The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-12-02


ne looked up at Jack Fiaherty.
"Flaherty." he said. Il think you're |
liar"
The same to you and many of |
them." Flaherty replied, not a Bit
abashed. "You said she was an eight
thousand-ton tramp"
Il never went so far as to say I'd
been aboard her on trial trip, though
and did cut down her tonnage, show
In got the fragments Of a con.
science left" Hicks defended himself.
He closed the book with a sigh and
placed 1t back on the shelf. Just as
the door opened to admit no less
parsonage than Bartholomew McGuf-
fey, late chief engineer, first assist
ant. second assistant, third assistant.
wiper, oller. wnter-tender and stoker
OF the s. 8. Maggie. With a brief nod
to Jnck Flaherty Mr.. McGuffey ap-
preached Dan Hicks.
II been lookin' for you, captain" he
announced. Say, I hear the chief O.
the ADhrodite's goin' to take three
months Iayoff to get shet of his rheu-
matism. Is that straight?
II believe It Is. McGuffey."
swell, say, I'd like to have a chance
to substitoot for him. You know my
capabilities, Hicks, an X It would be
agreeable to you to have me for your
chief your recommendation would 60
a long why toward landin' me the Job.
I'd sure make them engines behave"
"What vessel have you been on late
Tyr Hicks demanded cautiously, for
he knew Mr.. McGunfey's reputation for
non-reiiability around pay day.
II been with that freshwater scaven-
ger. Scraggs, In the Maggie for most
a year."
did you quit or did Scraggs fire
yodr'
''fIe fred me-" McGufrey replied
honestly. IF he hadn't I'd have quit,
so It's a toss-up. Comm In from
Halfmoon bay last night we got in the
fog an piled up on the beach Jus
below the Cliff house"
This is interesting" Jack Flaherty
murmured. "You say she walked
ashore On you, McGuffey? Well. TIL
be shoti I"
"Sho did. Scraggs blamed II on me.
Flaherty. He said didn't obey the
signals from the bridge, one word led
to another, an he went dancin' mad
an ordered me Off his ship. Well, it's
his ship-or II was his ship, for I'll
bet 4 dollar she's ground to powder
by now-so all could do was obey
hoped overheard an waded ashore
suppose all my clothes an things II
gone by now. left everything aboard
an had to borrow this outfit from
Scnb Johnny" He grinned patheticai
~. 80 guess you understand, Cap
TAIN Hicks. tust how bad need tia,
Job ! spoke about q minute ago"
"I1l think It over. Mac. an let yor
know" Hicks replied evasively.
Mr.. NcGuffey, sensing his defeat
retired forthwith to hide his embar
rassmens and distress: as the doc
closed behind him, Hicks and Flahert!
fnce0 eacn other.
"Jack,. quoth Dan Hicks, "can TIVE
towboat men, holdin' down two hun
dred-donar Jobs an presumed to hav'
been out q their swaddlin' clothes 70
at least thirty years, afford to b
laughed or the San Francisco water
frontY
II know one Of them that cant
Dan. At the same time, can RAT Xix
Phineas P. Scraggs and beachcomt
er like his mare Gibney make a pal
OF star-spang:ed monkeys out Of sal
two towboay men and get away wit
IT."
"They did that last night. Still, Wv
known monkeys that would fight ar
was human enough to settle grudgt
Follow me. JACK"
Together they repaired to Jackso
street bulkheaa. Sure enough, tner
lay the Maggie, rubbing her bllstere
sides against rne bulkhead. Captai
> Scraggs was nowhere in sight. hut NJ
Gibney was at the winch, swingin
ashore the crates of vegetables whic
: The Squareheao and three longshor'
men loaded into the cargo net
"We're outnumbered," Jnck Flahert
whispered. Lets walt until she's vi
loaded an Gibney an Scraggs al
: aboap! alone"
= They retired without having a
t.acted the attention Of Mr.. Gibney.
II Promptly at twelve o'clock the Ion
r shoremen Knocked OF work for II
n lunch hour and Neils Halvorse
:. drifted across the street. to cool h
M pnrched throat WIN steam bee
IN While waiting for scraggs to come !
~ OUT of tire engine rocm and take hi
"a TO luncheon. Mr.. Gionev sauntered a
aad wan standing gax'ng reflective
upon spot on the Maggie's stel
where the hawsers had chafed awt
the paint, when suddenly his for
10 holdings Of evil returned 70 him a tho
70 sand fold stronger than they had be-
or since Scraggs' return to rne little shi
"a He glanced up and beheld gazii
nj down up,n him Captains Jack Fl
A. herty All Daniel Hicks. Battle W
r. imminef,t and the varant Chm