The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-02-02

"And are they worth q whoop after
you get themf"
twenty-five cents up" was the an
swer. "You go II blind at an old horse
sale, as a rule. Perhaps you get some
thing that's worthless, ana then again
you may get something that has heaps
Of value. and perhaps you only pay
half dollar for II. II all depends on
the bidding. once sold an old horse
to chap and he took II home and
opened II up, and what dye suppose
he found insidei"
Bots" replied Mr.. Glbney, who
prided himself on being something Of
veterinarian, having spent few
months Of his youth around a livery
stable.
"a million dollars In Confederate
greenbocks," replied the auctioneer.
"Of course they didn't have any value.
but just suppose they'd been U. ST"
"That's right" agreed Mr.. Glbney.
II suppose the swab that owned the
horse starved II until the poor animal
fggered that oils grass that's green.
AS the feller says, Truth Ia sometimes
stranger than fiction II you throw
In a saddle and bride cheap, might
he induced to invest In one Of your old
horses, shipmate."
The auctioneer 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 'old
horse, we use 1t figuratlvely. See all
this freight stored here7 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. Saveyr
Mr.. Gibney took refuge in lie. "Of
course, do. l was just kiddln' 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 cum
ningly dove-tailed and wire-strapped.)
II was a bit interested in them two
boxes. an SEEM as this Is a free coun-
try. 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 pretended to be
exceedingly interested In them, haul
ing and pushing them about and read
ing the address Of the consignee who
had failed to cnll for his goods. The
crates were both consigned to the Gin
Seng company, ia Dupont street, San
Francisco. There we're several Chi
nese characters scrawied on the top Of
each crate, together with the words,
in English: "Oriental Goods"
As he ceased from his fake inspec-
tion 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.. 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 {
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.. Gibne!
advised that II was his intention Il
bid on everything In sight; whereupor
Blumenthal proceeded to explain 4
Mr.. Glbney how impossible 1t woulC
he for him. arrayed against the Fort!
Thieves, to buy any article at rea
sonable price. Further: Blumentha
desired to inform Mr.. Gibney that hi
(Mr. Gibney's) efforts to buy in thu
"old horses" would merely result II
his running the prices up, for no benef
icent purpose, since It was ever tn
practice of the Forty Thieves to per
nit no man to outbid them. Perhap
Mr.. Gibney would be satisfied with
fair days profit without troubling him
self to hamper the Forty Thieves ant
interfere with their combination, an,
with the words, the king surreptitious
ly slipped Mr.. Gibney a fifty-dolla
greenback.
MIR. Gibney's great fist closed owe
the treasure, he having first, by CO
glance, satisfied himself that II wa
really fifty dollars. He shook hand
with the king. He said:
"Blumenthal, you're a smart mar
am quite content with this fifty I
keep of your course and give you
wide berth to starboard. I'm sens
BILE enough to know when I'm licked
an a fight without profit amt in m
line. didn't make my money tina
! way. Blumenthal. I'll cast of my line
and haul away from the dock" an