, 1921-11-19

ter Trip you're on"
rrms and get busy. I framed II ali up
,or this nlibuster trip you're on,
scnggsy. only / ever did hear that
they'd picked on you I told that cof-
fee-coiored mt of q Lopez man to
hunt up Scab Johnny and he'd set him
right. but II anybody had told me you
had the nerve to run the Maggie In on
this deal. Scrnggzy. I'd a-called him u
liar. Scraggs, you're mucho-bueno-
that Is. you're all right Tn 80 used
to tnlkin' Spanish I forget myself.
sim. there's one end Of this little deal
that / amt exactly explained to all
hands. II I'd a-known they was char
term the Maggie, I'd have blocked the
game"
~WbyT' demanded Captain scrsggs.
Instantly on the defensive.
mot that I'm holdin' any srudEe
agin you. Scraggsy," said Mr.. Gibney
annbIy. "but I wouldn't a-had you no
more now than I would when we was
runnin' in the green-pea trade It's
because you amt got no Imagination.
and the Maggie amt big enough for
my purpose. Havin' the Maggie sort
OF puts a crimp In my plans"
Rot" snapped Captain Scraggs.
I've had the Maggie overhauled and
shipped q new wheel. and she's q
mighty smart little boat, TIL tell you
I'll land them arms In Descnnso bay
all right"
az know you wil.- said Mr.. GIbnsy
sadly. THAT'S Just what hurts. Yov
see. Scraggsy, L never intended 'em
for Descanso bay in the first place.
There's a nice healthy little revolution
fomentin' down In the United States
OF Colombia, with Adeibert p. Gfbney
playin' both ends to the middle And
there's a dog-hole down on the Gold
coast where i intended to land this
cargo. but now that Scab Johnny's
gone to work and sent me q bay scow
instead OF a sea-goin' steamer. rn In
the nine-hole instead o. dog-hole. I
can never get as far as the Gold coast
with the Maggie She can't GRITTY coal
enough to last her"
but 4 thought these guns and
things was for the Msxicans," qua
vered Captain Scraggs. "Seab Johnny
and Lopez told me they was"
Mr.. Gibney groaned and bid his faee
In his hands. "Scraggsy.- he said sad
IL. "Its a cinch You amt used tha
past four years to stimulate that imagi-
nation Of yours. OF course they was
purchased for the MexichnS. but what
was TO prevent me from lettin' tho
Mexicnns pay for them, help out on
the charter Of the boat, and then have
me divert the cargo to the United
States of Colombia, where I a sell
'em at a clear profit, the cost bein'
nothln' to speak of Now you got to
come buttin' In with the Maggie. and
what happenss Why, ! got to be hon.
est. Of course. I got to mnhe good on
my blur, and what's In It for mel
Nothin' but glory. Can you hook q
chunk Of glory for ham and eggs,
Phineas Scraggsf Not o. your life II
II hadn't been for you buttin' in with
your blasted. rotten hulk Of q fresh
water skin, I'd
Mr.. Gibney paused ominously and
savagely bit the end Of his cigar. As
for Captain Scrnggs, every drop Of
blood In his body was boiling IN de-
tense Of the ship he loved.
You're a pirate." he shrfrled
"And you're just as big n hornet as
you ever was" replied Mr.. Gibney.
Always buzzin' around where you
ain't wanted. But still, what's the use
OF bawlin' over split miiki Wen drop
into San Diego for q couple Of hours
and take on coal, and about sunset
we'll pull out and make the run down
to Descanso bay In the dark. We
might Al well forget the past and put
this thing through as per program.
Only I saw visions Of a schooner an
10 be Continued)