The Red Cloud chief., 1922-02-16

had monkey wrench I'm one hand and
q greasy rag In the other.
Mr.. Glbney turned and looked at the
nan.
"McGuffey, for q thousand |" he bel
lowed, and ran forward with out
stretched hand. Captain Scraggs was
at Gibney's heels, and between them
they came very nearly dislocating Bar.
tholomew NcGuffey's arm.
"McGufrey, my dear boy" said Cap
tain Scfaggs. "Whatever are you
a-doin' on this heather battleship7"
"Iiei" calculated Mfr. 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 of
now, and the Mexican governmental
fire me. Say. who chucked that buck
xhot down into my engine roOmf
admiral Glbney did It," said
Scraggs. "The old Maggie's along
side and me and Gib's flibusters. Bear
a hand. Mac. and help us clap the
matches on our prisoners"
"Thank God" said Mr.. Gibney piOus.
ly, ~ didn't kill you. Come to look
into the matter. didn't kill anybody,
though I see half dozen Mexicans
around decks more or less cut up.
Where you been all these years. Mac"
II been chief engineer In the Mexl-
can navy" replied McGuffey. "Have
you captured us In the name OF the
United States or whatT'
We've captured you In the name of
Adelbert z. Gibney," was the reply. Il
been huntin' all my life for ship Of
my own. and now I've got her. Lord,
| Mac, she's q beauty, amt she? All
| hardwood finish, teak rail, well found,
and Just the ticket for the island
| trade. Well, well, well I'm Captain
II Gibney ut last"
II "Where do I come In. Gib?" asked
II Captain Scraggs modestly.
II "Well, seeln' as the Maggie has tv0
II holes through her hull below the wa
terllne, and is generally nicked to
III pieces, you might quit askin' questions
II aud get back aboard and put the
II pumps on her. You're lucky II she
H don't sink on you before we get to Des-
III canso bay. If she sinks, don't worry
II I'll give you job as my first mate
Mac, you're my engineer, but not at nc
II fancy Mexican price. I'll pay you inc
II union scale and not a blasted cent
more or less. Is that fairW
II McGufrey said 1t was, and went be
II low to tune up his engine. Mr.. GiDhe!
II took the wheel of the gunboat, an,
sent Captain Scraggs back aboard I'M
II Maggie, and In few minutes boti
II vessels were bowling along towart
II Dcscanso bay. They were of the ba,
II ut midnight, and while with MIR, GID
| ney In command of the federal gun
| boat Captain Scraggs had nothing t'
| fear, the rapid rise of water In th'
hold of the Maggie was sadly discon
| certing. About daylight he made III
his mind that she would sink within
two hours, and without pausing 4
whine over his predicament, IN
promptly beached her. She drove ia
| up the beach, with the slack wate
| breaking around her Scared stern, ant
II when the tide ebbed she lay high ant
II dry. And the rebel soldiers cam
IL trooping down from the Megan
II rancho and falling upon her carcas
II like so many ants, quickly distribute
II her cargo amongst them, and disaI
ii pearcd.
X Captain Scraggs sent his crew ou
aboard the captured gunbOat to assis
Mr.. Gibney in rowing his prisoner
ashore, and when finally he stoo
ne alone beside the wreck Of the brav
at old Maggie, piled up at last In the pol
10 Of missing ships. something snappe
rs within his breast and the big tear
OF rolled In quick succession down hi
rs sun-tanned cheeks. The old hui
ne looked peculiarly pathetic as she la
re. there, listed over on her beam end
al She had served him well, but she ha
hd finished her last voyage, and with som
10 vague idea Of saving her old bone
ed from vandal hands, Captain Scragg
as sobbing audibly, scattered the content
en- Of half dozen cans Of kerosene ovt
Dr. her decks and In the cabin, lighte
'se fires In three different sections of Il
wreck, and left her to the consumir
ne flames. Half an hour later he stoC
ne on the battered decks Of the gunbo'
MS beside Gibney and McGuffey ar
watched the dense clouds of smol
that heralded the passing OF the Ma
'o' gle.
"She was good old hulk" sa
ID Mr.. Gibney. "And now, as the sp
ne clal envoy of the Liberal army of Me
the leo, here's a draft on Los Angeles Z
rds five thousand bucks, Scraggsy, whi
In constitutes the balance due you
an. this here filibuster trip. or cours
II l needn't remind you, Scraggsy, tn
tile you'd never have earned this money
Ike 1t hadn't been for Adelbert =. Gibn
out workin' his imagination overtin
our I've made you a chunk Of money, al
ne while couldn't save your ship, d
save your life. AS reward for
ain this, l don't claim one cent of I
and money due you, as could IL I want
,gie to be rotten mean. I'm gOin' to Ike
ant this fine little power schooner for I