Middletown transcript., 1921-11-05

to lick him first for what he done to
me last night. Howsumever, tnat's
private crouch. The fact remains that
you two jumped my pal Bert Gibney
an licked him somethin' scandalous.
Hicks, I'll take you on first. Come up
out Of there, you swab, and fight. Fla
hety, you stay below until send for
you; If you try to climb up an horn In
on my fight with Hicks, Gibney'u brain
you"
A faint cheer came from the shaft
alley. "Good old Mac. At-a-boyT
you're on, McGuffey. Nobody ever
had to beg me to fight him." Dan
Hicks replied cordially, and climbed
to the deck. To his great surprise,
Mr.. McGuffey winked at him and drew
him Off to the stern Of the Maggie.
"Therell be no fight" he declared.
''although Well thud around on deck
an yell couple O. times to make
Scraggs think we're goin' to 1t. He
fggers that by the time I've fought
you an Flaherty I won't be fit for
combat with him, even If I lick you
both; he's got it all 1ggered out that
I'll wait q couple O days before
tacklin' him, an he thinks my tenn
peril cool by that time an he can
argy me out O my revenge. Savey"
II twig."
Mr.. Gibney had returned to the
Maggie by this time and he now took
his station at the engine-room hatch
and growled at Flaherty and abused
him. Keep up your courage,
Scraggsy," he called, as Hicks and Nc
Guffey pranced around the deck in
simulated combat. "Mac's whalin' the
whey out O. Hicks an Hicks couldn't
touch him with buggy whip"
At the conclusion of the three min
utes Of horseplay, Mr.. McGuffey came
to the hatch again. up with you,
F1aherty,," he called loud enough for
Captain Scraggs to hear, ''up with you
before I go down after YOU"
F1aherty was about to possess him
self Of a hatchet when the face Of his
confrere. Dan Hicks, appeared over
McGuffey's shoulder and grinned
knowingly at him. Immediately, Fla
herty hurled defiance at his enemies
and came up on deck, and once more
to Captain Scraggs came the dull
sounds Of apparent conflict overhead.
Suddenly a cheer broke from Mr.
Gibney. "All off an gone to Cooper
town. Scraggsy," he shouted. 'Come
up an take a look at the fallen"
Out Of the shaft alley came Scraggs
with a rush, tossing his wrench aside
the better to climb the ladder. He was
half way up when Mr.. Gibney reached
down great hand, grasped him by
the collar, and whisked him out on
deck with a single jerk. Here, to his
horror, he found himself confronted
by a singMarly scathless trio who
grinned triumphantly at him.
"Seein' is believin', Scraggs," Dan
Hicks informed him. 'That's lesson
you taught me an Flaherty last night,
but evidently you don't profit by ex-
perience. You're too miserable to
beat up, but just to show you it amt
possible for dirty bay pirate like
you to skin the likes O. me an Fla
herty we purpose hangin' the seat O.
your pants up around your coat COL
lar. Face him about, Gibney."
With a quick twist, Mr.. Gibney pre-
sented Captain Scraggs for his pen
ance; Flaherty and McGuffey followed
Dan Hicks promptly and Captain
Scraggs screamed at every kick. And
now came Mr.. Gibney's turn. "For
failin' to stand up like a man,
Scraggsy, an battle Hicks an Fla
herty," he informed the culprit, and
tossed him over to McGuffey to be
held in position for him.
"Don't, Glib. Please DON'T" Scraggs
walled. ut amt comm to me from
you. I never heard you callin' a-tall.
Honest, I never, Glib. Have mercy,
Adelbert. You saved the Maggie last
night an quarter interest in her is
yours-if you don't kick mel"
Mr.. Gibney paused, foot in midalr ;
surveyed the Maggie from stem to
stern, hesitated, licked his lower lip,
and glanced at the common enemy.
For an instant it came into his mind
to call upon the valiant and able Nc
Guffey to support him in fierce coun-
ter-attack upon Hicks and Flaherty.
Only for an instant, however; then
his sense Of fair play conquered.
"No, Scraggsy," he replied sadly.
"She amt worth it, an your duplicity
can't be overlooked. If there's any
thing hate it's duplicity. Here goes,
Scraggsy-and get yourself a new
navigatin' officer"
Scraggs twisted and flinched in
stantly, and Mr.. Gibney's great boot
missed the mark. "Ah," he breathed,
"I'll give you an extra for that"
Don't! Please DON'T" Scraggs
howled. LAY off'n me an I'll put in
new boiler an have the compass ad-
justed."
The words were no sooner out of
his mouth than Mr.. McGuffey swung
him clear of Mr.. Gibney's wrath.
"Swear it." he hissed. "Raise your
right hand an swear it-an' I'll pro-
tect you from Glib"
Captain Scraggs raised a trembling
right hand and swore it. "Tll get q
new fire hose an fire buckets; I'll fix
the ash hoist and run the bedbugs an
cockroaches out Of her." he added.
"You hear that, Gib?" McGuffey
| -yooIol Nuo~o n hno~kO
"Not unless he gives her a coat of
paint an quits bickerin' about the
overtime Bart"