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

after that there derellct BEFORE the
revenue cutter gets her an blows her
out o. the path o commerce with &
stick o. dynamite"
Forthwith Mr.. Gibney and Neils,
after snatching a 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
to inspect the Victor. BY OOn they
had completed a most satisfactory in
spectlon 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 a monopoly and
a g%entlemen'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 lack
Of sleep.
"Well, l suppose you two suckers
found that derelict," challenged Nc
Guffey.
"Yep. Found her an got a line
aboard an tOwed her in, an 1t was
a tough job. She's layin' over on the
Berkeley tide flats, an at lOwtide to-
morrow Wen 60 owe an find out
what we've got. Don't even know her
name yet. She's practically sub
merged
81 think you was awful foolish, Glib,
buyin' a pig in a poke that way. l
don't believe in goin' In blind. Me
an Macs bought a real ship. We
own the Victor"
"Tm dead on my feet" growled the
commodore, and jumping into bed he
refused to discuss the matter further
and was sound asleep in a jify.
Mr.. Gibney was up bright and early
and aroused the syndicate to action.
The tide would be at its lowest ebb
at nine thirty-one and the commodore
figured that his fortune would be ly-
ing we'll exposed on the Berkeley tide
fats. He engaged a diver and a small
gasoline launch, and after an early
breakfast in a chOphOuse on the EN-
barcadero they started for the wreck.
They were within half a mile Of 1t,
heading right into the eye Of the wind,
when Captain Scraggs and McGuffey
stood erect In the launch simultaneous
ly and shifted like a pair of-well,
sea dogs.
dead whale" suggested McGuffey'
II hope it amt GIBBS fortune re-
piled Scraggs drily.
Shut up" beloved Mr.. Gibney. He
was shifting himself by this time, for
as the launch swiftly approached the
derelict the unpleasant odOr became
more pronounced. ATnA
"Betcher that schooner va in col,
lision with a steamer" Captain
Scraggs announced. "She was cut
down right through the f0'castle witt
the watch below sound asleep, an
this here fragrance appeals to M as
a sure sign of a job for the coroner.
Mr.. Gibney's eyes flashed, but HI
made no reply. They had rounded thu
s%chooner's stern now, and her name
was visible.
Schooner Kadiak, Seattle" read
Scraggs. Little old three sticker
thousand years old an cut cleaI
through Just abaft the foremost. Nc
Guffey, you don't s'pose this here's
pirate craft an just bulgin' with gold.
Sure" retorted the engineer witt
a slow wink, tainted wealth."
Mr.. Gibney could stand their hack
ling no longer. "Looky here, you two,
he bawled out angrily. II got a huncl
l picked up a lemon, but I'm a-willir
to tackle the deal with Neils If yO
two think l didn't do right by tn
syndicate %a-runnin' up a bill Of e1
pense town this craft into port.
amt goin' to stand for no kiddin
even if we are In a five-hundred-dolla
; towage bill. Man is human an boun
to make mistakes"
: Don't kid the commodore, Scraggs!
I This aromer O. roses Is mOre'n
strong man can stand, so cut out tn
inShn