, 1921-11-05

u
About ten o'clock next morning the
little vessel completed taking on her
cargo. the lines were cast on, and the
homeward voyage was begun. Messrs
GIbney and McCurey we're seated OF
the stern bits as the Maggie came
abreast the Point Montana fog sigma
STATION. when AFR. GIbney observed y
long telescope posing out the side win
dow of the pilot house. and following
the direction in which the telescope
was pointing he made out n large bart
standing In dangerously close TO h
beach. In fact. the breakers were tum
bling In a long white streak over the
reefs less than quarter OF a mile
from her.
In an instant all was excitement
aboard the Maggie. THAT looks like
m elegant little pickup. She's plumb
deserted" Scraggs shouted TO his navi
eating officer. II don't see any distress
signals nyin' an yet she's got AZ
anchor out while her nnv Is hangin'
$3.50"
IF she had any hands aboard. you'd
think they'd have sense enough TO
ciew up her courses the pnte an
swered-
At this juncture. Mr.. Gibney anc
McGufey. unable to restrain their GU
riosity. and forGetful of the fact thai
they were pirates with very sore feet
came running over the deckioad anG
invaded the pilot house. "Glmme tina
glass. you sock-eyed salmon. you" Glib
ney ordered Scraggs. and tore the tele
scope from the owners hands
"Hum-m-mi American bark Chesa
penke. %Starboard anchor out; yards
braced a-bor; royal an to'gailan'-sTs
clewed up; courses hangin' in the
buntlines an clew garnets, Stnrs-an'-
Stripes upside down."
He lowered the glass and roared nj
Neils Hnivorsen. who was at the
wheel. "Stnrbonrd your helm, Square
head. Don't be afraid OF her. We're
goin' over there an hook on to her.
I should say she Is a ~pick-uplr
Mr.. Gibney had abdlcated as a pi-
rate and assumed command of the S.
S. Maggie. With the memory Of a
scnnt breakfast upon him, however.
Captain Scraggs was stil harsh and
bitter.
"Git out o. my pilot house an aft
where the police can ind you when
they come lookin' for YOU" he
screeched. Don't you give no orders
to my deckhand."
"Stow II. you ass. yonder's a nrlze.
but It'll require imagination TO win It;
consequently you need Adelbert L.
C.bney In four business. II you're CON
tempiatln' hookIn' on to that bark.
snakin' her into San Francisco bay, an
libelin' her for ten thousand dollars
salvage. You IN Mac an The Square,
head here have sailed this strip o.
coast too long together to quarrel over
the first good piece o. salvage we ever
u into. Come. Scraggsy. Be decent.
forget the past. an let's dig in to-
gether."
The new navigating officer drew
Captain Scraggs aside and whispered
in his ear: Make 1t up with these
Smart Alexis. Scraggs. They got 1t on
US. but IL we can send you an Hal
vorsen. McGuffey and Gibney over
to the bark. you can get some sail IN
her IN what with the wind helpin'
US along. the Maggie can tow her all
right"
Mr.. Gibney saw by the hopeful, v e
cunning. look that lenped to Scraggs'
eyes that the problem was about to be
solved without recourse to the Gibney
Imagination. so he resolved to be alert
and moi permit himself to be caught
out ON the end of a limb. swell.
Scraggsyf he demanded.
:! guess I need you in my business.
Glib. You're right mn I'm always
wrong. It's n fact. I nin't got no
more Imagination thar a chicken"
spoken like a mani do not think.
Scraggs, for once in my life l have
o where the hair is short. I'm
willin' to dig in an help out in a
pinch, but It's gettin' so me an Mac
can't trust you no more. We're TINT
ieery of you we won't tnke your word
for nothin', since you fooled him on
he new boiler an me on the paint
consequently. we're of you an this
salvage job unless you give us q clear
ance. In writin', Stain that We are
not an never was pirates, that we're
good. l%aw-abidin' citizens an aboard
the Maggie as your guests. takln' the
trip at our own risk. When you sign
such n paper. with your crew for wit
nesses, I'll demonstrate how that bark
car be salvaged. My imagination's
better'n my reputation, Scraggsy, an
1 ain't workin' It for nothIn'l"
"Gib. my dear boy. You're the most
sensitive man I ever smiled with.
Can't you take a little joker"
"Sure, I can take a little Joke. It's
the big ones that stick in my craw
an stiie my friendship. Gimme a
fountain pen an a leaf out O. the
log book an I'll draw up TIE affydavit
for -FOUR signature"
Scraggs complied precipitately with
this request, whereupon Mr.. Glbney
spread his great bulk over the chart
case and with many a twist and flip
OF his tongue on the up and down
strokes, produced this remarkable doc
ument: