Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-01-20
CHAPTER XIV-Continued.


"Ry the tail a the Great Sacred
Bull" chartered ScraggS. CHS right
McGuGcy was plainly disappointed.
81 hadn't thought o that at all Glib.
been cherlshin' the thought O. lalnmin'
the whey out'n that mate, but If you
say so I'll give up the idee. But If
hrinyin' the Maggie II into home wa
tiers Is inyitln' death, what In blue
blazes're we goin' to do with herT'
Mr.. Gihney smiled-an arch, cunning
smile. wen give her to that muir
derin' mate, free gratis"
Captain Scraggs bounded out of his
chair, struck the hot deck with his
bare feet, cursed. and hoped back
into the chair again. McGutrey stared
incrcdulously. "Gib, my dear boy"
%quavercd Scraggs, "say that agin."
yes" continued the commodore
placidly, wen just get shct o her
pcaCeable like by givin' her to this
mate, Don't forget, ScrNggsy, old tar
pot. that this mates been passin' him.
self off for you in Honolulu, an If
there's ever nm investigation, the trail
leads TO the Maggie II. This mates
admitted being Captain Scraggs, an If
he's found with the schooner in his
possession it'll take n heap o evidence
for him TO prove thnt he amt Captain
Scraggs. Wen just keep this here mate
In the brig while we're ~dlsposlng OF
our black coral, pearl, shell and copra
In Honolulu, an then, when we've
cleaned up, an got our passages
booked for San Francisco
hut who says we're goin' back to
San Franciscan cut in McGuffey.
"Why, where else would men with
money In their pockets head for, you
~Oll-soakcd piece Of ignorance? Amt
you had enough adventure to do you n
spellf" demanded Captain Scraggs.
"Me an CHS for goin' back to San
Francisco, so shut up. II you got any
objection, you're outvoted two to n
In the syndicate"
McGurey subsidized, growing, and
Mr.. Glbney continued.
when were ready to leave Homo
lulu, wen bring this mate on deck,
make him a kind Christian talk nm
Give him the Maggie II with the com
pliments o the syndicate, He'll think
our sufIerin's OF that island has
touched us with religion an he'll be so
tickled he'll keep his mouth shut.
Then. with all three of us safe an out
o the mess, an the evidence Off u
hands. werl clear out for Gawd's coun-
try an look around for some sort of a
profitable investment"
The commodore sighed. "She's a
10 give up the only command I've ever
had. hut the fact Is, Mac, her posses
sion by us Is dangerous, nm 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 amt no real financial loss II we
give her TO this mate. He'd be glad to
yet her II she had yellow Jack aboard,
nm II he's caught with her he'll have
20 do the e%xplainin'. When you're
caught with the goods in your posses
sion. Mac, II makes the %explainin' all
the harder, Resides, we're three to
one, an II II m to n showdown
later we can OutSwear the mate
Captain ScrNrgs picked his snagCle
teeth with the little blade OF his jack
knife and Cogitated a minute.
"Well," he announced presently, "far
be II from me 10 fly in the face O. n
felon'S death. I've made n heap O.
money, ~follerin' Gins advice. an bust
my hoh.Stay If | don't stay put on this.
9Th. It's your lead"
"Wcll. III follow suit. CHS got NIL
the trumpS," acQuieSCed the engineer,
1--WE got plenty o. dough nm no board
bills comm due. SO Wen loaf along.
shore until Glib digs up somethin
good"
"IIow about Ncils?' Quer'ed Captain
ScragcS. "no we continue to let that
eX-deckhand In on our %fortunpS?'
ar NeilS llalvorscn had asked yor
that question when he comc To rcScut
you the day you lay a-dyin' q thirst
on that desert island, wouldn't yol
have said yeSF"
Sure pop
"Then don't ask no questions that,
unworthy Of yOu," said Mr.. Gihney So
verely. ~ don't want to see none q
them green.pca trade ethics croppin
up In you, ScraCgsy, II It wasn't 20.
that Swedc the sea-gullS'd be pickin
our bones now. Neils H~arvorsen Is in
cludcd in this syndicate for good"
"Amen." This from the honest Ne
GuTey.
"Meetin's adjourned" said Captain
Scraggs lcily.
Under the direction Of the craft!
commodore, the valuable cargo of tn,
Maggie II was disposed Of in Homo
lulu. During the period while thI
schooner lay M the dock discharging
Captain Scraggs and McGufTey pru
IDENTITY remained IN the cabin with tn,
perfd'ous mate. In order that. Shout,
an investigate or be undertaken late
by the Treasury department. no rlaI