Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-03-30

greasy rag In the other.
Mr.. Gibney turned and looked at thu
man.
"McGuffey, for a thousand" he bel
lowed, and ran forward with out
stretched hand. Captain Scraggs was
at Gibney's heels, and between then
they came very nearly dislOcating Bar
thoiOmew McGuffey's arm.
"McGuffey. my dear boy" said Cap
tain Scraggs "Whatever are yor
a-doin' on this heathen battleship7' ,
"NIe!" calculated Mr.. McGuffey, with
his old-time deliberation. "Why, I'm
the chief engineer of this craft. had
a good job. too, but guess it's all on
now, and the Mexican governmental
fire me. Say, who chucked that buck.
shot down into my engine room?'
admiral GIbney did It," said
Scraggs. 1.-THE old Maggie's along
side and me asd Gibbs fil!busters. Bear
hand. Mac. and help us clap the
matches on our prisoners"
"Thank God" said Mr.. Gibney pious-
ly, II didn't kill you. Come to Look
into the matter, l didn't kill anybody,
though l see half dozen Mexicans
around decks more or less cut up.
Where yOu been all these years. MncT'
81 been chief engineer In the Mexl-
can navy" replied McGuffey. Have
you captured us in the name Of the
United States or what?"
"We've captured you In the name OF
Adelbert r. Gibney," was the reply. Il
been huntin' all my life for II ship of
my own, and now I've got her. Lord.
Mac, she's beauty, amt she? All
hardwood finish, teak rail, well found,
and just the ticket for the island
trade. Well, well, well! I'm Captain
Gibney ut last"
"Where do l come In, Gib!' asked
Captain Scraggs mOtlestly.
"Well. seem rs the Maggie hns two
holes through her hull below the wn-
terlIne, and is generally nicked to
pieces. YOU might quit nskin' questions
and get back aboard and put the
pumps on her. You're lucky II she
don't sink on you before we get to Des-
canso bay. If she sinks. don't worry.
I'll give you job rs Ihy first mate.
Mac, you're my engineer, but not at no
fancy Mexican price. I'll pay you the
union scale and not blasted cent
more or less. Is that fnir?'
McGuffey said 1t was. and went he
low to tune up his engine. Mr.. Gibney
took the wheel of the gunboat. and
sent Captain Scraggs back aboard the
Maggie, and In few minutes both
vessels were bowling along toward
Descanso bay. They were OF the bay
ut midnight, and while with Mr.. Glib
ney In command Of the federal gun
boat Captain Scraggs Ind nothing to
fear, the rapid rise of water In the
hold OF the Maggie was sadly discOn.
certing, About daylight he made up
his mind that SIZE would sink within
two hours, anl without pausing to
whine over his predicament, he
promptly bea,.ned her. She drove far
up the beach, with the slack water
breaking around her Scared stern, and
when the t:de ebbed she lay high and
dry. AEd the rebel soldiers came
troopiag down from the Megano
rancho MD falling upon her carcass
like so many ants. quickly distrIbutelyl
her cargo amongst them, and disap-
peared.
Captain Scraggs sent his crew out
aboard the captured gunboat to assist
Mr.. Gihncy in rowing his prisoners
ashore. and when finally he stood
alone beside the wreck OF the brave
old Maggie piled up atlast in the port
Of missing ships, something snapped
withiL as breast and the big tears
rofied in quick succession down his
sun tanned cheeks. The old hulk
looked peculiarly pathetic us she 10y
there. listed over on her beam ends.
She Ind served him well, but she had
finished her last voyage, and with some
vague idea of saving her old bones
from randall hands, Cnptain' Scrnggs.
sObhlng audibly, scattered the contents
Of half dozen cans of kerosene over
her decks and In the cabin, lighted
fires In three different sections Of the
wreck. and left her to the consuming
flames. Half an hour later he stood
nn the battered decks Of the gunboat
beside Glbney and McGuffey and
N"tNbVA lhS NShSC CiOuuS VI SihonG
that heralded the passing Of the Mug
gle.
"She was good old hulk" said
Mr.. Gtbney. "And now, as the spe-
cial envoy Of the Liberal army of Mex
leo, heee's n draft on Los Angeles for
five thousand bucks, Scraggsy. which
constitutes the balance due you on
this here filibuster trip. OF course,
l needn't remind you, Scraggsy, that
you'd never have earned this money II
1t hadn't been for Adelbert P. Gibney
workin' his Imagination overtime.
I've nnde you chunk Of money, and
while couldn't save your ship. did
save your life. AS reward for all
this, don't claim one cent Of the
money due you, as could II wanted
to he rotten mean. I'm goin' to keep
this fine little power schooner for my
share Of the loot. She's nicked up
some, but that only bears evidence ia
what bully good shot am, and II
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