The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-12-23

sale. as a rule. Perhaps you get some
thing that's worthless. and then again
you may get something that has heaps
OF value. and perhaps you only pay
half dollar for II. 1t all depends on
the bidding. once sold an old horse |
to a chap and he took II home and |
opened II up. and what dye suppose |
he found inside7"
Bots" replied Mr.. Gibney. who
prlded himself on being something OF
veterinarian, having spent a few
months of his youth around a livery
stable.
"a million dollars In Confederate
greenbacks." replied the auctlOneer.
"Of course they didn't have any value.
but Just suppose they'd been e.. ST"
That's right" agreed Mr.. Glbney.
II suppose the swab that owned the
horse starved it until the poor animal
figgered that airs grass that's green.
AS the Teller says. Truth is sometimes
| stranger than fiction II you throw
in saddle and bride cheap. might
be induced to invest In one of your old
horses. shipmate."
The auctioneer glanced quickly at
Mr.. Gbney, but noticing that worthy's
face free from guile, he burst out
laughing.
my sea-faring friend" he said
presently, "when we use the term old
horse we use it figuratively. See all
this freight stored here? Well, that's
never been called for by the consign-
ees, and after it's In the warehouse
year and isn't called for, we have
an old horse sale and auction 1t off
to the highest bidder. Savey?"
Mr.. Gibney took refuge in lie. "Of
course, l do. l was just ktddin' you,
my hearty" (Here Mr.. Gibney's
glance rested on two long heavy sugar
pine boxes, or shipping cases. Their
Joints at all four corners were Gun
ningly doye-tailed and wire-strapped.)
II was a bit interested In them two
boxes, an seem as this Is free coun
try, thought I'd just step in an make
a bid on them" and with the words
: Mr.. Gibney walked over and buslet
, himself In an inspection Of the tw,
l crates in question.
a The fact of the matter was that 81
J. embarrassed was Mr.. Gibney at tn
e exposition Of his ignorance that h
T desired to hide the confusion eviden
3 In his Unframed face. So he stoope,
J. over the crates and pretended to b
$ exceedingly interested in them, haul
l. ing and pushing them about and read
T ing the address Of the consignee VIII
q had failed to call for his goods. TIL
crates were both consigned to the Gi
n Seng company, TIA Dupont street, Sa
Francisco. There were several Oh
r. nese characters scrawled on the top {
n each crate, together with the word
y in English: "Oriental Goods"
r, As he ceased from his fake inspe
ton OF the two boxes, the King of tt
n Forty Thieves approached and su
n veyed the sailor with an even create
amount Of distrust and suspicion the
\ ever. Mr.. Gibney was annoyed. E
NJ disliked being stared at, so he said:
" "Hello, Blumenthal, my bully DO
N What's aggravatin' your"
MI Blumenthal (since Mr.. Gibney,
M the sheer riot Of his imaginatit
" elected to christen him Blumenth'
al the name will probably suit him
II well as any other) came close to y
n Glbney and drew him aside. In
LIN hoarse whisper he desired to know
PA Mr.. Gibney attended the auction wi
~ the expectation Of bidding on any
the packages offered for sale. See
ing to justify his presence, Mr.. Gibn
Il advised that 1t was his Intention
bid on everything in sight; whereup
81 Blumenthal proceeded to explain
NM MIR. Gibney how impossible 1t wo,
WI he for him. arrayed against the Fol
|S Thieves, to buy any article at r
sonable price. Further: Blumentl
Nc desired to inform Mr.. Gibney that
,W (Mr. Gibney's) efforts to buy In
Il "old horses would merely result
= his running the prices up, for no ber
: icent purpose, since It was ever
practice Of the Forty Thieves to 2
z mi, 10 man to outbid them. Perh'
- Mr.. Gibney would be satisfied witt
fair days profit without troubling h
As@ self to hamper the Forty Thieves ,
interfere with their combination, ,
70 with the words, the king surreptitic
Ha. ly slipped Mr. Gibney a ffty-do
AMI. gfeenback.
.yes Mr.. Glbney's great FIST closed Q
the the treasure, he having first, by
I. or glance, satisfied himself that It
and really nifty dollars. He shook ha
!. al with the king. He said:
for "Blumenthal, you're smart n
I am quite content with this fifty
Glib keep or your course and give 70
iual. wide berth to starboard. I'm Sc
uing BILE enough to know when Tn lie
his an a fight without profit amt In
ough line. didn't mako my money
the way, Blumenthal TIL cast of my !
Mr.. and haul away from the DOCK"
eyed suiting the action to the figure,
this, Gbney departed.
icent He went first to the Seaboard I
pped store, where he Quizzed the drul
world tor Ave minutes, after which he
tinued his cruise. Upon reaching