Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1921-10-20
CHAPTER !.

They had seen the fog rolling down
the coast shortly after the Maggie
had rounded Pilar Point at sunset and
readed north. Captain Scraggs had
been steanboating too many unprofit-
able years on San Francisco hay, the
Suisun and San Pablo sloughs and
dogholes and the Sacramento river to
be deceived as to the character of
that fog. and he remarked as much to
MIR. Glbney. "We'd better turn back
to Halfmoon bay and tie up at the
DOCK" he added.
Calamity howler!" retorted Mr..
Gibney and gave the wheel spoke or
two. aScraggsy, you're enough TO
make a real sailor sick at the
stomach"
'But tell you she's a 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-
ute run--and all along OF blasted
tuie fog
II don't doubt your word a mite.
Scraggsy. l never did see ferry-boat
skipper that knew shucks about
saiiorizing." the imperturhable Gibney
responded. "Me. I'll smell my way
home INF my fule fog
Maybe you can nm maybe you
cant. Glib. although far he II from me
to question your ability. I'll take II
for granted. Nevertheless, 4 amt
a-goin' to run the risk o. you havin'
catarrh o. the nose an confnsin' yotr
smells tonight. You amt got nothin'
at stake hut your job, whereas If ]
lose the Maggie lose my hull for
tune. Bring her about. Glib, an let's
hustle back"
Don't be an old woman" Mr.. Glib
ney pleaded. "Scraggs. you just amt
got enough works inside you to fiji q
wrist watch"
II amt a-goin' to poke around in
the dark an a tule fog, feelin' for
the Golden gate" Captain Scraggs
shrilled peevishly.
Ills bells an panther tracks
I've got my old courses. an If foiler
them we can't help gettin' home
Captain Scraggs laid his hand or
Mr.. Gibney's great arm and tried tc
smile paternally. "Gib. my dear boy
he pleaded, control yourself. DOM
argue with me. Glib. I'm muster here
an you're mate. DO ] make myself
eiear7"
"You do, Scraggsy. But II wonr
avail you nothin'. You're only maste,
becuZ of a gentleman's agreement he
tween US two, an because I'm mar
enough to figger there's certain right!
due you as owner o. the Maggie. Bu
don't you forget TINT accordn' to III,
records o. the Inspectors office. I'm
master of the Maggie. an the way
fgger It, whenever there's any call Il
show little real seamanship. tina
gentieman's agreement don't stand"
.'But this ain't one o. them times
Glib"
You're whlstlin' II u.s. If we rur
from this here fog, It's skiffs to hat
tieships we don't get into San Fran
cisco bay an discharged before 81.
o'clock tomorrow night. BY the tim
we've taken on coal an water ar
what-ail, it'll be eight or nine o'clock
with me an McGuffey entitled I,
mebhe three dollars overtime an
havin' to argue an scrap with you +
git it--not to speak o. havin' to put {,
sea the same night SOS to be back II
Halfmoon bay to load bright an earl.
next mornin'. Scraggsy, amt n
night bird on this rum"
'Do you mean to defy me, 9Th?
Captain Scraggs' little green eye
cleaned baiefuily. Mr.. Chimney locke
down upon him with tolerance. MS
Great Dane gazes upon f0x terrier
II certainly do. Scraggsy. old pepper
/. pot" he replied calmly. "WEat're yo
goin' TO do about itY' The ghost Of
smile lighted his jovial countenance.
ssHothin'-now. I'm helpless" Car
tain Scraggs answered with deadl