Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-12-21

Half an hour later, as the pirates.
replete with provender, sat dangling
their damaged UNDERMINING over the
stern railing where the gentle wave
lets laved and cooled them. Captain
Scraggs, accompanied by the new nayi-
eating officer, the new engineer, and
The Squarehead, came aft. The Grip
Piles looked up, surveyed their success
sors In Office. and found the sight far
from reassuring.
1--WE already ordered you two
tramps off'n my ship" Scraggs began
formally, IAN hereby. in the pres
ence o. reliable Witnesses. repeats the
invitation. You amt wanted; your
rooms preferred 10 your comp'ny. an
by stayin' a minute longer, in defiance
o. my orders, you're layin' yourselves
liable 10 a charge o. piracy"
Mr.. Gibney carefully laid his pipe
aside and stood up. He was quite an
imposing spectacle In his bare feet.
with his trousers rolled up 20 his great
knees, thereby revealing his scarlet
flannel underdrawers. With a stified
groan. McGuffey rose and stood beside
his partner, and Mr.. Gibney spoke:
"Scraggs. be reasonable. We amt
lookin' for trouble; not because We
don't relish II, for we do where a
couple o. scabs is concerned, but for
the simple reason that we amt In the
best o. condition 10 receive II, al
though II you force IL on us Wen do
our best. II you chuck us or the Mag
gle an force us TO walk back to San
Francisco. we're goin' to be reported
as missin'. Honest, now, Scraggsy,
old side-winder. you amt goin' 20
maroon us here, alone with the vege-
tables, are your"
"You done me dirt. You quit me
cold. Git out. Two can play at a
dirty game an every dog must have
his day. This Is my day. Glib. Scat!"
Personally" McGuffey announced
quietly. 81 prefer 10 die aboard the
Maggie, IL I have TO. This amt NOV
in day with b. McGufey. Esquire"
"Them's my sentiments. too,
Scraggsy."
"Then defend yourselves. Come on,
lads. Bear hand an Wen bounce
these muckers overheard" The
Squarehecd hung back. having no in
tention OF waging war upon his late
comrades. but the engineer and the
new navigating officer stepped briskly
forward. for they were about TO fight
for their Jobs Mr.. Gi5ney halted the
advance by lifting both great hands
in n deprecatory manner.
"For heavens sake, Scraggxy. have
heart. Don't force us TO murder
you. II we're peaceable. what's to
prevent you from gIvin' us a passage
back TO San Francisco, where we're
known an where Wen have at least
fghtin' chance to git somethin' TO
eat OCCASIONALLY
"You know mighty well what's TO
prevent me, Glib. 1 amt got no pas
senger license, an I'll be keel-hauled
an skull-dragged II fall for your
cute little game, my son. amt layin'
myself liable 10 a fine from the inspec-
tors an maybe have my ticket book
took away 20 boot"
Enough Of this gab." Mr.. Glbney
roared. my patience is exhausted.
I'm dog-tIred an I'm gOin' to have
peace IL / have to fight for IL Me an
Bart stays aboard the steamer Maggie
until she gets back TO Frisco town or
until we're hove overheard in the In
term by the weight OF numbers. An
II any man, or set o. male bipeds that
calls themselves men, is so foolish as
to try to evict US from this packet,
then all 1 got to say Is that they're
trifiin' with death. ! got my arms left,
even II my feet Is on the fritz,
Scraggs." he continued, IAN IL you
start anything I'll hug you an your
crew 10 death. I'm a rip-roarin' griz-
zly bear once I'm started an there's
such a thing as drivin' a man to des-
peration."
The bluff workedl Captain Scraggs
turned 10 his retainers and with a
condescendIng and paternal smile,
said: Boys let's give the dumb
fools their own way. II they insist
upon takin' forcible possession o. my
shin on the high seas, there's only one
name for the crime-an' that's piracy,
punishable by hangin' from the yard
arm. Wen Just let 'em stay aboard
an turn 'em over 10 the police when
we git back TO the city"
He started for his cabin and the
crew. vastly relieved, followed him.
The pirates once more sat down and
permitted their hot feet 10 Toll over
board.
About ten O'Clock next morning the
little vessel completed taking on her
cargo. the lines were cast OF, and the
homeward voyage was begun. Messrs.
GIbney and McGuffey were seated on
the stern bits as the Maggie came
abreast the Point Montara fog signal
station. when Mr.. Gibney observed a
long telescope poking out the side win
dow Of the pilot house. and following
the direction In which the telescope
was pointing he made out large bark
standing In dangerously close to the