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

Boilers ana engines in excellent shape.
Vessel must he sold 10 close out an
estate. Address John Coakley, jack
son Street wharf"
How dye know she's fortune.
Gibf' McGuffey demanded. "Lemme
look at her engines before you get
excited"
Il amt saying she IS" Mr.. Gibney
retorted testify. Iemme finish read
In" lie continued:
"REPORTS PASSING DERELICT
THE steam schooner Arethusa,
Grays Harbor to Oakland Long wharf
reports passing u derelict schooner
twenty miles off Point Reyes at six
o'clock last night. The derelict was
down by the head and her rail just
showed above the water. 1t was i'm
possible TO learn her identity.
"The presence Of this derelict in
the steamer lanes TO North Pacific
ports is a distinct menace to naylga-
tion. and it IS probable that "A revenue
cutter viii be dispatched today TO
search for the Cerelict and either tow
her into port or destroy her"
Gentlemen o. the syndicate, them's
the only two items in the shippin'
page that looks likely The question
IS, in which lies our fortune:'
Neils Halvorsen spoke up, giving it
as his opinion that the fortune-tellinG
lady probably knew her business and
that their fortune really lay at sea.
The derelict was at sea. How else,
then. could the prophecy be inter
preted?
"Well. this steamer Victor isn't ex-
actly travelling overland" McGuffey
suggested. He had a secret laundering
10 mess around some real engines
again, and gave II as his opinion that
fortune was more likely TO Turk In n
solid stern-wheel steamer with good
engines and boilers than in Il battered
hulk at sea- Captain Scraggs agreed
with him most heartily and tie vote
resulted, Mr.. Gibney inclining toward
the derelict.
"Whatre we Goln' TO do about It,
Gibf" Captain Scraggs demanded.
"When in doubt, Scraggsy, old tar
pot, always play trumps. In order to
make no mistake. right after break
fast YOU an McGuffey 20 down 10
jackson street wharf an interview
this man Coakley about his steamer
Victor. You been goln' TO sea long
enough 10 know a good hun when you
see II, an If we can't trust Mac 10
know a good set of inner works we'd
better dissolve the syndicate. AS for
me an Neils, wen 20 down to the
Front an charter a tug an chase out
after that there derelict before the
revenue cutter gets her an blows her
out O. the path O commerce with a
stick O. dynamite"
Forthwith Mr. Gibney and Neils,
after snatching hasty breakfast, de-
parted for the waterfront, where they
chartered a tug for three days and
put to sea. At about ten o'clock Cap
tain Scraggs and McGuffey strolled
leisurely down to Jackson street wharf
10 inspect the Victor. BY noon they
had completed most satisfactory in
spectiOn of the steamers hull and
boilers, and bought her In for seven
thousand dollars. Captain Scraggs
was delighted. He said she was worth
ten thousand. Already he had de
cided that heavy and profitable
freights awaited the syndicate along
the Sacramento river, where the farm
ers and orchardists had been for
years the victims Of n monopoly and
gentlemen's agreement between the
two steamboat lines that piled be
tween Sacramento, Stockton and San
Francisco.
On the afternoon OF the third day
Mr.. Gibney and Neils Halvorsen re
turned from sea. They were unutter
ably weary and hollow-eyed for lacl
OF sleep.
"Well, I suppose you two suckers
found that derelict," challenged Nc
Guffey.
"Yep. Found her an got a linz
aboard an towed her in, an IL was
a tough job She's layin' over on IA,
Berkeley tide flats, an at lowtide TO
morrow Wen go over an find on
what we've got Don't even know he
name yet. She's practically sub
merged.
81 think you was awful foolish, Glib
buyln' pig in poke that way.
don't believe in goin' in blind. NJ
an Macs bought a real ship. w
own the Victor"
"rm dead on my feet" growled tn
commodore and jumping into bed h
refused 10 discuss the matter turtle
and was sound asleep in a jiffy.
Mr.. Glbney was up bright and earl
and aroused the syndicate TO action
The tide would be at ITS lowest eb
nj nine thlrty-one and the commodor
figured that his fortune would be ly
ing well exposed on the Berkeley It'd
nsts. He engaged diver and sma!
gasoline launch, and after an earl!
breakfast I'm a chOphOuse on the LIN
barcadero they started for the wreck
They were within half mile Of II
heading right into the eye OF the wind
when Captain Scraggs and Mcclure
-, s-act In tho launch simultaneous