drug
store. where he quizzed the druggist
for Ave minutes. after which he con-
tinued HIS cruise. Upon reaching the
Maggie, he proceeded 10 relate IN de-
tail. and with additional details sup
piled BY his own imagination, the story
OF his morning adventure.
Glib" said McGuffey enviously
you're n fool for luck"
Luck" said Mr.. Gibney. beginning
TO expand. lis what the Teller calls a
relative proposition"
You're wrong, Glib" interposed
Captain ScraggS Relatives is un
lucky an expensive. Take. f'r in
stance, Mrs. Scraggs' mother"
Il mean. you lrnkhead,' said Mr.
Gibney. THAT luck is found where
brains grow No brain. no luck. NJ
luck no brains. Lemme illustrate. A
thlevin' land shark makes me a preserh
o fifty dollars not 70 butt in on then
two boxes I'm tellin' you about. Hin
an his gang wants them two boxes
Fair crazy 70 get EN-. Now. don't 4
stand 10 reason that them feller'
knows what's In them boxes. or they
wouldn't give NE fifty dollars 10 hau
ship? OF course. Il does However
in order 10 earn that fifty dollars.
cot 70 back water. Ii wouldn't b,
( playln' fair Il | didn't But that dom
prevent me from putin two deal
! friends o mine (here Mr.. Gibney en-
clrcled Scraggs and McGuffey with al
arm each) next 10 the secret which
! discovers. an II there's money IN 4
for old Hooky that buys me Off. I
stands to reason that there's none!
/ in 1t for us three. What's to proven
you an McGuh'ey from goin' UP (,
/ this old horse sale an biddin' in then
two boxes for the use and benefit o
J Gibney. Scraggs an McGuffey. al
share an share alike? You can bi,
as high as hundred dollars, II .neces
sary. an still come out a thousan,
! dollars 10 the good. I'm tellfn' yol
this because l know what's in then
two boxes"
McGuffey was staring fascinated a
g. Cfhpay CoDtofv 81 la.