text: [Themes: Fantasy, Western]
  
  > Look around
  The path winds through thick bramble to a secluded clearing. In the middle of the clearing is a tall wooden derrick. Various debris is scattered around the derrick, including a bent-up green and white sign.
  
  > go west
  The north-south path widens at the base of a steep rocky hill where an apparently large mining operation once stood. Another trail heads off to the east. Narrow gauge tracks come down a small knoll to the wide entrance carved into the hill. The entrance has been boarded over with thick timber and bears the notice "KEEP OUT" in crudely painted red letters. There is sign at the top of the entrance.
  
  An ore car rests on the tracks at the top of the knoll. The car is tied by rope to a timber header at the end of the tracks.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a match
  a pan
  a rusted oil can
  a candle
  a ship wheel
  a cauldron
  a match
  a couple kernels of corn
  a crumpled note
  a silver spoon
  a lantern
  a leather-bound book
  a green note
  a shovel
  a quarter-full bottle of whiskey
  a tin (which is open)
  two portions of balm
  a pitchfork
  a piece of gauzy cloth
  a cork
  a soiled note
  an orange gumball
  a pair of old cowboy boots (being worn)
  
  > get the whiskey
  That seems to be a part of the quarter-full bottle of whiskey.
  
  > taste the whiskey
  Your head starts to spin...
  
  The ol' saloon is hoppin' tonight! Dance girls (ahem) swarm the dusty patrons, encouraging them to drink and gamble amongst other indiscretions. Above all the whoopin' 'n hollerin', you can just make out the tinny ragtime of an unseen brass-tack piano. The barkeep is shoveling out drinks to the bar at a furious pace while one of the other hired help polishes the wall-length mirror. Swinging doors lead back to the street to the north.
  
  You can see a table here.
  
  John Bro calls for one of the dance hall girls and whispers something in her ear. The girl blushes and walks away giggling.
  
  > eat the orange gumball
  (first taking the orange gumball)
  The gum isn't as sweet and flavorful as one might have hoped, but, all in all, it's a good chew. The flavor does not last very long and, in fact, the gum itself doesn't last very long. In an instant, the gum dissolves leaving nothing but a sagey taste in your mouth. Nonetheless, you are feeling a bit perkier and your fingers are starting to twitch.
  
  > taste the whiskey
  Your head starts to spin...
  
  The ol' saloon is hoppin' tonight! Dance girls (ahem) swarm the dusty patrons, encouraging them to drink and gamble amongst other indiscretions. Above all the whoopin' 'n hollerin', you can just make out the tinny ragtime of an unseen brass-tack piano. The barkeep is shoveling out drinks to the bar at a furious pace while one of the other hired help polishes the wall-length mirror. Swinging doors lead back to the street to the north.
  
  You can see a table here.
  
  > ask John about the gun
  "Here, you might be needin' this," whispers John Bro as he places a small gun in the palm of your hand.
  
  The bartender pulls out a small flask and takes a swig when no one is looking.
  
  > Go north
  A big burly man bursts through the swinging doors and yells, "What the hell ya think yer doin' missy sittin' at mah table? Hey barkeep, I should shoot yer ears off for lettin' this wench clutter up mah place here!"
  
  The ol' saloon is quieter than a church. Patrons and dance girls line the walls to avoid being in the line of fire. The barkeep is huddled behind the bar occasionally peeking out to view the situation. The rest of the hired help is nowhere to be seen.
  
  You can see Black Thad McGee and a table here.
  
  > shoot thad
  You close your eyes and let out a shot in the direction of Black Thad McGee. The shot veers left, hitting his right-hand pistol and knocking it to the floor. The bullet ricochets off the pistol and hits the wall-length mirror dead center. The whole mirror gives way, crashing to the floor.
  
  Black Thad shouts, "What ya did that for?!" holding his right thumb in obvious pain. Your victory, however, is somewhat short-lived as one of the dance hall girls grabs the whiskey bottle and shatters it against your head. As your consciousness starts to fade while you're staring point blank at the floor, you surmise that the woman just might have been Black Thad McGee's girlfriend.
  
  This old beer hall served its last cold one many summers past. The rosewood bar stretches from wall to wall and, unsurprisingly, only a few shards remain of the once wall-length mirror in back of the bar. In place of the mirror, there is a narrow doorway heading east. The brass foot rail at the base of the bar is worn flat on the top from the countless patrons whose hard-earned wages were quickly converted into good times and song. Swinging doors lead back to the street to the north.
  
  You can see shards of glass, a pair of old cowboy boots, a cauldron (in which are a match, a couple kernels of corn, a crumpled note, a silver spoon, a lantern, a leather-bound book, a green note, a shovel, a tin (in which are two portions of balm), a pitchfork, a piece of gauzy cloth and a soiled note), a ship wheel, a candle, a rusted oil can, a pan (which is empty), a match, a table, a slot machine and a tray (which is empty) here.
  
  You stand up, apparently none the worse for wear.
  
  > go east
  This area was probably used as a storage area for the bar prior to the acquisition of the huge mirror. The rest of the saloon lies to the west.
  
  You can see a dull knife here.
  
  > examine the knife
  The knife is about eight inches long with a steel blade and wooden handle. The knife is almost too dull to cut water.
  
  > Go west
  This old beer hall served its last cold one many summers past. The rosewood bar stretches from wall to wall and, unsurprisingly, only a few shards remain of the once wall-length mirror in back of the bar. In place of the mirror, there is a narrow doorway heading east. The brass foot rail at the base of the bar is worn flat on the top from the countless patrons whose hard-earned wages were quickly converted into good times and song. Swinging doors lead back to the street to the north.
  
  You can see shards of glass, a pair of old cowboy boots, a cauldron (in which are a match, a couple kernels of corn, a crumpled note, a silver spoon, a lantern, a leather-bound book, a green note, a shovel, a tin (in which are two portions of balm), a pitchfork, a piece of gauzy cloth and a soiled note), a ship wheel, a candle, a rusted oil can, a pan (which is empty), a match, a table, a slot machine and a tray (which is empty) here.
  
  > get all
  shards of glass: The shards are too small to be handled safely.
  pair of old cowboy boots: Taken.
  cauldron: Taken.
  ship wheel: Taken.
  candle: Taken.
  rusted oil can: Taken.
  pan: Taken.
  match: Taken.
  table: That's fixed in place.
  slot machine: That's fixed in place.
  tray: That's fixed in place.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  a match
  a pan
  a rusted oil can
  a candle
  a ship wheel
  a cauldron
  a match
  a couple kernels of corn
  a crumpled note
  a silver spoon
  a lantern
  a leather-bound book
  a green note
  a shovel
  a tin (which is open)
  two portions of balm
  a pitchfork
  a piece of gauzy cloth
  a soiled note
  a pair of old cowboy boots
  a dull knife
  
  > pry hole with the knife
  Trying to pry the hole is futile.
  
  > put the knife in the hole
  The hole is too small for that.
  
  > examine the corn
  The corn kernels are dry and hard as a rock.
  
  > put the corn in hole
  The corn kernels disappear down the hole.
  
  > shake the pan
  Using your best gold panning technique, you swish the wet slurry around, discarding the lighter materials in the process. You are quickly disappointed to find nothing left in the pan.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a couple kernels of corn
  a pitchfork
  a match
  a pan
  a rusted oil can
  a candle
  a ship wheel
  a cauldron
  a match
  a crumpled note
  a silver spoon
  a lantern
  a leather-bound book
  a green note
  a shovel
  a tin (which is open)
  two portions of balm
  a piece of gauzy cloth
  a soiled note
  a pair of old cowboy boots
  a dull knife
  
  > Drink water
  The cool water really hits the spot!
  
  > eat the corn
  You eat the couple kernels of corn. Not bad.
  
  > look at what you're carrying with you
  You are carrying:
  a tin (which is open)
  two portions of balm
  a couple kernels of corn
  a pitchfork
  a match
  a pan
  some brown slurry
  a rusted oil can
  a candle
  a ship wheel
  a cauldron
  a match
  a crumpled note
  a silver spoon
  a lantern
  a leather-bound book
  a green note
  a shovel
  a piece of gauzy cloth
  a soiled note
  a pair of old cowboy boots
  a dull knife
  
  > examine the slurry
  The gravel, sand, and water make up a dark brown slurry.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a tin (which is open)
  two portions of balm
  a pitchfork
  a match
  a pan
  some brown slurry
  a rusted oil can
  a candle
  a ship wheel
  a cauldron
  a match
  a crumpled note
  a silver spoon
  a lantern
  a leather-bound book
  a green note
  a shovel
  a piece of gauzy cloth
  a soiled note
  a pair of old cowboy boots
  a dull knife
  
  > eat it
  (first taking the dozen or so sugar cubes)
  "Waste not, want not."
  
  > look at the box
  The box is adorned with a drawing of a cute redhead and the printing "Mon Cheri's Tea Sugar."
  
  > look at the sugar
  (the dozen or so sugar cubes)
  The cubes are pure white in color and neatly arranged in the box.
  
  > taste the sugar
  (the dozen or so sugar cubes)
  You taste nothing unexpected.
  
  > eat sugar
  (the cube of sugar)
  The sugar quickly dissolves in your mouth leaving a sweet aftertaste.