Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, October 29, 1921, Page 6

> z ASQ SSSS <2 = VY — i i= Si. The Green Pea Pirates By PETER B. KYNE Author of “Webster—Man’s. Man,” “The Valley of the Giants,” Etc. Copyright, by Peter B. Kyne SYNOPSIS. . — Captain Phineas P. wn Up around the docks anc from mess boy on Fisen to the ownership of the steamer Maggie. Since each an- eaten vessel, Scraggs n aiMculty in’ securing ry ory opens, Adelbert P. ey, likable but erratic, a man whom nobody Sera the skipper, bt Swede, and B Ni pe, reigns in’ the engine room. HAPTER Il—With this motile , Captain in freighting garden truck fmoon bay to San Francisco vitable happens, the Maggie going in a fox. crow crags CHAPTER III. In the office of the Red Stack Tug Boat company Captain Dan Hicks, master of the tug Aphrodite; Captain Jack Flaherty, master of the Bodega, and Tiernan, the assistant superin- tendent on night watch, set around & bot little box stove engaged In that occupation so dear to the maritime heart, to-wit: spinning yarns, The telephone rang and Tiernan an- swered. Hicks and Flaherty hitched forward in their chairs to listen. “Hello... . Yes, Red Stack office. + . . Steamer Yankee Prince. . . . ‘What's that? . . . silk and rice? . .. Sure, I'l) send a tug right away, Lindstrom.” Tiernan hung up and faced the two skippers. “Gentlemen,” he announced, “here's a chance for a little salvage money tonight. The American #' “The American Steamer Yankee Prince Is Ashore Half a Mile Below the Clift House.” er Yankee Prince is ashore half a mile below the Cliff house. She's a big tramp with a valuable cargo from Hong Kong, with the rudder gone and her crank shaft busted.” “It's high water at twelve thirty- seven,” Jack Fisherty pleaded. “You'd better send me, Tiernan, The Bodega has more power than the Aphrodite.” | This was the truth and Dan Hicks knew It, but he was not to be beaten out of his share of the salvage by such filmsy argument. “Jac':,” he pleaded, “don’t be a hog all the time. The Yankee Prince {s an elght thon- sand-ton vessel and It's a two-tug Job. Better send us both, Tiernan, and play safe. Chances are our competitors have three tugs on the way right onderful tmagination sea an. Elght thousand tons! crazy, man. She's thirteen hundred net register and I know It be- cause I was in Newport News when they launched her, and I went out with her skipper on the trial trip. She's a long, narrow-gutted craft, with en- gines aft, like a lake steamer.” “We'll play safe,” Tiernan decided. “Go to {t—both of yeu, and mey the best man win. She'll belong to you, Jack, if she’s thirteen hundred net and you get your line aboard first. If she's as big as Dan says she ts, you'll be “qual partners—”" But he was talking to himself. Down the docks Hicks and Flaherty were racing for the respective com- mantis, each shouting to his night Watchman to pipe all hands on deck. Fortunetely, 2 goodly head- of steam was up in each tug’s boilers; because of the fog and the Hability to coill- sions and consequent hasty summons, one engineer on edch tug was on duty. Out through the Gate they nosed thelr way, heaving the lead continu ously, made a wide detour around Mile rock and the Seal rocks, swung e mile to the south of the position of the Megale, aid then Caine Giutroualy up the coast, whistling continuously to acquaint the Yankee Prince with their presence tn the neighborhood In anticipation of the necessity for replying to thts Welcome sound, Cap tain Scraggs and Mr. Gibney h the past two hours, busied themselves getting op another head of steam tn the Maggie's boilers, repairing the whistle and splicing the wires ef the engine room telegraph. Like the wise men they wea: however, they declined to sound the Maggie's siren until the tugs were quite eed Even then, Mr. Gibney shuddered, but needs must when the devil drives, so he pulled the whistle cord and was rewarded with a welr@, mournful grunt, dying awny into a gasp. “Sounds 1 she has the pip,” Jack Flaherty remarked to his mat “Must have taken on some of that dirty Asiatic water,” Dan Hicks solllo- quized, “and now her tubes have gone to glory.” Immediately both tugs kicked ahead under a dead slow bell, guided by a series of toots brief as Mr. Gibney could make them, and presently both tug lookouts reported breakers dead jshead. Dan Hicks sent a man forward to heave the lead under the nose of the Aphrodite, which was edging In gin- gerly toward the voice. He had s searchlight, but he did not attempt to use it, knowing full well that in such a fog tt would be of no avali Guided, therefore, by the bellowings of Mr. Gibney, reinforced by the shrill Fips of Captain Scraggs, the tug crept in closer and closer, and when it seemed that they must be within a bundred feet of the surf, Dan Hicks trained his Lyle gun In the direction of Mr. Gibney's voice and shot a heav- Ing line Into the fog. Almost simu'taneous with the report of the gun came a shriek of pain from Captain Scraggs. Straight and true the wet, heavy knotted end of the hearing line came In over the Maggie's quarter ond struck him tn the mouth. In the darkness he staggered back from the stinging blow, clutched wild. ly at the alr, slipped and rolled over among the vegetables with the pre elous rope clasped to his breast. “I got it,” he sputtered, “I got It, Gb.” “Safe, OI" Mr. Gibney bawled. “Pay ott your hawser.” They met it at the taffrall as {1 came up out of the breakers, wet bv’ welcome. “Tass it around the mal nast, Scraggy.” Mr. Gibney cautione:! ‘If we make fast to the towln’ bits he first jerk’ll pull the anchor bo!lt< up through the deck.” When the haweer had been made fast to the mainmast, the leathern lungs of Mr, Gibney made due an- nouncement of the fact to the ex: pectant Captain Hicks. “As soon a: you feel you've got @ grip on her,” hi yelled, “just hold her steady so she won't drive further up the beach when ‘ get my anchor up. She'll come out ‘tke @ loose tooth at the top of the flood.” The Aphrodite forged slowly ahend. aking In the slack of the hawser Twenty minutes later, after much nacking and swearing and heaving of ‘Ines the Bodega’s hawser was also put board the Maggie. Mr, Gibney ludged It would be safe now to fasten this line to the towing bits. Suddenly Captain Scraggs remem- hered there was no one on duty In the Maggie's engine room. With.a half sob, he slid down the greasy Indder, tore open the furnace doors and com- menced shoveling !n coal with a reck- lessness that bordered on insanity. When the Indicator showed eighty pounds of steam he came up on deck and discovered Mr, Gibney walking solemnly round and round the little capstan up forward. It was creaking and groaning dismally. Captain Seraggs thrust his engine room torch above his head to light the scene and gazed upon his navigating officer in blank amazement. x “What foolishness ts this, Gib?” he demanded. “Are you clean daffy, do- in’ a barn dance around that rusty capstan, makin’ a noise fit to frighten the fish?” “Not much,” came the laconic re ply. “I'm a smart man. I'm raisin’ both anchors,” “Well, all I got to remark is that !t takes a smart man to raise both an- chors when we only got one anchor to our blessed name, An’ with that anchor esnfe on the fo'castle head, I, for one, can't see no sense in raisin’ it” “You tarnation jackass!" hed Gibney. “You forget who we are. Do you s'pose the steamer Yankee Prince can lay on the beach all night with both anchors ovt, 2*" tien be got rendy to tow off In three si.kes of a lamb's tail? It takes noise to get up two anchors—so I'm makin’ all the nolse I can, Got any steam?” “Eighty pounds,” Scraggs confessed. Having for the moment forgotten his identity, he was confused {n the pres- ence of ‘the superior intelligence of his navigating officer. “Run aft, then, Scraggs, an’ turn] that cargo winch over to beat the band until I tell you to stop. With the drum runnin’ frée she'll make noise enough for a winch three times her size, but you might give the necessary yells to make it more lifelike.” Captain Scraggs fled to the winch, At the end of five minutes, Mr, Gibney appeared and bade him desist. Then, revised megaphone sea- ‘ddressed an imaginary mete: “Mr, Thompson, have you got your port anchor up?” Scraggs took the cue immediately. “All clear forward, sir,” he piped. “Send the bosun for’d an’ heave the lead, Mr, Thompson.” “Very well, sir.” Here The Squareh“ad, who had been enjoying the unique situation immense- ly, decided to take a hand, Presently, (Z ae 6 . ANS aF a F —— Wr ONE WOY CAUNCS Se Wks PepOrUny the depth of water alongside. “That'll do, bosun.” Gibney thun- dered. Then, in his natural voice, to Scraggs: “All set, Scraggsy. Guess we're ready to be pulled off. Get down im the engine room and stand by for full speed word.” “Quick! Hurry!" Scraggs entreated es he disappeared through the little engine-room hatch, for the tide was now at the tip of the flood and the Maggie was bumping wickedly and driving further up the beach. Mr, Gib- ney turned hie stovepipe seaward and shouted: “Tugboats, ahoy!” “Ahoy I" they answered In unison. “All ready! Let’er go-0-0-0!" The Squarehead stationed himself at the bitts with a lantern and Mr. Gibney hastened to the pilot house and took bis place at the wheel. When the haw- sers commenced to lift out of the sea, ‘The Squarehead gave a wafning shout, whereupon Mr, Gibney called the en- gine room. “Give her the gun.” he commanded Scraggs. “Pull ugainst them tugs for all you're worth. Re member this is the steamer Yankee Trince. We must not come off too readily.” Captain Scraggs opened the throttle, and while the two tugs stesdily drew ber off Into deep water, the Maggie fought valiantly to stick to the beach and even to continue her interrupted journey overland. She merely suc- eeded in tching both hawsers aut; slowly she drawn seaward, stern frst, and at the expiration of ifteen, minutes’ steady pulling, Mr. Gib- vey could restrain himself no longer, He rang for full speed astern—and got t promptly. Then, calling Netls Hal- vorsen to ald him, he abandoned the wheel and scrambled aft. With no one at the wheel, the Mag- ste shot off at a tangent and the haw- ers slncked tmmediately, In the twin- «ling of an eye Mr. Gibney had cast them off, and as the ends disappeared vith a swish over the stern he ran mack to the pilot house, rang for full peed ahead, put his helm hard over, ‘Mr. Gibney Turned His Stovepipe Sca- ward Ahoy!" and Shouted: “Tugboats, and headed the Maggie in the general iirection of China, although as a mat- ter of fact he cared not what direction he pursued, provided he got away from the beach and piaced distance between the Maggie and two soon-to-be furious tugboat skippers. CHAPTER Iv. The crews of the Aphrodite .ad the Bodega slept late, for they were weary and, fortunately, no calls for . tug came into the office of the Red Stack company all morning. About ‘en o'clock Dan Hicks and Jack Fia- nerty breakfasted and about ten-thir- ‘y both met tn the office. Apparently ‘hey were two souls with but a single “hought, for the right hand of each sought the shelf. whereon reposed the ‘Iue volume entitled “Lloyd's Regis- ‘er." Dan Hicks reached {t first, car- rled it to the counter, wet his tarry ndex finger and started turning the dages in a valn search for the Ameri- can steamer Yankee Prince, Presently he looked up at Jack Flaherty. “Flaherty,” he said, “I think you're a Mar.” “The same to you and many of hem." Flaherty replied, not a bit ‘bashed. “You snid she was an eight thonsand-ton tramp.” “I never went so far as to any I'd neen abonrd her on trial trip, though —and did cut down her tonnage, show- in’ I got the fragments of a con- science left,” Hicks defended himself. He closed the book with a sigh and ‘laced it back on the shelf, just as he door opened to admit no les versonage than Bartholomew McGuf- ‘ey, late chief engineer, first assist- ant, second assistant, third assistant wiper, oller, water-tender and stoker of the S. 8. Maggie. With a brief nod to Jack Flaherty Mr. McGuffey ap- proached Dan Hicks, “I been lookin’ for you, captain,” he announced. “Sny, I hear the chief o° the Aphrodite’s goin’ to take a three months’ layoff to get shet of his rhep- matism., Is that straight?” “I believe It is, McGuffey.” “Well, say, I'd ike to have a chance to substitoot for him. You know my capabilities, Hicks, an’ if {t would be ngreeable to you to have me for your chief your recommendation, would co ® long way toward Iandin’ me the fob. T'd sure make them engines behave." “What vessel.have you been on Iate- ly?” Hicks demanded cautiously, for he knewMr, McGuffer’s reputation for 2 S ahead when I give the/ non-reliabiiity around pay day. “I been with that freshwater scaren- ger, Scraggs, ln the Magele for most @ year.” “Did you quit or ¢!d Scraggs fre yout” “He fired me.” McGuffey replied honestly. “If he hadn't Td have quit, so it's @ toseup. Comin’ In from Halfinoon bay last night we got in the fog an’ piled up on the beach ju below the Culm house—" “This fs interesting.” Jack Flaherty murmured. “You say she walked ashore on you, McGuffey? Well, ru! be shot!" “She did. Seraggs blamed {t on me Flaherty. He said I didn’t obey the signals from the bridge. one word le" to another, an’ he went dancin’ ma: an’ ordered me Off his ship. Well, it his ship—or it was his ship, for I"! bet a dollar she’s ground to powdr by now—#eo all I could do was obe I hopped overboard an‘ waded ashor T suppose all my clothes an’ things ‘ gone by now. Tleft everything abonr an’ had to borrow this outfit fro: Scab Johnny." He grinned pathetica! ly. “So T guess you @.‘erstand, Car tatn Hicks, Just how bac I need the lob T spoke about a minute ago.” “Til think tt over, Mac, an’ let you know,” Hicks replied evasively. Mr. McGuffey, sensing his defent. retired forthwith to hide his embar- rassment and distress; as the door closed behind him, Hicks and Flaherty faced each other. “Jack,” quoth Dan Hicks, “can two towboat men, holdin’ down two hun- dred-doUar Jobs an’ presumed to have been out 0° thelr swaddlin’ clothes for at least thirty years, afford to be laughed off the San Francisco water- front?” “I know one of them that can't. Dan. At the same time, can a rat liké Phineas P, Scraggs ond a beachcomb- er ike his mate Gibney make a palr of star-spangled monkeys out of sald two towboat men and get away with itz" : “They did that last night. Still, I've known monkeys that would fight an’ was human enough to settle a grudge. Follow me, Jack.” Together they repaired to Jackson street bulkhead. Sure enough, there lay the Maggfe, rubbing her blistered sides against the bulkhead. Captain Scraggs was nowhere tn sight, but Mr. Gibney was at the winch, swinging ashore the crates of vegetables which The Squarehead and three longshore- men loaded Into the cargo net. “We're outnumbered,” Jack Flaherty whispered, “Let's wait unti! she's un londed an’ Gibney an’ Scraggs are aboard. alone.” They retired without having at- tracted the attention of Mr. Gibney. Promptly at twelve o'clock the lonc- shoremen knocked off work for the Innch hour *and Nells Halvorsen drifted across the street to cool his parched throat with steam beer. While waiting for Scraggs to come up out of the engine room, and take’ him to luncheon, Mr. Gibney sauntered aft and was standing gazing reflectively upon a spot on the Maggie's stern where the hawsers had chafed away the paint, when suddenly his. fore. bodings of evil returned to him # thou sand fold stronger than they had been since Scraggs’ return to the little ship He glanced up and beheld gazing down upon him Captains Jack Fia- herty and Daniel Hicks. Battle was imminent and the valiant Gibney knew it; wherefore he determined In- stantly to meet it like a man. “Howdy, men,” he saluted them. “Glad to have you aboard the yacht,” and he stepped backward to give him- self fighting room, . “Here's where we, collect the iow- age bill on the S. 8, Yankee Prince,” Dan Hicks informed him, and leaped from fhe bulkhead straight down at Mr. Gibney. Jack Flaherty followed. Mr. Gibney welcomed Captain Hicks with a terrific right swing, which missed; before he could guard, Dan Sicks had planted left and right *here they would do the most good and Mr. Gibney went into a clinch to save himself further punishment. “Scraggsy." he bawled, “Scrags- “Soraggey,” He Bawied, “Scraggsy-y-y! Help! Murder! It's Hicks and Fla- herty! Bring an Ax!” sy-y-y! Help! Murder! It's Hicks and Fiaherty!* Bring an ax!" He flung Dan Hicks at Jack Pla- herty; as they collided he rusned In and dealt each of them a powerful poke. However, Messrs. Hicks and Flaherty were sizeable persons and while, individually, they were no match for the tremendous Gibney, Hevertheless what they lacked in re zs He afis - isjfoveshe pefece siete eee till over, beat the deck with his hand in token of surrender. Hicks and Fla- sit up; then they pounced upon him, Ufted him to the rail, and dropped him overboard. Captain Scraggs shrieked in protest at this added touch of bar- barity, and Dan Hicks, turning, be held Scraggsy's white face at the hateb. “You're next, Scraggs,” he called cheerfully, and turned to peer over the rail. Mr. Gibney had emerged on the surface and was swimming slowly away toward an adjacent float where small boats landed. He climbed wearily up on the float and sat there, gazing across at Hicks cnd Flaherty without animus, for to Jils w: ot thinking he had gotten off lightly, con- sidering the enormity of his offense. The least he had anticipated was three months {np hospital, and so grateful was he to Hicks and Flaherty for thelr forbearance that he strangled a resolve to “lay” for Hitks and Fia- herty and thrash them {ndlvidually— something he was fully able to do— and forgot his aches and pains tn a ively Interest es to the fate of Cap- taln Scraggs at the hands of the tow boat men. He was aware that Cap tain Scraggs had fatled ignominiously to rally to the Gibney appeal to repel boarders, and tn his own expressive terminology he hoped that what the enemy would do to the dastard woul’ be “a-plenty.” The enemy, meanwhile, had turned thelr attention updn Scraggs, who had dodged below like a frightened rabbit und sought shelter In the shaft alley. He had sufficient presence of mind, as he dashed through the engine room, to snatch a large monkey wrench off the fool rack on the wall, and, kneeling Just, Inside the alley entrance he turfed at bay and threatened the in- vaders with his weapon. Thereupon Hicks and Flaherty pelted him wit! ips of coal, but the sole result of is assault was to force Scraggs further back Into the shaft alley and out of range. ‘The towhoat men held a council o° war and decided to drown Scraggs out Dan Hicks ran up on deck and re turned dragging the deck fire hose be hind him. He thrust the brass nozzl into the shaft-alley entrance and in vited \Scraggs to surrender uncondi tionally or be drowned like a kitten Scraggs, knowing his own fire hose defied them, so Dan Hicks started the pump while Flaherty turned on the water. Instantly the hose burst. up on deck and Scraggs’ Jeers of triumph fille the engine room. The enemy was about to draw lots to see which one of the two should crawl into the shaft alley and throw a cupful of chloride of ime (for they found a can of this in the engine room) tn Captain Scraggs’ face, when a shadow dark- ened the hatch and Mr. Bartholomew McGuffey ' demanded _belligerently: “What's goin’ cn down there? Who the devil's takin’ Mberties in my en- gine room?” Dan Hicks explained the situation and the just cause for drastic action which they held against the fugitive in the shaft alley. Mr. McGuffey con- sidered a few moments and made his decision. “If what you say ts true—an’ I ain't In position to dispute you, not havin’ been present when you hauled the Maggie off the beach, I don't blame you for feeling sore. What I do blame you for, though, is carryin’ the war aboard the Maggie. If you wanted to whale Gib an’ Scraggsy you should ha’ laid for ‘em on the dock. Under the circumstances, you make this a per- s’nal affair, an' as © member o’ the crew o' the Maggie I got to take a hand @n’ defend my skipper agin youse two. Fact ts, gentlemen, I got a date to lick him first for what he to me last night. Howsumever, th: a private grouch. The fact remains that you two jumped my pal Bert Gibney an’ licked him somethin’ scandalous. Hicks, I'll take you on first, Come up out of there, you swab, and fight. Fla- herty, yon stay below until T send for you; tf you try to climb up an’ horn tn on my fight with Hicks, Gibney'l) brain you.” A faint cheer came from the shaft alley. “Good old Mac. At-a-boy!" “You're on, MeGuffey. had to beg me to fight him,” Dan Hicks replied cordially, and climbed | to the deck. To his great surprise, Mr. McGuffey winked at him and drew him off to the stern of the Maggie. “There'll be no fight.” he declared, “although we'll thud around on deck an’ yell a couple o' tlmes to make Scraggs think we're goin’ to ft. He figgers thar by the tine I've fought you an’ Flaherty I won't be fit for combat with him, even if I lick you both; he’s got it all figgered out that Tn wait tacklin’ him, an’ he thinks my tem- per’ll cool by that time an’ he can argy me out o' my revenge. Savey?” “I twie. Sh Ks 7s ——— RSS SIZES Sai rem (en =~ Zea = BS i X Nobody ever | ® couple o’ dnys before | So yz SSeS % Mr. Gibney bad returned to Maggie by this time end he now his station he engine-room and growled et Fisherty and him. “Keep up your Scrazesy.” he called, as Hicks Guffey pranced around simnlated combat. “Mac's whalin’ the whey out o’ Hicks an’ Hicks couldn't touch him with a buggy whip.” At the conclusion of the three min- ates of horse-play, Mr, McGuffey came to the hatch c— loa with you, Fiaherty,” he cal OCaptatn Scraggs to hear, “up with hefore I go down after you.” Fisherty was about to self of a hatchet when the confrere, Dan Hicks, McGuffey's shoulder knowingly at him. nerty hurled deflance and came up on deck, ro Chptain wunds of appa Suddenly a Gibney. “All of Hl z fe i Heh eilstats 38 half way up when Mr. Gibney down a great hand, grasped him by the col!mr, and whisked him out grinned triumphantly at him, “Seein’ is bellevin'’, Scraggs,” Dan Hicks Informed him. “That's a lesson you taught me Flaherty last night, but evidently you don't profit by ex- perience, You're too miserable to beat up, but just to show you it ain’t possible for a dirty bay pirate like you to skin the likes o’ me an’ Fla- herty we purpose hangin’ the seat o° your pants up around your coat col- lar. Face him about, Gibne; With a quick twist, Mr. Gibney pre sented Captain Scraggs for his pen- ance; Flaherty and McGuffey followed Dan Hicks promptly end Captain Scraggs screamed at every kick. And now came Mr, Gibney’s turn. “For fallin’ to stand up Iike a man, Scraggsy, an’ battle Hicks an’ Fla- herty,” he informed the culprit, and tossed him over to McGuffey to be held in position, for him. “Don't, Gib, Please don't,” Scrages walled. "It ain't comin’ to me from you. I never heard you callin’ a-tall. Honest, I never, Gib. Have mercy, Adelbert. You saved the Maggie last night an’ 9 quarter interest in her Is yours—t? you don't kick me!” Mr. Gibney paused, foot in midair; surveyed the Maggie from stem to stern, hesitated, licked his lower lp, and glanced at the common enemy. For an tnstant it came into his mind to call upon the valiant and able Mc Guffey to support him in a fierce coun- ter-attack upon Hicks and Flaherty. Only for an Instant, however; then his sense of fair play conquered. “No, Scraggsy,” he replied sadly. “She ain't worth {t, an'-your duplicity can't be overlooked. If there's any- thing I hate It's duplicity. Here goes. Scragesy—and get yourself a new nayigatin’ officer,” Scroggs twisted and flinched tn- stantly, and Mr, Gibney’ ‘great boot missed the mark. “Ah,” he breathed, ‘Tl give you an extra for that.” “Don't! Please don't," Scraggs howled. “Lay offfn me an‘ Ill put in 4 new boller an’ have the compass ad- ‘usted.” e The words were no sooner out of nig mouth than Mr. McGuffey swung him clear of Mr. Gibney’s wrath. ‘Swear it," he hissed. “Ratse your right hand an’ swear it—an’ I'll pro- rect you from Gib.” Captain Scraggs raised a trembling right hand and swore it. “T'll get a new fire hose an’ fire buckets; Pll fix “I'll Fix the Ash Holst and Run the Bedbugs and Cockroaches Out of Her” the ash hoist and run the bedbugs a: cockroaches gut of her,” he added. “You hear that, Gib?” Mcfuffey pleaded. “Have a heart.” ‘ “Not unless he gives her a coat of paint an’ quits bickerin’ about the overtime, Bart.” , “I promise,” Scraggs answered him, “Pervided,” he added, “you an’ dear ol’ Mac promises to stick by the ship.” “It's a whack,” yelled McGuffey joy fully, and whirling, struck Dan Hicks a mighty blow on the jaw. “Off our ship, you hoodlums.” He favored Jack Flaherty with a hearty thump and swung again on Dan Hicks, “At ‘em, Scraggay. Here's where ‘you prove to Gib whether you're a man— a éZ mer Teappeared the trio went ashore for the promised grog and a luncheon at the skipper’s expense. CHAPTER V. A week had elapsed and nothing of an eventful nature had transpired to disturb the routine of life aboard the Maggie, unt!! Bartholomew McGuffey, having beard certain waterfront whis- “Why, jes’ as soon as we can get this glut o’ freight behind us, Bert, my boy. You've managed with the old boller this long, so {t ‘pears to me you might be patient an’ bear with it a mite longer, Bart.” “Oh, I ain't tryin’ to be disagreeable, Scraggs, only tt sort o° worries ‘me to have to go along without bein’ able to use our whistle.” “We'll fix it when business slacks up,” Scraggs decided with finality. He glanced at his watch. “Snufferin’ sailor!” he cried {n simulated dis- tress. “Here {t's one o'clock an’ I atn’t collected a dollar o’ the freight money from the last voyage. I must beat It.” When Captain Scraggs had “beaten 't,” Gibney anf McGuffey exchanged expressive glances. “He's runnin’ out on ns,” MeGuffey complained. “Even so, Bart, even so, Therefore, the thing for us to do ts to run out on him. In other words, we'll work a month, save our money, an’ then, with- out a word o’ complaint or argyment, we'll walk out.” Z “Oh, I ain't exactly broke, Gib, I got elghty-five dollars.” “Then,” quoth Gibney decisively, “we'll go on strike tonight, Scraggsy'll he stuck tn port a week before he can get another engineer an‘ another navi- gatin’ officer,“me an’ you bein’ the only two natural-born fools in San Francisco an’ ports adjacent, an’ be- fore’ three days have passed he'll be huntin’ us up to compromise.” “I don't want no compromise. What T want Is a new boiler.” “You'll git it. We'll make him order the paint an’ the boiler an’ pay for both in advance before we'll acree go back to work.” ‘ The engitzer nodded his approval and after senling their pact with a hearty handshake, they turned to and commenced discharging the Maggie. When Captain Scraggs returned to the Httle steamer shory after five o'clock, to his great a.,azement, he discovered Br. Gibney and McGuffey aressed in thelr other sults—including celluloid collars and cuffs. “The cargo’s out, Scraggsy, my son, the decks has been washed down an’’ everything in my department is ship- shape.” Thus Mr. Gibney. “Likewise In| mine,” McGuffey Mr. Gibney con- added. “Consequently,” cluded, “we're quittin’ the Maggte an’ “My dear Gib. Why, whatever's come. over you two boys?” ics “Stow your chutter, Scraggs, Shell out the cash. You've fooled us once {n the matter o’ that new boiler an’ the paintin’, an’ we're not goin’ to give you a second chance. Come through—or take thé consequences. We'll sail no more with a liar an’ a fraud.” “Them's hard words, Mr. Gibney.” “The truth is allers bitter,” McGuf- fey opined. Captain Scraggs paused to consider the serious predicament which con- fronted him. It was Saturday night. He knew Mr. McGuffey to be the pos- sessor of more money than usual and if he could assure’ himself that this reserve should be dissipated before Monday morning he was aware, from experience, that the strike would be broken by Tuesday at the latest. And jhe could afford that delay. He re- “colved, therefore, on diplomacy. “Well, T'm sorry,” he answered with every © PG sal of contrition. “You feller: me in the nine-hole an' I can't heip myself, At the same time, I appreciate fully your p'int of view, while realizin’ that I can’t convince you o' mina. So we won't have no hard feelin’s at partin’, boys, an’ to show you I'm a sport Ill treat to a French dinner en’ a motion picture show afterward. Further, I shall re- gard a refusal of sald invite as a