Williams news., 1922-06-16
CHAPTER xIv-continued.

CHAPTER xlV-Continued.
 it,
 By the tall O the Great Sacred BuQ," chattered Scraggs. ''Gib's right
 ncGuffey was plainly disappointed "T hadn't thought O that at all Glib. ] been eherfshin' the thought O. lammin' che whey outn that mate. but if you say so I'll give up the idee. But if brfngin' the Maggie II into home wa ters is invitin' death. what in blue biazes're we goin' to do with herr"
 Mir. Gibney smiled-an arch. cunning smile. "WerI give her to that mur- -derfn' mate. free gratis.''
 Captain Scraggs bounded out of his chair. struck the hot deck with his bare feet. cursed. and hopped back into the chair again. IcGuffey stared fncredu!ously. "Gib, my dear boy" quavered Scraggs. "say that agin."
 "Yes.- continued the commodore pIacicuy. "weII just get shet O her peaceable like by givin' her to this mafe.- Don't forget, Scraggsy, old tar pot, that this mates been passin' hiln- self off for you in Honolulu, an If there's ever an Investigation. the trail leads to the Maggie II. This r,ates admitted being Captain Scraggs, an if f1e's found wirh the schooner in his d for him to prove that he ain't Captain Scraggs. We'll just keep this here mate tin the brig while we're dfsposing of our black coral, pearl, shell and coprs fin Honolulu. an then. when we've cleaned up. an got our passages booked for San fFrancisco-r
 "BIet who says we're goin' back to San Francfsco?" cut in McGuffey.
 "Why. where else would men with money in their pockets head for you off-soaked piece of ignorance? Amt you had enough adventure to do you a speiig demanded Captain Scraggs. "sfe an Gib's for goin' back to San Francisco. so shut Hp- If you got any objection. you're outvoted two to one fin the syndfcate."
 NrGahey subsided, growing, and Air Gfbney continued:
 .-Nhen we're ready to leave Homo 1pIu. we'll bring this mate on deck, make him a kind Christian talk an' give him the Maggie II with the com ,plfments O the syndicate. He'll think our suffertn's on that island has us with religion an he'll be so .tickied he'll keep his mouth shut Then. with aii three of us safe an out -o' the mess. an the evidence off our hands. we'll clear out for Gawd's coun- try an look around for some sort of a profitable investment.''
 The commodore sighed. "She's a love of a boat an 1t breaks my heart to give up the only command I've ever had. but the fact is, Mac, her posses sion by us is dangerous, an we don't need her. an we can't sell her because her records got blurs on it. We can't convey a clean an satisfactory title. Anyhow. she didn't cost us a cent an there afn't no real financial loss if we give her to this mate. He'd be glad to get her If she had yellow jack aboard, an if he's caught with her he'll have to do the ekplainin When you're caught with the goods in your posses sion. Mac. 1t makes the explainfn' all the harder. Besides, we're three to one, an If 1t comes to a showdown later we can outswear the mate.''
 Captain Seraggs picked his snaggle teeth with the little blade of his jack. knife and cogitated minute.
 "Weu." be announced presently, "fur be 1t from, ne~to fly in. the face O a felon's death. I've made a heap O money. follerin'. .Gib's advice, an bust t' my bob-stay if don't stay put on this. Gin it's your lead" -- s-.- I
 T S Hi the trurnps," acquiesced the engineer we got plenty O dough an no board bills confn' due, SO we'll loaf along shore until Glb- digs up. somethin' gocd."
 How about Neils?' queried Captain Ecraggs. "Do we continue to let that ex-deckhand in on our fortunes?'
 eff Neils Halvorsen had asked you shat question when he come to rescue you the day you lay a-dyin' O. thirst on that desert island. wouldn't you have said yes?"
 "Sure pop"
 linen don't ask no questions that's unworthy of you," said Mir Gibney se- vereiy. sT don't want to see none O them green-pea trade ethics croppin' up In you. Scraggsy. If 1t wasn't for that Swede the sea-gulls'd be pfckin' eur bones now. Neils Harvorsen Is in- Iefuded in this syndicate for good"
 .Amen." This from the honest Me auffey.
 "Afeetfn's adjourned" said Captain 9craggs jelly.
 Under the direction of the crafty commodore, the valuable cargo of the Maggie II was disposed of in Homo lulu. During the period while the schooner Fay at the dock dischargfng, Captain scraggs and McGuffey pru- AooSIv rornafDod inc cabip with bo