The daily Alaskan., 1922-01-17

stock and barrel. An the price for my half interest is five thousand dol lars"
 'You've sold something, Scraggsy," Mir. McGufTey flashed back at him, obeying wink from Mir. GIbney. An here's a hundred dollars to bind the bargain. Balance on delivery Of proper bill-o'-sale."
 While Scraggs was counting the money Mir. Glbney was writing re- ceipt in his note book. Scraggs, still furious, signed the receipt
 Now, then, Scraggsy," said Mir. GIb. ney affahly. hustle up to the custom house, get a formal biIl-o'-sale blank, fill her in, an hustle back agin for your check. An see to It you don't change your mind, because It won't do you any good. If you don't come through now I can sue you an force you to-"
 "Ohl So you're buyin' my interest, ehT'
 "Wen, I'm lendln' Mac the money, an I got hunch he'll sell the interest to me an Neils without fggerln' on a profit. You're a jarrin' note In the syndicate, SCraggsy, an I've come to that time O life where I want peace. An there won't be no peace on the Victor unless I skipper her.
 Captain Scraggs departed to draw up the formal bill of sale and MT. Glb- ney, drawing The Squarehead and Me Gufrey to him, favored each with a searching glance and said:
 "Gentlemen, did 1t ever occur to you that there's money in the chicken buslnessT'
 It had Both McGuffey and Neils admitted 1t. There are few men in this world who have not at some period of their lives. held the same view. albeit the majority of those who have endeavOred to demonstrate that fact have subsequently changed their minds.
 q thought as much," the commo- dore grinned. "If was to let you two out O my sight for a day you'd both be fiat busted the day after. So we won't buy no farm an go In for chick ems. We'll sell the Victor an buy a little tradin' schooner. Then we'll go back to the South seas an earn a legitimate Twin"
 But whyN we sell the VictorT Me Gufrey demanded. "Gib, she's love of a boat"
 Because I've just had talk with the owners O the two opposition lines an they, knowin' me to be chummy with you an Scraggsy, give me the tip to tell you two that you could have your choice O two propOSitions-S rate war or a sale O the Victor for ten thousand dollars. That gets you out clean an saves your original capi- tai, an it gifts SCraggsy out the same way. while nettln' me an Neils five hundred each"
 "A rate war would ruin us" Me Guffey agreed. "In addition to sourin' ScrugCsy's disposition until he wouldn't he fit to live with. Gib, you're a wonder"
 "I know It." Mir. Gihney replied.
 Within two hours Captain ScraCgs' half interest had passed into the hands of McGuffey. and half an hour later the Victor had passed into thc hands of the opposition lines, to be operated for the joint profit of the latter. Later in the day all four members Of the syndicate met in the Bowhc#5 saloon, where Mir GIbney explained the deal to Captain ScraggS. The latter was dumfounded
 "Youm run without me, Gib," Scraggs declared emphatically i've had a-pIenty O the dark blue for mine. got a little stake now. so I'm going to look around an invest In a-'
 "A chicken ranch" McGuney inter rupted
 "Right-O, Bart How'd you guess Tt?"
 "Imagination," quoth McGuffey, tap ping his forehead. "imaginat!oE' SCragCsy."
 Three weeks later Mir. Glbney had purchased. for account of his now ab- brevIated syndicate, the kind of pow CT schooner he desired and the in- spectors gave him ticket as master. With The SQuarehead as mate and Mir McGuffey as engineer and general utility man. the little schooner cleared for Pago Pago on a day when Captain Scraggs was too busy buying incuba- tors to come down to the dock and see them of.
 And for aught the Chronicler of this rale knows to the contrary, the syndi- cate may be sailing in that self-same schooner to this very day.
 THE END.l