Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-02-16


scrap OF advice, and went oversize in
10 the small boat which was to take
them ashore. IL was solemn parting
and Mr.. Gibney and McGuffey were
snuflling audibly.
The next day. as the Hilonian
steamed out OF the harbor, bearing tho
syndicate back TO San Francisco. they
looked across at the little Maggie III
for the last time, and observed that
the mate was on deck, experimenting
three Kanaka sailors who were hoist
ing supplies aboard from bumboat.
Commodore Gibney babe his first
command n misty farewell.
"Good-by, little ship" he yelled and
waved his hand. "Gawd. You was
a witch In light wind"
Seven days after leaving Honolulu.
the Hilonian steamed into San Fran
walt until she had tied up at her dock,
and the minute the steamer had passed
quarantine Mr.. Gibney hailed pass
ing launch. Bag and baggage the
happy quartette descended TO the
launch and landed at Melggs wharf.
Mr.. Gibney stepped into the wharfin-
gers Office and requested permission
TO use the telephone.
whats up, Gib?' demanded Cap
tain Scraggs.
IL want TO phone for automobile
TO come down an snake us up town
| w.. 70 al ~
10 come rampin' home 10 Gawd's coun-
try lookln' like lot o. Eyetalian ped
dlers. We're goIn' TO the best hotel
an we're goin in style"
With the assistance of the whariin-
ger an automobile was summoned, and
in due course the members of the syn
dictate found themselves ensconced in
fashionable suite in San Franciscos
most fashionable hotel. Mr.. Gibney
stored the syndlcate's pearls In the ho-
tel safe, deposited an emergency roll
with the hotel clerk, and banked the
balance of the company funds In the
names Of all four; after which the syn
dlcate gave itself up TO n period Of
| JOY unconfned.
At the end OF a week Of riot and
revelry Mr.. Gibney revived sufficiently
10 muster all hands and lead them 10
Turkish bath. Two days in the bath
restored them wonderfully, and when
| the worthy commodore eventually got
| them back TO the hotel he announced
, that henceforth the lid was on-and
on tight. Captain Scraggs, who was
hard to manage in his cups and the
most prodigal OF prodigals with steam
up to certain pressure, demurred at
! this.
"No more sky-larkin', Seraggsy, you
old cut-up," Mr. Gibney ordered. Eve
had our good time comm after all
! that we've been through, but it's time
/ 20 get down TO business agin. Riches
has wings. Scraggsy. old salamander,
an even If we are ashore. I'm still the
commodore. Now. set around an well
! hold a meetin'."
He hanged the chiffonier with his
! great fist. "Meetin' o. the Maggie syn
| dlcate." he announced. "Meetinll
come 10 order. The first business be-
fore the meetin' is call for volun-
teers to furnish a money-makin' idee
for the syndicate"
Neils Halvorsen shook his sorrel
head He had no ideas. B. McGuffey,
Esquire, shook his head also. Captain
Scraggs wanted TO sing.
81 see it's up 10 me TO suggest some
thin" Mr. Gibney smiled benignly. as
If money-making idea was the easiest
thing on earth to produce. "The last
thing ] remember before we went 70
that Turkish bath was us four vlsitin
n fortune teller an havin' our fortunes
told, past, present an future, for a
dollar a throw. Anybody here remem'
Der what his fortune was?"
1t appeared that no one remembered
not even Mr.. Glbney. He therefore
continued:
THE chair will app'int Mr.. McGuf
fey an himself n committee o two
10 walt on one O. these here clairvoy
ants and have their fortunes told
| agin."
McGuffey, who was as superstitious
as negro, seconded the motion heart
ily and the committee forthwith sal
lied forth to consult the clairvoyant
Within the hour they returned.
members o. the syndicate" the com
inodore announced, "we got an idea
Not heluva good one, but fair tC
middlin. Me an Mac calls on this
Madame de Whst-you-may-c an
the minute she gets lamp at my mi
CT Is worthy OF remark here that Mr.
Gibney had a starfish tattooed on the
back OF his left hand, full-rigged shiI
across his breast, and gorgeous pic
ture OF lady climbing ladder
adorned the inner side OF his brawny
| right forearm. The feet OF the lady
In question hung down below the fring'
Of Mr.. Gibney's short sleeye) she 60
up an says: My friend, you're max
in a grave mistake remainin' ashore
Your fortune lies at sea-. Then sh'
threw a fit an mumbled somethin,
about llght-haired man that wa
goln' TO cross my path. I guess sh'
must have meant Scraggsy or Neils
both bein' blondes-an' she come on
4 ~ ~ ell 1T ~