Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-11-24

when did you take command of my
ship?"
you're flotsam an jetsam sir, an
practically In the breakers. You're
sick, an, for all l know, delirions, so
for the sake o. protectin you. the
sick seaman In the focastle an the
owners, I'm takin' command"
The master of the Chesapeake
reached under his pillow and produced
q pistol "Out of my cabin or I'll riddle
YOU" he barked feebly.
Hr. Gibney departed without a I'd
OF protest and proceeded TO make his
arrangements, regardless Of the mas
ter's consent. AS he and McGuffey
busted themselves, laying the leading
blocks along the deck. they glanced
toward the Maggie and observed Cap
tain Scraggs hurting crates Of vege-
tables overheard in an effort to get at
the small boat quickly. He'll die
when the freight claims come in." Mr..
McGuffey chortled. "Poor oil Scrag-
gsy!"
When Captain Scraggs came aboard,
Mr.. Gibney escorted him around 10 the
masters cabin, introduced him, and
stood by while they bargained. THE
tow will cost you five thousand, Cap
tain Scraggs began pompously.
"Me an McGuffey'll sail you in for
four" Gibney declared.
Three thousand" snarled Scraggs.
"Sailin's cheap as dirt at two thous-
and. AS a matter OF fact, Scraggsy,
me an Mac1l sail her In for nothin'
just to skin you out o. the salvage.
1.-TWO thousand dollars Is my lowest
figure" Scraggs declared. Take 1t
or leave II, Captain. Under the cir
cumstances, bargaining is useless. Two
thousand is my last bid"
The figure Scraggs named was prob
ably one fifth of what the master OF
tile Chesapeake knew a court would
award nevertheless he shook his head.
Its straight towing job, Captain,
and not salvage proposition at all.
A tug would tow me in for two hun
dred and fifty, but I'll give you five
hundred"
Remembering the vegetables he had
| jettisoned, Scraggs knew he could not
afford to accept that price. "Im
] through" he bluffed-and his bluff
worked.
Taken, Captain Scraggs. Write out
an agreement and I'll sign It,"
With the agreement in his pocket,
Scraggs, followed by Gibney, left the
cabin. zone hundred each to you an
Mac II you'll stay aboard the Chesa-
peake, steer her, an help the Maggie
out with what sail you can get on
her." Scraggs promised.
take long, runnin' jump at your
self, Scraggsy, old sorrowful. The best
me an Macll do is to help you cock
bill the anchor, an thatll cost you
ten bucks for each Of us--in advance.
The artful fellow realized that Scraggs
knew nothing whatever about a sailing
ship and would have TO depend upon
The Squarehead for the information
he required.
"All right. Here's your money,
Scraggs replied and handed Mr.. Glib.
ney twenty dollars. He and Neils
Halvorsen then went forward, got out
the steel towing cable, and fastened a
light rope to the end of It. The skiff
floated Off the ship at the end of the
painter. so The Squarehead hauled II
in, climbed down into the skiff. and
made the light rope fast to a thwart
then, with Captain Scraggs paying out
the hawser, Nels bent manfully TO the
oars and started TO tow the steel cable
back to the Maggie. Half way there
the weight of the cable dragging be-
hind slowed The Squarehead up and
eventually stopped him. Exertlng all
his strength he pulled and pulled, but
the sole result Of his efforts was to