The Owosso times., 1922-03-31

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sale, as 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 1t. 1t all depends on
the bidding. I once sold an old horse
to a chap and he took II home and
opened 1t up, and what dye suppose
he found insideT
Bots" replied Mr.. Gibney, who
prided 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 auctioneer
"Of course they didn't have any value.
but just suppose they'd been U. ST."
"That's right" agreed Mr.. Gibney.
81 suppose the swab that owned the
horse starved 1t until the poor animal
figgered that all's grass that's green.
AS the feiler says, Truth Is sometimes
stranger than felton, II you throw
in saddle and bride cheap, l might
be induced to invest In one of your old
horses, shipmate."
The auctloneer glanced quickly OF
Mr.. Gibney, 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 fguratively. See all
this freight stored here? Well, that's
never been called for by the conslgn-
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, I do. I was just kiddn' you.
my hearty" (Here Mr.. Gibneys
glance rested on two long heavy sugar
pine boxes, or shipping cases. Their
joints at all four corners were cum
ningly dove-talled and wire-strapped)
81 was a bit interested in them two
boxes, an seem as this Is free coun-
try, l thought I'd just step in an make
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 Of the matter was that so
embarrassed was Mr.. Gibney at the
exposition Of his ignorance that he
desired to hide the confusion evident
in his sun-tanned face. So he stopped
over the crates and pretendr l to be
exceedingly interested in them, haul
ing and pushing them about and read
ing the address Of the consignee who
had failed to call for his goods. The
crates were both consigned to the Gin
Seng company, TIA Dupont street, San
Francisco. There were several Chi
nese characters scrawled on the top Of
each crate, together with the words,
In English: "Oriental Goods"
AS he ceased from his fake inspec-
tlon Of the two boxes, the King of the
Forty Thieves approached and sur
veyed the sailor with an even greater
amount Of distrust and suspicion than
ever. Mr.. Gibney was annoyed. He
disliked being stared at, so he said:
Hello, Blumenthal, my bully boy.
What's aggravatin' your"
Blumenthal (since Mr.. Gibney, in
the sheer riot of his imagination
elected to christen him Blumenthnl,
the name will probably suit him as
well as any other) came close to Mr..
Gibney and drew him aside. In a
hoarse whisper he desired to know IL
Mr.. Gibney attended the auction with
the expectation Of bidding on any Of
the packages offered for sale. Seek
ing to Justify his presence, Mr.. Gibney
advised that 1t was his intention to
bid on everything In sight; whereupon
Blumenthal proceeded to explain to
Mr.. Gibney how impossible it would
he for him. arrayed against the Forty
Thieves, to buy any article at rea-
sonable price. Further: Blumenthal
desired to inform Mr.. Gibney that his
(Mr. Gibney's) efforts to. buy In the
"old horses" would merely result In
his running the prices up, for no benef-
icent purpose, since II was ever the
practice Of the Forty Thieves to per-
init no man to outbid them. Perhaps
Mr.. Gibney would be satisfied with a
fair days prSft without troubling him
self to hamper the Forty Thieves and
interfere with their combination, and
with the words, the king surreptitlpus-
ly slipped Mr.. Glbney a fifty-dollar
greenhaek
MIR. Glbney's great fist closed over
the treasure, he having first, by a coy
glance, satisfied himself that II was
really ffty dollars. He shook hands
with the hing. He said:
"BlNmenthal, you're smart man.
l am quite content with this fifty to
keep on your course and give you a
wide berth to starboard. I'm sensi-
BILE enough to know when I'm licked,
an fight without profit amt in my
line. I didn't make my money that
way, Blumenthal. I'll cast Off my lines
and haul away from the DOCK" and
suiting the action to the figure, Mr..
Gibney departed.
He went first to the Seaboard drug
store, where he quizzed the druggist