Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-11-17
continued from pave ninel

(Continued from page ninel
eating othcer Il don't see any distress
signals fyin' an yet she's got an
anchor out while her canvas is hangin'
$3.50"
If she had any hands aboard, you'd
think they'd have sense enough 10
clew up her courses the mate an
swered.
At this juncture, Mr. Gibncy and
McGuffey. unable 70 restrain their Gu
rioSity. and forgetful OF the fact that
they were pirates with very sore feet,
came running over the deckload and
invaded the pilot house. Gimme that
glass. YOU sock-eyed salmon. YOU Glib
ney ordered Scraggs, and tore the tele-
scope from the owners hands.
"Hum-m-m American bark CheSa-
peake. Starboard anchor out; yards
braced a-box; royal an to'-gallan'-s'ls
clewed up: courses hangin in the
buntlines an clew garnets, Starsan-
Stripes upside down"
He lowered the glass and roared ut
NellS Halvorsen, who was at the
wheel. "Starboard your helm. Square
head. Don't be afraid of her. We're
goIn' over there an hook on TO her.
should say she is n pickup"
Mr.. Gibney had abdicated ms a pi-
rate and assumed command of the s.
s. Maggie. With the memory of "A
scant breakfast upon him, however,
Captain Scraggs was still harsh and
bitter
"Git out O my pilot house an aft
where the police can find you when
they come lookin' for YOU" he
screeched. "Don't you give no orders
TO my deckhand."
"Stow II. you ass. Yonder'S a prize,
but it'll require Imagination TO win II !;
consequently you need Adelbert +.
Gibncy In your business, II you're CON
templatin' hOokin' on 10 that bark,
snakin' her into San Francisco bay, an
llbelin' her for ten thousand dollars
salvage You an Mac an The Square
head here have sailed this strip o
coast too long together TO quarrel over
the first good piece O salvage we ever
run into. Come. Scraggsy. BE decent,
forget the past, an let's dig in to-
gethcr."
The new navigating officer drew
Captain Scraggs aside and whispered
IN his ear: Make ii up with these
Smart Alexis, Scraggs. They got it on
kt,t q an
vorsen. McGuffey and Gibney over
to the bark, you can get some sail on
her an what with the wind helpin'
us along the Maggie can tow her all
right"
Mr.. Glbney saw by the hopeful, even
cunning, look that leaped 10 Scraggs'
eyes that the problem was abou. ~ be
solved without recourse 10 the Gibney
Imagination, so he resolved to be alert
and not permit himself to be caught
out on the end of a limb. "Well.
Scraggsy?" he demanded.
II guess I need you in my business,
Glib. You're right an I'm always
wrong It's n fact, l amt got no
more Imagination than chicken"
spoken like mani do not think.
Scraggs, for once in my life | have
you where the hair is short. I'm
willin' 10 dig in an help out in a
pinch. but it's gettn' so me an Mac
can't trust you no more. We're that
leery Of you we won't take your word
for nothin'. since YOU fooled him on
the new boiler an me on the paint !;
consequently. we're off you an this
salvage Job unless you give us clear
ance, In writin'. Stain that we are
not an never was pirates that we're
good. law-abidin' citizens an aboard
the Maggie as your guests, takin' the
trip at our own risk. When you sign
such a paper. with your crew for wit
nesses. Iii demonstrate how that bark
can be salvaged. My imagination's
bctter'n my reputation. Scraggsy. an
AMT workin' It for nothin I"
9Th, my dear boy. You're the most
sensitive man ever sailed with.
Can't you take n little iOke?'
Sure. | can take little joke. It's
the big ones that stick in my craw
m stiile my friendship. Gimme a
fountain pen an leaf out q the
log book an I'll draw up the AFFIDAVIT
FOR your signature"
Scraggs complied proclpiiately with
this request, whereupon Mr.. Gibney
spread his great bulk over the chart
case and with many twist and flip
of his tongue on the I'D and down
strokes, produced this remarkable doc
ument:
AT Sea. or Point Montana
aboard :. s. Maggie.
"of San Francisco.
"June 4. 10.