Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1921-11-03

one OF the TWO should crawl into the
i shaft alley and throw cupful of
chloride of lime (for they found can
of this In the engine room) In Captain
| Scraggs' face, when shadow dark
ened the hatch and Mr.. Bartholomew
| McGuffey demanded belIigerently :
WHATS goin'l on down there2 Who
the devils takin' liberties In my en-
4 CINE room?"
Dan Hicks explained the situation
and the just cause for drastic action
which they held against the fugitive
In the shaft alley. Mr.. McGuffey con-
sidered a few moments and made his
decision.
IF what you say is true--an' / ain't
In position to dispute you, not hayin.
been present when you hauled the
Maggie off the beach, I don't blame
you for feeling sore. What do blame
you for, though, Is carryin' the war
aboard the Maggie. II you wanted to
whale Glib an Scraggsy you should ha'
laid for 'em on the dock. Under the
circumstances, you make this per
snail affair, an as member o. the
crew o the Maggie ! got to take
hand an defend my skipper agln youse
two. Fact is, gentlemen, got date
to lick him first for what he done to
me last night. Howsumever, that's a
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
herty, you stay below until send for
you; If you try to climb up an horn In
on my fight with Hicks. Gibney'lI brain
you."
A faint cheer came from the shaft
alley. Good old Mac. At-a-boy!"
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.
''There'll be no fight" he declared,
although Wen thud around on deck
an yell couple o. times to make
Scraggs think we're goin' to 1t. He
figgers that by the time I'VE fought
you an Flaherty ! won't be fit for
combat with him, even If / lick you
both; he's got 1t all figgered out that
I'll wait 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."
MFR. 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,
he called, MS Hicks and Nc
Guffey pranced around the deck in |
simulated combat MACS whalin' the |
whey out o. Hicks an Hicks couldn't |
touch him with buggy whip"
AT the conclusion of the three min
ltes of horse-play. Mr.. McGuffey came
to the hatch again. "Up with you,
he called loud enough for
Captain Scraggs to hear, 'up with you
before | go down after You"
Flaherty was about to possess him
self of Ratchet when the face of his
confrerc. Dan Hicks, appeared over
McGuffey's shoulder and grinned
knowingly at him. Immediately, Fla
1erty hurled defiance at his enemies
md came up on deck, and once more
o Captain Scraggs came the dull
sounds of apparent conflict overhead.
Suddenly cheer broke from Mr..
5ibney. "All off an gone to Cooper
own, Scraggsy," he shouted. "Come
lp an take look at the fallen"
Out of the shaft alley came Scraggs
With rush, tossing his wrench aside
he better TO climb the ladder. He was
ialf way up when Mr.. Gibney reached
Town a great hand. grasped him by
ne collar. and whisked him out on
ieck with single jerk. Here, to his
horror, he found himself confronted
oy a singularly scathless trio who
,rinned triumphantly at him.
Seem is believin', Scraggs," Dan
Hicks Informed him. 'sThat's lesson
'ou taught me an Flaherty last night,
'ut evidently you don't profit by ex-
You're too miserable to
'eat up. but just to show you It amt
possible for a dirty bay pirate like
'ou to skin the likes O. me an Fla
lerty we purpose hangin' the seat o.
our pants up around your coat COL
ar, Face him about. Gibney."
With Quick twist, Mr.. Gibney pre-
ented Captain Scraggs for his pen
nee: Flaharty and McGuffey followed
Jan Hicks promptly and Captain
'craggs screamed at every kick. And
.oxxs aa...e |