The Red Cloud chief., 1921-12-29


Dan Hicks ran UP on deck and re-
turned dragging the deck fire hose be-
hind him. He thrust the brass nozzle
into the shaft.alley entrance and in
vlted Scraggs TO surrender uncOndi-
%tionally or be drowned like q kitten.
Scraggs, knowing his own fire hose,
defied them, so Dan Hicks started the
water. Instantly the hose burst up on
deck and Scraggs' jeers of triumph
filed the engine room. The enemy
was about to draw lots to see which
n OF the two should crawl into the
shaft alley and throw q cupful Of
chloride Of lime (for they found a can
OF this in the engine room) In Captain
Scraggs' face, when n shadow dark.
ened the hatch and Mr.. Bartholomew
McGuffey demanded belllgerently:
whats goin' on down there? Who
the devils takin' liberties In my en-
CINE room?"
Dan Hicks explained the situation
and the Just cause for drastic action
which they held against the fugitive
in the shaft alley. Mr.. McGufey con
sidered a few moments and made his
decision.
"If what you say Is true-an' I amt
In position to dispute you, not havin'
been present when you hauled the
Maggie of the beach. I don't blame
you for feeling sore. What I do blame
you for. though. is carryin' the war
aboard the Maggie. II you wanted to
whale Glib an Scraggsy you should ha'
laid for 'em On the dock. Under the
circumstances, you make this a per-
snail affair, an as a member O. the
crew o. the Maggie I got to take q
hand an defend my skipper agih youse
two. Fact Is, gentlemen. I got a date
TO lick him first for what he done to
me last night. Howsumever, that's a
private crouch. The fact remains that
you two jumped my pal Bert Glbney
an licked him somethin' scandalous.
Hicks, I'll take you on first. Come up
out Of there, you swab. and fight. Fla
herty, you stay below until ! send for
| you; II you try to climb up an horn in
on my fight with Hicks, Gibney'n 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 wlnked ut him and drew
him Off to the stern Of the Maggie.
"There'n be no fight" he declared,
although we'll thud around on deck
an yell n couple O. times to make
Scraggs think we're goin' to It. He
fggers that by the time I've fought
you an Flaherty I won't be fit for
combat with him, even II ! lick you
both; he's got II all figgered out that
I'll wait a couple o. days before
tacklin' him, an he thinks my TEN.
peril cool by that time an he can
argy me out O my revenge. Savoy"
~ twIg."
Mr.. Gibney had returned to the
Maggie by this time and he now took
his station Mt the engine-roOm hatch
and growlcd at Flaherty and abused
him. Keep up your courage
Scraggsy," he called, as Hicks and Nc.
Guffey 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
Flaherty," he called loud enough FOR
Captain Scraggs to hear, "up with you
before / go down after you"
Flaherty was about to possess him
self of a hatchet when the face Of his
confrere. Dan Hicks, appeared ovcl
McGuffey's shoulder and grinnet
knowingly at him. Immediately, Fla
herty hurled defiance at his enemies
and came up on deck, and once more
to Captain Scraggs came the dull
sounds of apparent conflict overhead.
Suddenly a cheer broke from Mr.
Gibney. "All Off an gone TO Cooper
town, Scraggsy," he shouted. "Com'
up an take Il look Mt the fallen"
Out Of the shaft alley came Scragg'
with a rush. tossing his wrench asid,
the better 10 climb the ladder. He wa
half way UP when Mr.. Gibney reached
down a great hand, grasped him b,
the collar, and whisked him out OF
deck with n single jerk. Here, to hi
horror, he found himself confronte,
by a slngularly scathless trio VIII
grinncd tr%iumphantly ut him.
"Seein' Is bclievin'. S%craggs," Da,
Hicks Informed him. That's "A less0
you taught me an Flahcrty last night
but evidently you don't profit by eA
%periencc. You're o miserable I
. beat up, but just to show you II ain
possible for a dirty bay pirate lik
you 10 skin the likes o. me an FIJI
herty we purpose hnngin' the seat
your pants up around your a co
lar. Face him about, Gibney."
With a quick twist, Mr.. Gibney PRE-
p sentcd Captain Scraggs for his pei
ance; Flalicrty and McGuffey followe
: Dan Hicks promptly and Capital
= Scracgs screamed at every kick. An