Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-02-23

hand 10 heaven. I'm through for
keeps. Wen sell the pearls today.
diyvy up, an dissolve. I'm through"
"Gad OF IT," growled McGuffey.
IL don't want no more o that Goldfish,
an rs soon as we git iightin room III
prove TO you that no near-sailor can
insult me an cit away with ii. Me
an Scraggsy's got some rights. You
can walk on Scraggsy, Glib, but 1t
takes a man TO walk on the McGuffey
family"
Nothing but the lack Of searoom
prevented battle royal. Mr.. Gibney
stood glarlng M his late partners. His
great ham-llke fists We're opening and
closing automatically.
you're right, Mac" lie said pres
emily. endeayoring TO control his an
ger and chagrin. well settle this
later. Take that helmet off the diver
an let's hear what he's got TO report"
With the helmet removed the diver
spoke:
"As near as I can make out, boss,
there amt a thing o value in this
hulk but couple o hundred tons o
Goldfish. She was cut I'm two just ford
o. the bulkhead an her anchors car
ried away on the section that was cut
off. She amt worth the cost o. town
her in on the flats
80 that Goldfish has some value"
sneered Captain Scraggs
"Great grief, Scraggsyl Don't tell
me it's spilled" cried McGuffey, simu-
lating horror.
mo, not quite. Mac, not quite. Just
slightly. l s'pose Gib'll tack a sign
to the stub o the main mast: Slight
ly spoiled Goldfish for sale. Apply 10
A. Z. Gibney. on the premises. Spe-
cial rates on Friday"
Mr.. bney qulvered but made no
reply. He carefully examined that
portion of the derelct above water and
discovered that by an additional ex-
pendlture of about fifty dollars he
might recover an equal amount in
brass fittings. The Kadiaks house
was gone and her decks completely
Quilted. Nothing remained but the am
putated 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 off the
launch man and the diver and ac-
companicd by his associates repaired
10 a prominent jewelers. shop with
the pearls they had accumulated In
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 1t had not been alb
solutely necessary.
"Put a beggar on horseback an
! he'll ride TO the devil" he said. "When
you two swabs was poor you was con-
| tent TO let me lead you into fortune
| but now that you're well-heeled, you
/ think you're business men. All right
I amt got word 10 say except this:
/ Before l get through with you two
beachcombers I'll have all your money
and you'll be asbeggin' me for job.
/ apologize for soakin' you two with
that diseased Goldfish, an for old sake's
sake we won't fight. We're still
friends, but business associates no
longer, for I'm too big figger in this
syndicate to stand for any criticism
on my handlin' o. the joint finances.
Hereafter, Scraggsy, old kiddo, you
an Mac can go 1t alone with your
sternwheel steamer. Me an The
Squarehead legs It together an takes
our chances You don't hear that poor
untootered Swede maxim no holler at
the way I've handled the syndicate"
"But, Glib, my dear boy" chattered
Captain Scraggs, twill you just listen
10 re"
Enough Too much is plenty.
Let's shake hands an part friends
We just can't get along in business
together, that's ALL"
"Well, I'm sorry Glib" mumbled Nc
Guffey, very much crestfallen, but
then you hove that dog gone fish at
me an"
"That was fortune hittin' You a
belt in the face, Mac, an you was toe
elf-conceited to recognize x. Remem
Der that, both OF you two. Fortune
hit you in the face today an 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 Neis Halvorsen. The mo
ment the door closed behind then
Scraggs turned TO the engineer.
MAC" he said earnestly, "Gib's VI
to somethin'. He's got that magma
ton o. his workin'. can tell it every
time; he gets foggy look in his eyes
We made n mistake kiddin' him today
GIBBS a sensitive boy some ways an
reckon we hurt his feelins withou
intendin' it,"
; "He thrun a dead Goldfish at me.
protested McGuffey. 81 love old Gil
like a brother, but that's carryin
things with a mighty high hand"
"Well, I'll apologize TO him." de
clared Captain Scraggs and starte'
for the door to follow Mr.. Gibney
McGuffey barred his way.