, 1921-10-29

Mr.. Glbuey had returned TO the
,fnsxe by this time and he now took
HIS srnrfon at the enEine-room hatch
and rrowIed az Flaherty and abused
him. Keep up your courage.
scrnsrsy.- be called. as Hicks and Nc
Gurey prnnced around tie deck In
simulated combat. Macs whaiin' the
whey out o. Hicks an Hicks couldn't
touch him with a buggy whip
At the conclusion OF the three min
u,es OF h~orse-play. Mr.. McGuffoy came
10 the hatch again. up with you.
Ffnherty." he called loud enough for
Captain scrnggs TO hear. up with you
before I 20 down after you
Flaherty was about to possess him
self Of a Ratchet when the face Of his
-onfrere. Dan Hicks. appeared over
McGurey's shoulder ana grinned
saowingiy At him. Immediately. Fla
nerty hurled defiance at his enemies
and came up on deck. and once more
20 Captain scrngzs came the dull
saunds Of apparent conflict overhead
Suddenly a cheer broke from Mr..
GIbney. "Aii OF an gone TO Cooper
town. Scrnggsy." he shouted. Come
up an take a look at the fallen"
Out Of the shaft alley came scraggs
with g rush. tossing his wrench aside
the better 10 climb the ladder. he was
half way up when Mr.. Gibney reached
down a great hand. grssped him by
the colinr, and whisked him out on
deck with a single jerk Here. to his
horror, he found himself confronted
by n singularly scnthless trio who
grinned trlumphnntly At him.
Seem is b~elieyin'. scraggs.- Dan
Hicks Informed him. That's n lesson
you taught me an Flnherty last night.
but evidently you don't profit by ex-
perience. You're o miserable TO
beat up, but just to show you It Amt
possible for n 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. Glbney.-
with n quick twist. Mr.. Gibney pre-
sented Captain scraggs for his pen
ance; F1aherty and McGufrey Followed
Dan Hicks promptly and Captain
Scrnggs screamed Mt every kick. And
now came Mr.. Gibney's turn. "For
faiiin' TO stand up like a man.
S%craggsy. an battle Hicks an Fla
herty," he Informed the cuiprit. and
tossed him over to McGurey to be
held In position for him.
Don't. Glib. Please don't" scraggs
walled. ut mint comm to me from
you. I never heard you calm a-tail.
Honest, I never. Glib. Have mercy.
Adelbert. You saved the Maggie last
night an a quarter interest In her Is
yours-is you don't kick mel"
Mr.. Gibney paused. foot In midair ;
surveyed the Maggie from stem to
stern. hesitated, licked his lower lip.
and glanced at the common enemy.
For nm instant It came into his mind
TO call upon the valiant and able Nc.
Guffey to support him In q fierce coun
ter-attack upon Hicks and F1aherty.
Only for an instant, however; then
his sense Of fair play conquered.
mo. scrnggsy." he replied sadly.
."She amt worth II, an your duplicity
emit be overlooked. If there's amy.
thing ! hate It's duplicity. Here goes
Scraggsy-and get yourself a new
uavigatin' officer"
Scrnggs twisted and ninched In
stantly. and Mr.. Gibney'r great boot
missed the mark. "Ah." he breathed.
I'll give you an extra for that"
"Don'ti Please DON'T" Scraggs
bowled. Lay or'n me an I'll put in
a new boiler an have the compass nd.
listed"
The words were NO sooner out Of
MS mouth than Mr.. McGuffey swung
him clear Of Mr.. Gibney's wrath
Swear It." he Kissed. "Raise your
right hand an swear tan I'll pro-
sect you from Glib"
Captain scraggs raised a trembling
right hand and swore 1t 'T1l get n
new ire hose an Ere buckets: I'll hx