Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-11-10
CHAPTER ~.


The crews of the Aphrodite and the
Bodega slept late, for they were
weary and, fortunately, no calls for
a tug came into the office. Of the Red
Stack company all morning. About
ten o'clock Dan Hicks and Jack Fla
herty breakfasted and about ten-thir-
~ both met in the Office. Apparently
they were two souls with but a single
thought for the right hand of each
sought the shelf wherein reposed the
blue volume entitled "Lloyd's Regis
ter" Dan Hicks reached 1t first, car
ried II 10 the counter, wet his tarry
index finger and started turning the
pages in n vain search for the Ameri-
can steamer Yankee Prince. Presently
he looked up at Jack Flaherty.
"Flaherty," he said, II think you're
liar.
"The> same to you and many of
them" Flaherty replied, not bit
abashed. You said she was an eight
thousapfl-ton tramp"
81 never went so far as to say I'd
been aboard her on trial trip, though
and did cut down her tonnage, show
in l got the fragments of a con-
science tleft,'' Hicks defended himself.
He closed the book with a sigh and
placed it back on the shelf. just rs
the door opened to admit no less
personaee tBan Bartholomew McGuf-
fey late chief engineer, first assist
ant, second assistant, third assistant,
wiper ,oiler. water-tender and stoker
Of the s. S. Maggie With a brief nod
to Jack Flaherty Mr.. McGuffey ap-
preached Dan Hicks.
"T been lookin' for you, captain" he
announced. "Say, I hear the chief O.
The Aphrodite's goin' to take three
months layoff TO get shet Of his rheu-
matism. Is that straight?"
II believe it is. McGufrey."
"Well, say, I'd like to have a chance
to substitoot for him. You know my
capabilities, Hicks, an II 1t would be
agreeable TO you TO have me for your
chief your recommendation would go
q long way toward landin me the job.
I'd sure make them engines behave"
What vessel have you been on late
W." Hicks demanded cautiously, for
he krew Mr.. McGuffey's reputation for
non-relinbility around pay day.
81 been with that freshwater scayen-
ger, Scraggs, I'm the Maggie for most
q year."
did you quit or did Scraggs fire
your
HE fired me-" McGuffey replied
honestly. eff he hadn't I'd have quit,
so its a toss-up. Comm in from
Halfmoon bay last night we got in the
fog an piled up on the beach just
below TIRE Cllf house"
This is interesting" Jack Flaherty
murmured. "You say she walked
ashore or you, McGuffey? Well, I'll
be shot :"
"She al. scraegs blamed It on me,
Flaherty. He said I didn't obey the
signals from the bridge. one word led
70 another. an he went dancin' mad
an ordered me off his ship. Well, It's
lis shIp--or il was his ship, for III
bet n dollar she's ground TO powder
nv now--so all could do was obey.
I hoped overheard an waded ashore.
7 xrrpose all my clothes an things is
ro.e by now. left everything aboard
an Rad 20 borrow this outfit from
Scab Johnny" He grinned pathetical-
ly. $50 I guess you understand, Cap
tain Hieka iust how bad l need that
lob ! spose about a minute ago.
"T1l think It over, Mac, an let you
know" Hicks replied evasively.
Mr.. McGuffey, sensing his defeat'
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-donar jobs an presumed to have
been out O their swaddlin' clothes for
nc least thirty years, afford to be
laughed Off the San Francisco water
frontT'
81 Know one Of them that can't.
Dan. At tile same time, can rat like
Phlneas II. Scraggs and beachcomb-
or like his mate Gibney make pair
Of star-spangled monkeys out of said
two towboat men and get away with
III"
"They did that last night. Still, I've
known monkeys that would fight an
was human enough to settle grudge.
Follow me, Jack"
Together they repaired to Jackson