The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-04-13

engines and boilers than IN n battered
hulk at sea. Captain Scraggs agreed
with him most heartily and tie vote
resulted, Mr.. Gibney inclining toward
the derelict.
"Whntre we goin' TO do about II.
Glb7" Captain Scraggs demanded.
"when In doubt. Scrnggsy. old tar
pot, always play trumps. In order to
make no mistake, right after break
fnst you an McGuffey 20 down TO
Jackson street wharf an interview
this man Coakley about his steamer
Victor. You been goln' 10 sea long
enough to know good hull when you
see It, an II we can't trust Mac to
know a good set of inner works we'd
better dissolve the syndicate. AS for
me an Neils. wen go down to the
Front an charter tug an chase out
after that there derelict before the
revenue cutter gets her an blowr her
out o. the path o. commerce with Q
stick o. dynamite"
Forthwith Mr.. Gibney and Neils,
after snatching n hasty breakfast, de-
parted for the waterfront. where they
chartered tug for three days and
put TO sea. At about ten o'clock Cap
tain Scraggs and McGuffey strolled
lelsurc.v down to jackson street wharf
to inspect the Victor. BY noon they
had completed most satisfactory in-
spection of the steamers hull and
boilers. and bought her In FOX seven
thousand dollars. Captain Scraggs
wns delighted. He said she wns worth
ten thousand. Already he had de-
cided that heavy and profitable
freights awaited the syndicate along
the Sacramento river, where tho farm
ers and orchardists had been for
years the victims of monopoly and
a gentlemen'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 fro sea. They were unutter-
ably weary and hollow-eyed for lack
of sleep.
swell. l suppose you two suckers
found that derelict," challenged Nc
Guffey.
"Yep. Found her an got line
aboard an towed her In, an II was
a tough Job. She's layin' over on the
Berkeley tide flats, an at lowtide to-
morrow wen go over an find out
what we've got. Don't even know her
name yet. She's practically sub
merged"
~ think you was awful foolish. Glib.
buyin' n pig In poke that way. I
don't believe in goln In blind. Me
an Macs bought 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 WIS sound asleep In jiffy.
Mr.. Gibney was up bright and early
and aroused the syndicate to action
The tide would be Mt Its lowest ebb
Mt nine thirty-one and the commodore
figured that his fortune would be ly.
Ing well exposed on the Berkeley tide
flats. He engaged diver and small
gasoline launch, and after an early
breakfast In chophouse on the En-
They were within half mile of II.
heading right into the eye OF the wind.
when Captain Scraggs and McGnffey
stood erect In the launch simultaneous
ly and shifted like pair of-well,
sea dogs.
Dead whale" suggested McGuffey.
81 hope 1t amt GIBBS fcrtune." re-
piled Scraggs drily.
"Shut up" beloved Mr.. Glbney. He
was smiling himself by this time. for
as the launch swiftly approached the
derelict the unpleasant odor became
more pronounced.
"Betcher that schooner was In col
Ilsion with n steamer" Captain
Scraggs announced. "She was cut
down right through the fo'castle with
the watch below sound asleep. an
this here fragrance appeals TO me as
a sure sign OF job for the coroner"
Mr.. Gibney's eyes flashed. but he
made no reply. They had rounded the
schooner's stern now, and her name
was visible.
schooner Kadak. Seattle" read
| 'CluBBS. Niu ihitt otithti
thousand years old an cut clear
through just abaft the foremast. Nc.
Guffey, you don't s'pose this here's a
pirate craft an just bulgln' with gold
"Sure." retorted the engineer with
slow wink, tainted wealth."
Mr.. Gibney could stand their hack.
ling no longer. "Looky here. you two.'
: he bawled out angriy. Il got hunch
I picked up lemon. but I'm a-willin
to tackle the deal with Nells II you
two think l didn't do tight by the
syndicate a-runnln' up a bill Of ex'
pense TOWN. this craft into port.
amt goin' TO stand for no kiddin'
even IL we are In hve-hundred-dollal
towage bill. Man Is human an bound
to make mistakes"
Don't kid the commodore. Scraggsy
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