The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-12-30

Scraggs had basely swindled him and
McGuffey. He was disappointed in
| Scraggs and said as much. "How-
ever, Bart" he concluded, ''we'n
never say die while our money holds
out, and in the meantime our luck
may have changed. Let's scatter
around and try to locate some kind of
job; then when them new employees
o. Scraggsy quit or get fired-whichil
be after about two voyages-an' the
old man comes around holdin' out the
olive branch o. peace, We'll give him
| the hOrselaugh."
| Three days of diligent search failed
to uncover the coveted job for either,
however, and on the morning OF the
fourth day Mr.. Gibney announced that
il would be necessary to raise the
wind" if the pair would breakfast.
They retired to the sidewalk TO hold
caucus and Mr.. McGuffey located
dime which had dropped down inside
the lining of his coat. "That settles
| it." Gibney declared. "We've skipped
| two meals but I'll be burned II we
skip another. Well ride out to the
San Mateo county line on the trolley
with that dime an then hoof 1t over
| the hills to Halfmoon bay. Scraggs
| won't git away from the dock here I'M
til after twelve O'Clock, so we know
he'll lie at Halfmoon bay all night. Ii
we start now we'll connect with him
in time for supper. Eli, BartY
"a twenty-mile hike on tee-totally
empty stomach, with battle royal on
our hands the minute we arrive, weak
an destitoote, amt quite my idea O.
enjoyment, Glib, but I'll go you II 1t
kills me. Let's up hook an away. I'm
| for gittin' back to work an usln
moral persuasion to git that new
boiler
They took hitch in their belts and
started. From the point at which they
left the trolley to their journeys end
was stiff six-hour jaunt, up hill and
down dale, and long before the march
was half completed the unaccustomed
exercise had developed sundry gals
and blisters on the Gibney heels, while
the soles of poor McGuffey's feet were
so hot he voiced the apprehension that
they might burn to a crisp at any mo-
ment and drop off by the wayside.
The crew of the Maggie had ceased
working cargo for the day and Cap
tain Scraggs was busy cooking supper
in the galley when the two prodigals,
exhausted, crippled and repentant,
came TO the door and coughed propi-
tiously, but Captain Scraggs pretended
not to hear, and went on with his task
of turning fried eggs with an artistic
flip of the frying pan. So Mr.. Glib
ney spoke, struggling bravely to ap-
pear nonchalant With his eyes on
the fried eggs and his mouth threaten
ing to SLAYER at the glorious sight, he
said:
Hello, there, Scraggsy, old tarpot.
How goes it with the owner o. the fast
an commodious steamer Maggie? Git
that consignment o. post-holes aboard
yetT
Mr. Gibney's honest face beamed ex-
pectantly, for he was particularly par
tial to fried eggs. AS for his COM
panion in distress, anything edible and
which would serve to nuilify the gnaw-
ing at his internal economy would be
welcome. Inasmuch as Captain
Scraggs did not readily reply TO Mr..
Gibney's salutation, McGuffey decided
to be more emphatic and to the point,
albeit in a joking way.
Hurry up with them eggs, Scraggs,"
he rumbled. me an GIBBS walked
down from the city an we're hungry.
Jawn D. Rockerfeller'd give a million
dollars for my appetite. Fry mine
hard, Scraggsy. 1 want sometin'
solid"
"Get off my ship, you murderin' pi-
rates." Scraggs screamed.
"Not till we've et," the practical
minded engineer retorted. "Even then
we won't get off. Me an Glib atn't
got any feet left, Scraggs. If we mad
to walk another step we'd be crippled
for life. Fry my eggs hard, I tell
you"
'This is piracy, men. It's robbery
on the high seas, an 1 can put you
over the road for It." Scraggs warned
them. whats more. I'll do it."
1.-THE eggs, Scraggsy," doomed Mr..
Gibney, "the eggs"
Half an hour later, as the pirates,
replete with provender, sat dangling
their damaged UNDERMINING over the
stern railing where the gentle wave
lets laved and cooled them, Captain
Scraggs, accompanied by the new navi-
eating officer, the new engineer, and
The Squarehead, came aft. The Grip
pies looked up, surveyed their success
from reassuring.
1--WE already ordered you two
tramps off'n my Ship" Scraggs began
formally, IAN I hereby, in the pres
ence o. reliable witnesses, repeats the
invitation. You amt wanted; your
rooms preferred to your comp'ny. an
by stayin' a minute longer, in defiance
o. my orders, you're layin' yourselves
liable to charge o. piracy"
Mr.. Gibney carefully laid his pipe
aside and stood up. He was quite an
imposing spectacle in his bare feet.
with his trousers rolled up to his great
knees, thereby revealing his scarlet
flannel underdrawers. With a stified
groan, McGuffey rose and stood beside
his partner. and Mr.. Gibney spoke:
.'Scraggs, be reasonable We amt
lookin' for trouble; not because we
don't relish It, for we do where a
couple o. scabs is concerned, but for