Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1921-10-28

E LNllHFI ptth mo The smart uHtA ana
out OF rauge.
The toNhoat men held q council of
war and decided to drown Scraggs out.
T Dan Hicks ran mp On deck ana re-
. turned dragging the deck fire hose be-
hind him. He thrust the brass nozzle
4 into the shaftalley entrance and iu-
/ yited Scraggs 10 surrender Wcondt-
( tionally or be drowned like kitten.
/ SeraggS knowing his own fire hose.
detied them SO Dan Hicks started the
pump while Flaherty turned on the
water. Instantly the hose burst up on
+ deck and Seraggs ieers Of triumph
/ filled the engine room The enemy
/ was about to draw lots to see which
/ one Of the two should crawl into the
shaft alley and throw cupful of
| chloride Of lime TOR they found can
Of this in the engine room) in Captain
ScraggS' face, when a shadow dark
/ ened the hatch md Mr. Bartholomew
/ McGuifey demanded belligerently:
whats goin' ON down there? Who
the DEVILS takin' liberties in my en-
! CINE room7"
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' ! amt
in position to dispute you, not hayin'
been present when you hauled the
Maggie off the beach. | don't blame
you for feeling sore. What do blame
YOU for though, is carryin' the war
aboard the Maggie If you wanted to
whale Glib an Scraggsy you should ha'
laid for EN- on the dock. Under the
circumstances you make this per-
s'nal affair, an as a member o the
crew O the Maggie I got to take a
hand an defend my skipper agin youse
two, Fact Is, gentlemen, I got a date
to lick him first for what he done to
me last night HOwsumeyer, that's a
private crouch. The fact remains that
you two jumped my pal Bert Gibney
an licked him sOmethn' scandalous
Hicks I'll take you on first Come up
out Of there you swab, and fight. Fla
herty, you stay below until I send for
you # you try to climb up an horn In
on my fight with Hicks, Gibney1l 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
"Thprell be no fight he declared,
although wen thud around on deck
an yell a couple o times to make
Scraggs think we're goin to It, He
figgers that by the time I've fought
you an Faherty | won't be fit for
combat with him, even II lick you
both; he's got it all tiggered out that
I'll wait couple o days before
tacklln' him, an he thinks my tenn
peril cool by that time an he can
argy me out o my revenge, Savey2'
81 twig"
Mr.. Gihney had returned to the
Maggie by this time and he now took
his station at the engine-room hatch
and growled at Tlaherty and abused
him. Keep up your courage,
Scraggsy," he called. as Hicks and Nc
Gurfcy pranced around the deck in
simulated combat. MACS whalin the
whey out o Hicks an Hicks couldn't
touch him with a buggy whip"
At the conclusion of the three min
utes of horse-play, Mr.. McGuffey came
TO the hatch again. up with you,
F'laherty,' he called loud enough for
Captain Scraggs to hear, "up with you
before I 90 down after you"
Flaherty was about to possess him
self of Ratchet when the face Of his
confrere Dan Hicks, appeared over
McGufrey's shoulder and grinned
knowingly at him. Immediately Fla
herty hurled defiance at his enemies
and came up on deck, and once more
to Captain ScraggS came the duh
sounds of apparent conflict overhead.
Suddenly a cheer broke from Mr.
Gibney IAN off an gone TO Cooper
town, Scraggsy" he shouted Come
up an take look at the fallen"
Out Of the shaft alley came Scraggs
with a rush. tossing his wrench aside
the better 10 climb the ladder He was
half way up when Mr. Gibney reached
down a great hand, grasped him by
the collar and whisked him out on
deck with a single jerk Here, to his
horror he found himself confronted
by a singuIary scathless trio who
grinned triumphantly at him.
"Seein is hcievin', Scraggs," Dan
Hicks Informed him. That's "A lesson
you taught me an Flaherty last night,
but evidently you don't profit by ex-
perience. You're too miserable to
beat up, but just to show you 1t amt
possible for a 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, Gibney."
with a quick twist, Mr.. Gibney pre-
sentaI Captain Scraggs for his pen
ance; Flaherty and McGuffey followed
Dan Hicks promptly and Captain
Scraggs screamed at every kick, And
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