, 1921-12-24

codnsh- She was cut IN two Just ford
o the bulkhead an her anchors car
ried away on the section hat was cut
or She amt worth the cost O. TOWN.
her In on the fats"
$50 that Goldfish has some value
sneered Captain Scraggs-
Great grief. Scraggsyi Don't fell
me IT'S Spilled cried McGuney, siniu-
lsting horror.
"No. not quite. Mac. not quite. Just
slightly. ] s'pose Gibn tack a sign
TO the stub O. the main mast: slight
" spoiled goldfish for sale. Apply to
A. p. Gibney, on the premises Spe-
cial rates on Friday"
afr. GIbney %quivered. but made no
reply. He carefully examined that
portion Of the derelict above water and
discovered tx by an additional ex-
penditore OF about nfty dollars he
might recover IN equal amount In
brass fittings The Kadlak's house
was gone and her decks completely
Quilted Nothing remained but the am
putnted hull and the foul cargo below
her battered decks.
In majestic silence the commodore
motioned all hands into the launch.
In silence they returned 10 the city.
Arrived here. Mr.. Gibney paid or the
launch man and the diver and nc
~companied by his associates repaired
to a prominent jewelers. shop with
the pearls they had accumulated 10
the South seas. The entire lot was
sold for thirty thousand dollars. An
hour later they had adjusted their
accounts, divided the fortune OF the
syndicate equally. and then dissolved.
At parting. Mr.. GIbney spoke for the
first time when Il had not been alb
soiuteiy necessary.
"Put n beggnr on horseback an
he'll ride to the DEVIL he said. "when
you two swabs was poor you WINS con-
tent TO let me Iced you Into n fortune.
but o that you're well-heeied, you
think you're business men. All right
I aln't got a v0d to say except this I:
Before I get through with you two
~beachcombers IN have all your money
and you'll be a-beggin' me for n Job.
I apologize for soakin' you two with
that diseased Goldfish. an for old sake's
sake we won't fight. We're still
II tthl0rs ia puhiutnH AHrutldNtS no
longer, for I'm too big a fgger in this
syndicate TO stand for any criticism
on my handlln' o. the Joint finances.
Hereafter. Scraggsy, old klddo. you
an Mac car go II alone with your
sternwheei steamer. Me an The
Squarehead legs Il together an takes
our chances. You don't hear that poor
u~ntootered Swede maxim no boiler at
the way I've handled the syndicate"
But. Glib. my dear boy" chartered
Captain Scraggs, will you just listen
to re-"
Enough Too much is plenty.
We Just can't get along In business
together, that's ALL"
"weil. I'm sorry. Glib" mumbled Nc
Gufrey, very much crestfallen. but
then you hove that dog.gone fish at
me an"
'That was fortune hittin' you n
bolt In the face, Mac. an you was toe
self-concelted 10 recognize II. Remem'
Der that, both of you two. Fortune
hit you in the face today nm you
didn't know IT,"
I'D ruther die poor. Glib" walled
McGuffey.
The commodore shook hands cor,
daily and departed. followed by the
faithful Neiis Halvorsen. The mo.
ment the door closed behind them
Scraggs turned to the engineer.
Mac" he snid earnestly, "Gib's mp
to s%omethin'. He's got that imagina.
ton o. his workin'. I can tell II every
time he gets a foggy look In his eyes.
We made q mistake kiddin' him today.
GIBBS a sens'tiv- hoy some ways an
l reckon vs. .Iurt his feelin's without
intendin' It."
HE thrun n dead Goldfish at me-"
protested McGuffey. "I love old Glib
like a brother. but that's carryln'
things with a mighty high hand.'
swell. I'll apologize TO him." de-
clnred Captain Scraggs and started
for the door TO follow Mr.. Glbnay.
8cGurey barred his way.
''You apologize without my consent
an you gotta buy me out o. the Vic
tor. ! won't be no engineer with a
skipper that lacks backbone"
"Oh. very well, Mac" Captain
Scraggs realized too well the value of
McGuffey In the engine room. He
knew he could never be happy with
anybody else. "We1l complete the
deal with the Victor, ship a crew, get
down to business, an leave Glib to his
Goldfish. An let's pay our bin an get
outer here. It's too heightened for
mean expensive"
For two weeks Captain scraggs and
McGufrey saw no more of Mr.. Glbney
and Neps Halvorsen. In the mean
time, they had commenced running the
Victor regularly up river. soliciting
business in opposition to the regular
steamboat lines. While the Victor vas
running with light frelghts and con
s~eauently Mt a loss. the prospect for
ultimate business was very bright and
scraggs and McGufey were not at all
worried about the future.
Judge at their surprise, therefore
when one morning who should appear
at the door Of Scraggs' cabin but Mr.