The daily Alaskan., 1921-12-20

the head Of the little iron-railed com psnion.way leading down into the en- zine room a man was standing. He had a monkey wrench in one hand and a greasy rag In the other.
 Mir Gibney turned and looked at the man.
 .McGuTey, for a thOusand" he bel lowed, and ran forward with out stretched hand. Captain Scraggs was at Gibney's heels, and be- hen them they came very nearly dislocating Bar tholOmew McGuffey'S arm.
 "McGuffey, my dear boy" said Cap tain Scraggs. "Whatever are you a-doln' on this heather battleshlp"
 Mel" calculated Mir. McGuffey, with his oId-tlme delIberation. "Why, I'm the chief engineer of this craft had a good job. too, hut guess its all off now, and the Mexican governmental fire me. Say, who chucked that buck shot down Into my engine room"
 Admiral Gibney did It," said Scraggs. "The old Maggie's along side and me and Gib's illbusters. Bear a hand. Mac. and help us clap the matches on our prisoners"
 Thank God" said Mir. Gibney pious- Iy, q didn't kill you. Come to look into the matter, I didn't kill anybody, though I see half a dozen Mexicans around decks more or less cut up. Where you been all these years, MacT
 q been chief engineer In the MeXi- can navy" replied McGuTey. Have you captured us in the name of the United States or whatT'
 "We've captured you in the name Of Adelbert P. Gibney," was the reply. "I been huntin' all my life for ship Of my own. and now I've got her. Lord Mac. she's a beauty, ain't she? All hardwood finish, teak rail, well found, and just the ticket for the island trade. We'll. well, well I'm Captain Gibney al last"
 Where do come In, GibT asked Captain Scrnggs mOdestly.
 "Wen, seeln' as the Maggie has two holes through her hull below the wa terllne, and is generally nicked 10 pieces. you might quit askin' questions and get back aboard and put the Dumps on her. You're lucky if she don't sink on you before we get to Des- canso bay. If she sinks, don't worry. I'll give you a job as my first mate. Mac, you're my engineer, but not at no fancy Mexican price. I'll pay you inc unIon scale and not a blasted cent more or less. Is that fair?'
 McGufrey said 1t was, aud went be- low to tune up his engine. NIT. Gioney took the wheel of the gunboat. and sent Captain Scraggs back aboard the Maggie, and tn a few minutes both vessels were bowling along toward Descanso bay. They were on the pay at midnight. and while with NIT. Glb- ney in command of the federal gun boor Captain Scraggs had nothing 10 fear the rapid rise of water In the hold of the Maggie was sadly discon- certIng. About daylight he made up his mind that she would sink within TWO hours. and without pausing to whine over his predicament, he nrnmptlv beaChed her. She drove far m the beach, with the slack water breakinc around her scared stern. and when the tide ehbed she lay high and dry And the rebel soldiers came trooping down from the Megano rancho and failing upon her carcass like so many ants, quickly distributed her cargo amongst them, and disaP- peared.
 Captain ScragCs sent his crew out aboard the captured gunbuat to assist Mr. Gibney in rowing his prisoners ushore. and when finally he stood alone beside the wreck of the brave old Maggie. piled up at last in the port of missing ships. something snapped within his breast and the big tears rolled in quick succession down his S1lUHfuDltN NlitthSr AhS ''N FN'-- looked peculiarly pathetic as she lay there. listed over on her beam ends. She hat served him well but she had finished her last voyage. and with some vague idea of saving her old bones from vandaI hands, Captain Scraggs, sobblng audlbly. scattered the contents of half a dozen cans of kerosene over her decks and in the cabin, lighted fires in. three different sections of the wreck. and left her to the consuming flames. Half an hour later he stood on the battered decks of the gunhoat beside Gibney and McGufey and watched the dense clouds of smoke that heralded the passing of the Mag
 Continued on Thursday
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