Middletown transcript., 1921-11-19
CHAPTER V-continued.


Scraggs, for once In my life l have
you where the hair is short. I'm
willin' to dig in an help out in
pinch, but it's gettin' so me an Mac
can't trust you no more. We're that
leery of you we won't take your word
for nothin', since you fooled him on
the new boiler an me on the paint;
consequently, we're off you an this
salvage job unless you give us clear
ance, in writin', statin' that we are
not an never was pirates, that we're
good, law-abidin' citizens an aboard
the Maggie as your guests, takin' the
trip at our own risk. When you sign
such a paper, with your crew for wit
nesses, I'll demonstrate how that bark
can be salvaged. My imaginations
better'n my reputation, Scraggsy, an
I amt workin' 1t for nOthin'!"
"Gib, my dear boy. You're the most
sensitive man I ever sailed with.
Can't you take little joker"
"Sure. 1 can take little joke. It's
the big ones that stick in my eraw
an stife my friendship. Gimme
fountain pen an a leaf out o. the
log book an I'll draw up the affydavit
for your signature"
Scraggs complied precipitately with
this request, whereupon Mr.. Gibney
spread his great bulk over the chart
case and with many twist and flip
of his tongue on the up and down
strokes, produced this remarkable doc
ument:
"At Sea, OF Point Montara.
"aboard S. S. Maggie,
"of San Francisco.
"June 4, 80.
.This is to certify that A. P. Gibney,
Esq. and Bart McGuffey, Esq. is law.
abfdin' sitisens of the q. S. A. and
the constitootion thereof, and in no
way pirates or such; and be it further
resolved that the said parties hereto
are aboard said American steamer
Maggie this date on the special invite
of Phineas P. Scraggs, owner, as MS
guests and at their own risk.
"Witness my hand and seal:"
CAPTAIN Scraggs signed without
reading and the new mate and Nells
Halvprsen appended their signatures
as witnesses. Mr.. Gibney thereupor
folded this clearance paper into the
tiniest possible compact bal, wrapped
It in a piece of tinfoil torn from
package of tobacco, to protect it from
his saliva, tucked 1t in his cheek ant
with sign for McGuffey to follow
him. started crawling over the cargo
aft. By this time the Maggie wa!
within a hundred yards of the dis
tressed bark and was ratching slowl!
backward and forward before her.
I'm oil my born days." quoth Mr.
Gibney. speaking a trifle thickly be
cause Of the document in his mouth
"I never got such wallop as Scragg
handed me an you last night. l don
forget things like that in a hurry
Now that we got vindication O. tn
charge O. piracy again us, I'm achin
to get shet Of the Maggie an her crew
40 II you'll kindly peel off all Of you
clothes with the exception, say, o
your underdrawers, We'll swim Off t
that bark an give Phineas p. Scragg
an exhibition of real sailorizin' ar
seamanship."
"What's the big idee?" McGuffe
demanded cautiously.
"Why, we sail her in ourselves
me an you an glom all the salvag
for ourselves. Tell with Scraggs ar
the Maggie an that new mate al
engineer. Tn off'n 'em for life"
Pop-eyed with excitement and inter
est, B. McGuffey, Esquire, stood VI
and with single twist shed his ca
and coat. His shirts followed. Bot
he and Gibney were already minu
their shoes and socks. To slip out Q
their faded dungarees was the wor
Of an instant Strapping their belt
around their waists to hold up thel
drawers, the worthy pair stepped t
the rail of the Maggie.
"Hey, there? Where you goin', Glib
~ I give you that clearance paper Q