Middletown transcript., 1921-12-24

this fine little power schooner for my
share OF the loot. She's nicked up
scme, but that only bears evidence to
what bully good shot I am, and 1t
won't take much to fix her up all ship
shape again. Usin' high bursts
shrapnel amt very destructive. All
them bumps an scratches can be
planed down. But we'll have to do
some mendin' on her canvas-I'll tell
the world. She's called the Reina
Maria, but I'm going to run her to
Panama and change her name. She'll
be known as Maggie II. out Of re-
spect for the old girl that's burnin'
up there on the beach"
Captain Scraggs was so touched at
this delicate little tribute that he
turned away and burst into tears.
|. Jaw, shut up, Scraggsy, old hunks,
said McGuffey consolingly. "You
amt got nothin' to cry about. You're
rich man. Look at me- amt
a-bawlin', am II And I don't get SO
much as bean out Of this mix-up,
all on account Of me bein' tied up
with q lot Of hounds that quits fight
in before they're half licked"
That's so," said Captain Scraggs,
wiping his eyes with his grimy fists.
Il declare you're out in the cold, Nc
Guffey, and it amt right. Glib, my
boy, us three has had some stirrin'
times together and we've had our diff.
ferences, but I amt a-goin' to think
Of them past griefs. The sight O. you,
single-handed, meetin' and annihilatin'
the pride Of the Mexican navy, calm
in tn moment O despair, generous in
victory and delicate as blazes to q
fallen shfpmate, goin' to work an
namin' your vessel after him that way,
is somethin' that wipes away all sor-
rer and YIELDS a friendship that's
bound to endoor till death US do part.
If McGuffey'd been on our side, we
know from past performances that
he'd fit like a tiger, wouldn't you.
Mac?" (Here Mr.. McGuffey coughed
slightly, as much as to say that he
would have fought like ten tigers had
be only been given the opportunity
Captain Scraggs continued: Il should
say that a fair valuation Of this
schooner as she stands is ten thousand
dollars. That belongs to Glib. Now
I'm willin' to chuck five thousand dol
lars into the deal, we'll form a close
corporation and as compliment to
McGufey, elect him chief engineer in
his own ship and give him, say,
quarter interest in our layout, as
little testimonial to an old friend, tried
and true"
'Scraggsy," said Mr.. Gibney. "your
fin. We've fought. but we'll let that
go. We wipe the slate clean and start
In all over again on the Maggie II,
and I'm free to state, without fear Of
contradiction, that in the last embrog-
lilo you showed up like four aces and
q king with the entire company stand
in pat. Scraggsy, you're hero, and
what you propose proves that you're
considerable Of singed cat-better'n
you look. Wen 60 freebootin' down
on the Gold coast. There's war, red
war, breakin' loose down there, and
Well shy in our horseshoe with the
strongest side and pry loose q fortune
somewhere. I'm for life Of wild ad-
venture, and now that we've got the
ship and the funds and the crew, let's
go to it. Thele's a deal of fine liquor
in the wardroom, and I suggest that
we nominate Phineas Scraggs, late
master Of the battleship Maggie, now
second in command of the Maggie II,
to brew kettle O. hot grog to cele-
brate our victory. Mac-Scraggsy-
your fins. I'm proud Of you both.
Shake"
They shook and as Captain Gibney's
eye wandered aloft, First Mate Scraggs
and Chief Engineer McGuffey looked
up also. From the main topmast of
the Maggie II floated a long blue
burgee, with white lettering on it, and
as it whipped out into the breeze the
old familiar name stood out against
the MONDAY sun.
"Good old dishcloth! !" murmured Mr..
Gibney. "She never comes down."
'The Maggie forever!" shrieked
Scraggs.
"Hooray!" beloved McGuffey. "An'
now, Scraggsy, If you've got all the
enthusiasm out Of your blood, kick In
with q hundred an fifty dollars an
interest to date. An don't tell me that
notes outlawed, or I'll feed you to the
fishes"
Captain Scraggs looked crestfallen,