The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-11-18
CHAPTER I.

the coast shortly AFTER the Maggie
had rounded Pillar Point at sunset and
readed north. Captain Scraggs had
been steamboatlng too many unproflt-
able years on San Francisco bay. the
Sulsun and San Pablo sloughs and
doghoes and the Sacramento river to
be deceived as TO the character of
that fog, and he remarked as much to
Mr.. Glbney. "We'd better turn back
to Ha.fmoon bay and tie up at the
dock" he added.
calamity howler!" retortcd Mr.
Gbney and gave the wheel spoke or
two. "Scraggsy, you're enough to
make real sailor sick at the
stomach"
"But tell you she's tule fog, Glib.
She rises up in the marshes Of the
Sacramento and San Joaquin, drifts
down to the bay and out the Golden
gate and just naturally blocks the
wheels of commerce while she lasts
Why. I've known the ferry boats be-
tween San Francisco and Oakland TO
get lost for hours on their twenty-min-
ate run-and all along Of blasted
tule fog"
II don't doubt your word a mite.
Scraggsy. never did see ferry-boat
skipper that knew shucks about
salorizing," the imperturbable Gibney
responded. "Me. I'll smell my way
home in any tule fog"
Maybe you can an maybe you
can't. Glib. although far be 1t from me
to question your ability. I'll take 1t
for granted. Nevertheless, amt
a-goin' to run the risk O. you havin'
catarrh O. the nose an confrsin your
smells tonight You amt got nothIn'
at stnke but your job, whereas II
lose the Maggie lose my hull for
tune Bring her about, Glib, an let's
hustle back"
Don't be IN old woman" Mr.. Glib
uey pleaded. "Scraggs, you Just amt
got enough works inside you to fill
wrist watch"
II Amt a-goln' to poke around In
the dark nm a tule fog. feeln' for
the Golden gatc," Captain Scraggs
shrilled peevishly.
"H-rs bells an panther tracks
I've got my old courses, an II foller
them we can't help gettin' home"
Captain Scraggs laid his hand on
Mr. Gibney's great arm and tried tc
smile paternally. "Gib, my dear boy
he pleaded, "control yourself. Dom
argue with me, Glib. Tn master her,
an you're mate. Do make mysel
cear?"
You do, Scraggsy. But It Won
avail you nothin'. You're only maste
becuz of gentleman's agreement bt
tween us two, an because I'm ma
enough to fgger there's certain right
due you as owner O. the Maggie. Ri
don't you forget that aecordin' to Il
records o the inspectors office, l.
master of the Maggie, an the way
hgger It, whenever there's any call
show little real seamnnship. tn
gentleman's agreement don't stand.
"But this aint one O them time
Glib"
You're whistlln' It is. II we r,
from this here fog it's skiffs to hi
tleships we don't get into San Fra
cisco bay an discharged before S
O'clock tomorrow night BY the til
we've taken on coal an water /,
what-al, It'll be eight or nine o'clo,
with me an McGuffey entitled
nebbe three dollars overtime
havin' TO argue an scrap with you
Git t--not to speak O. havin' to put
sea the same night SOS to be back
TIalfmoon bay to load bright an eal
next mornin'. Scraggsy. l amt
night bird on this rum
"Do you mean to defy me, GIL
Captain Scraggs' little green e,
cleaned balefully. Mr.. Gibney lool
down upon him with tolerance, as
Great Dane gazes upon a fox terri
81 certainly do, Scraggsy, old pepr
pot" he replied calmly. "What're
goin' to do about til" The ghost o
smile lighted his jovial countenanC
"Nothin'-now. I'm helpless" c
tain Scraggs answered with dea
calm "But the minute we hit
dock you an me parts company"
Il don't know whether we will
not Scraggsy. l amt heeed ri
financially to hit the beach on $
short notice."
"Ill get the police to remove
you blistered pirate" Scr,
screamed. now quite beside himsel
Yes? Well. the minute tiay lie
O me I'll come back to the s. S.
gle and tear her apart just to
what makes her 60" He leaned
the pilot-house window and snl
'Tule fog, all right, Scraggs.
that amt no reason why the 81
company should fast, Is It? Quit
erin with me, little one, an see II
can't wrastle Up some ham an {
went my eggs sunny side up"
Sensing the futility Of further 4
rncnt, Captain Scraggs sought SC