The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

She had the maritime sign on ner srzrz
Ia great white t.
"A great white T. That's the initial
OF her name Good God. man. If we
settle for $4,000 we're too lucky to,
live. They can demand salvage,
You're the biggest fool I ever metz
and, turning on his heel, the manager
tore up the wharf. bound for his office.
Captain O'Hara looked after him in a
daze- All at once a glimmer OF light
entered his brain.
Bob McIntire? I understand It's
all my own fault. It's all my own
fault" And sick at heart he returned
to his cabin
Captain Robert McIntire OF the sea-
going tub Titan. thank you. did not let
the grass grow under his feet that
night until he reached the Office No
sooner did he show his face there than
Black went for him. swearing as Black
only could swear.
Where have you been all day. he
demanded. What do you mean by
leaving the dock when we've got all
kinds Of work to do? I had TO send
the Phantos down with the digger, and
God knows whether she'll ever get
there I'm tired Of your actions. You
get through this week, see?" and he
returned to his correspondence as IL
to end the interview.
Bob looked at his chief and laughed
You see. was pretty busy today"
he began.
Busy? What doing?"
Pulling the Ionian or Scituate
ShoaI." said Bob
''What?'
yes" continued the young man.
pulled her OF all alone. right from I'M
der the nose of the whole maritime
fleet. Guess the company won't lose
any money Off the deal If it's wise.
That ought to be good for a pretty fat
fee. hadn't it?''
well. I'll be damned" calculated
Black He looked at Bob intently for
a minute. Then he burst out:
Why, man alive. 1 don't believe you
know what you've done. II the Ionian
accepted your line and you pulled her
OF her owners will pay US whacking
big fee or we will claim salvage. How
did you do it? Why didn't the other
tugs do it? Haven't they got con-
tract?'
When the rapid fire of questions had
ended Bob explained.
You see, Mr. Black. IL was this way.
few weeks ago we were taken for q
maritime tug because, as 1 found out
afterward, we've got the same big
white IT on our stack that they ali
carry When I read the article in the
paper this morning about the Ionian
being ashore / decided to pull her or.
I wanted TO do IL for several reasons.
principally because O'Hara is her cap
tain 1 wanted to get square with
him.
Black grinned. Il understand" he
said Don't blame yei"
When / was figuring how to get him
to take my line" continued Bob. Il
happened to look uQ at our smokestack.
The instant I saw that big IT knew
how to do it. We steamed under her
counter (tbe other tugs didn't dare
but / knew the rocks pretty well) and
asked him il he wanted a line. I
trusted to the big It to fool him and
it did. We pulled him on-nearly blew
up the Titan doing it: guess you'll have
TO overhaul the engines and think
the shafts sprung-and here we are.
Was it all right?'
Black laughed until he cried
Was it all right2 Well, some.
That's the best I ever heard. No won
der the man was fooled. Bob. you're a
star. Let's go out and have a drink
It's on me; guess the house can
stand it.'
In the barroom- just before he drank.
Black suddenly looked Bob squarely
in the eye.
Bob. here's howl he said. holding
up his glass. You've made good.
T. hell WIKI the oBrisnl'