Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-11-03

Ut" WdE-lt bputlS, repairing tue
whistle and splicing the wires OF the
engine room telegraph. Like the wise
men they were. however they declined
TO sound the Maggie's siren until the
tugs vera quite close. Even then. Mr.
Gibncy shuddored. but needs must
when the devil drives, so he pulled
the whistle cord and was rewarded
with weird. mournfm grunt, dying
away into gasp.
sounds like she has the pip" Jack
Flahcrly remarked 10 his mate.
"Must have taken on some OF that
dirty Asa'ic water" Dan Hicks solilo-
Quizcd, "and now her tubes have gone
TO glory"
Immediately both tugs kicked ahead
under q dead slow hell. guided by a
series of toots MS brief as Mr.. Gihncy
could make them, and presently both
tug lookouts reported breakers dead
ahead.
Dan Hicks sent man forward to
heave the lead under the nose Of the
Aprodite, which was cdging in gin
gery toward the voice He had
searchlight, hut he did not attempt
TO use It, k"owing full we. that in
such fog it would he of no avail.
Guided. therefore. by the bcllowings
Of Mr. Ghney, reinforced by the shrlI
yips Of Captain Scraggs, the tug crept
In closer and closer, ana When it
seemed that they must be within
hundred feet of the surf, Dan Hicks
trained his LYLE gun IN the direction
of Mr.. Gihney's voice and shot Il heav-
ing line into the fog
Almost simultaneous with the report
of the gun came shrek of pain from
Captain Scragcs. Straight and true
the wet. heavy knottcd end OF the
hcaying line came in over the Magsie's
quarter and struck him in the mouth
In the darkness he staggered hack
from the singing blow, clutched Wild
ly at the air. slipped and rolled over
among The vegetables with The pre-
cious rore clasped to his breast
81 got it," he sputtercd. Il cot It,
Glib"
safe, o." Mr.. Gibney bawlcd. PAY
out your hawScr."
They met It at the tafrrail as II
came up out Of the breakers, wet but
welcome PASS 1t around the main
mast. ScraEgy," Mr.. Gibney cautioned.
"If we MAKE fast TO the town bits,
The first jcrkll pull the anchor bolts
up through the deck"
When the hawscr had been made
u.
lungs OF Mr. Gibney made due an
nounccmcnt Of the fact to The ex.
pcctant Captain Hicks. "As soon rs
YOU feel You've got grip on her he
yelled, Just hold her steady so she
won't drive further up the beach when
| get my anchor up. She'll come out
like n loose tooth at the top OF the
flood"
The Aphrodlte forged slowly ahead.
taking I'm the slack OF the hawser
Twenty minutes later, after much
backing and swearing and heaving Of
lines the Bodega's hawser was also
put board the Maggie. Mr.. Gibney
Judged ii would be safe now to fasten
this line 10 the towing bits
Suddenly Captain ScragGs rcmem-
hered there was no one on duty In the
Maggic's engine room. With n half
sob, he slid down the greasy ladder
tore open the furnace doors and COM
mcnced shovclng I'm coal with a reck-
lcssncss that bordcrcd on insanity.
When the Indicator showed eighty
hounds Of steam he came up on dcc!;
and discovered Mr.. Glbney walking
solcmnly round and round the little
capstan up forward. IT was creaking
and grooming dsmally. Captain
Scraggs thrust his engine room torch
above his head to light the scene and
eazed upon his navigating officer In
blank amaZcmcnt
"What foollshncss IS this, Gib?' he
demanded Are YOU clean dany, do.
in barn dance around that rusty
capstan, maxim a noise fit TO frighten
the fish,"
"Not much" came the laconic re-
ply. I'm smart man. I'm raisln'
both anchors"
"Well, all | got to remark is that II
takes a smart man TO raise both an
chors when we only got one anchor
to our blessed name. An with that
anchor safe on the fo'castle head, ],
for one, can't see no sense in raisin'
IT,"
you tarnation. jackassl" sighed
Gibney. you Forget who we are.
DO you s'pOse the steamer Yankee
Prince can lay on the beach all night
with both anchors out, an then lie got
ready to tow off in three shakes OF
lambs tail? 1t takes noise TO get up
two anchors-so I'm maxim all the
noise I can. Got any steamY
Eighty pounds" Scraggs confessed.
Having for the moment forgotten his
identity, he was confused In 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 l tell you TO stop. With
the drum runnin' free she'll make noise
enough for a winch three times her
size, but you might give the necessary
wells to make it more lifehke."