Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-03-02

| "And are tney Woitn ""P
you get them?"
"Twenty-five cents up" was the an
swer. "You go 1t blind at an old morse
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 1t. 1t all depends On
the bidding. I once sold IN old morse
to chap and he took 1t home anc
opened it up, and what dye suppose
he found inside?"
Bots" replied Mr.. Gibney. VINO
prided himself on being something OF
a veterinarian, having spent rev
months Of his youth around hVery
stable.
"A million dollars in Confederate
greenbacks," replied the auctioneer.
"Of course they didn't have any value,
but jus, suppose they'd been U. ST
"That's right" agreed Mr.. Gibney.
"I suppose the swab that owned the
horse starved 1t until the poor animal
fggered that all's grass that's green.
As the Teller says, Truth Is sometimes
stranger than felton, II you throw
in saddle and bride cheap, I might
he induced to Invest in one of your old
horses. shipmate."
The auctloneer glanced quickly at
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 'olh
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 OF
to the highest bidder. Savey?"
Mr.. Gibney took refuge in lie. "Of
course, do. was just kiddin' you.
my hearty" (Here Mr.. Gibney's
glance rested on two long heavy sugar.
pine boxes, or shipping cases. Their
Joints Mt all four corners were cum
II was a bit interested in them two
boxes. an seein' as this is free coun-
try. thought I'd just step In nm make
bid on them" and with the words,
Mr.. Gibney walked over and busled
himself In an inspection of the two
crates In question.
The fact of the matter wns that so
exposition Of his Ignorance that he
desired to hide the confusion evident
in his sun-tnnned face. So he stopped
over the crates and pretended to be
exceedingly interested in them, haul
ing and pushing them about and read
ing the address OF the cOnslgnee who
had failed to call for his goods. The
crates were both consigned to the Gin
Seng company. ia Dupont street, San
Francisco. There were several Chi.
nese characters scrawled on the top Of
each crate. together with the words,
In English: "Orientnl Goods"
AS he ceased from his fake inspec-
tion 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
disliked being stared at, SO he said:
Hello. Blumenthal. my bully boy.
What's aggravatin' you?"
Blumenthal (since Mr.. Glbney, In
the sheer riot Of his Imagination
elected to christen him Blumenthal.
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 II
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 1t would
be for him. arrnyed against the Forty
Thieves, to buy any article at a 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 1t was ever the
practice Of the Forty Thieves to per-
nit 10 man to outbid them. Perhaps
Mr.. Gibney would be satisfied with n
fair days profit without troubling him.
self to hamper the Forty Thieves and
interfere with their combination, and
with the words. the king surreptitious-
ly slipped Mr.. Gibney a fifty-dollar
| greenback.
MIR. Gibney's great fist closed over
the treasure. he having first, by a coy
glance, satisfied himself that 1t was
really fifty dollars. He shook hands
with the king. He said:
"Blumenthal, you're a smart man.
am quite content with this City to
keep on your course and give you a
wide berth to starbbard. I'm sensI-
BILE enough to know when I'm licked,
an a fight without profit amt In my
line. didn't make my money that
way, Blumenthal. I'll cast of my lines
and haul away from the dock" and
suiting the action to the figure, MIR.
Glbney departed.