Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-02-01

Mr.. Gibney turned and looked at the
man.
~McCuffey. for a thousandT" he bel
lowed. and ran forward with out
stretched hand. Captain Scraggs was
az Gibney's heels. and between them
they came very nearly dislOcating Bar
tho,omew McGuney's arm.
~McGuffey. my dear boy" said Cap
tain Scraggs. whatever are you
a-doin' On this heather battleshipg'
"Me.- calculated Mr.. McGumey, with
his old-time delIberatiOn. "Why. I'm
the chief engineer OF this craft. had
good job. 200. but I guess it's all or
now. and the Mexican governmental
ire me. Say. who chucked that buck
shot down into my engine roomT'
Admiral Gibney did H." said
Scraggs. "The old Maggie's along
side and me and CHS filibusters. Bear
hand. Mac, and help us clap the
matches on our prisoners"
Thank Cod said Mr.. Gibney pious-
~, Il didn't kin you. Come 10 look
into the matter. didn't Kill anybody.
though / see half a dozen Mexicans
around decks more or less cut Up.
Where you been all these years. Macf"
Il been chief engineer In the Mexi-
can navy" replied McGuffey. "Have
you captured US I'm the name OF the
United States or whatY'
We've captured you In the name Of
Adelbert Z. Gibney," was the reply. Il
. F.r eh nH
my own. and now I've got her. Lord.
Mac. she's a beauty. amt she? All
hardwood finish, teak rail, well found,
and Just the ticket for the island
trade. Well. well. well I'm Captain
GIbney az last"
where do / come in. CHR asked
Captain Scraggs mOdestly.
~welI. seeIn' as the Maggie has two
holes through her hull below the wa
terline. and is generally nlcked TO
pieces. you might quit askin' questions
and get back aboard and put the
pumps on her. You're lucky II she
don't sink on you before we get 20 Des-
canso bay. II she sinks. don't worry.
III give you a job as my first mate.
Mac. you're my engineer. but not at no
fancy Mexican price. Ill pay you The
union scale and not n bla ted cent
more or less. Is that fairT
McGufTey said Il was, and went oe-
low 10 tune up his engine. Mr.. Gibney
took the wheel 81 the gunboat. ana
sent Captain Scraggs back aboard the
Margie. and I'm a few minutes both
vessels were bowling along toward
pescanso bay. They were OF the pay
AZ midnight. and while with Mr.. Glib
new ln command 81 the federal gun
boat Captain Scraggs had nothing 10
fear. the rapid rise Of water In the
hold OF the Maggie was sadly discon-
certing. About daylight he made up
his mind that she would sink within
two hours. and without pausing 10
whine over his predicament' ne
nromptly beached her. She drove far
M the beach, with the slack water
breaking around her Scared sterr., and
when the tide ebbed she lay high and
dry And the rebel soldiers came
trooplng down from the Megano
rancho and falling upon her carcass
ike so many ants. quickly distributed
her cargo amongst them. and disap-
peared.
CAPTAIN Scraggs sent his crew out
aboard the captured gunboat 10 assist
AR. Cibney in rowing his prisoners
ashore. and when finally he stood
alone beside the wreck Of the brave
old Maggie. piled up at last In the port
Of missing ships. something snapped
within his breast and the big tears
rolled In quick succession down MS
sun-tanned cheeks. The old hulk
looked peculiarly pathetic as she lay
there. listed over on her beam ENDS.
She had served him well. but she had
finished her last voyage, and with some
vague idea OF saving her old bones
f-om vandal hands. Captain Scraggs,
sobhing audibly. scattered the contents
% half a dozen cans OF Kerosene over
her decks and In the cabin, lighted
fires IN three different sections OF the
| wreck. and left her TO the consuming
flames. Half an hour later he stood
.n the battered decks OF the gunboat
beside GIbney and McGuffey and
watched the dense clouds OF smoke
that heralded the passing Of the Mag
I Eie.
-She was a good old hulk" said
Mr.. GIbney. "And now, as the spe-
rlaI envoy OF the Liberal army OF Mex
leo here's a draft on Los Angeles for
i've thousand bucks. Scraggsy. when
constitutes the balance due you on
this here hIIbuster trip. or course
/ needn't remind you. Scraggsy. that
,or'5 meyer have earned this money IL
] \, hadn't been for Adelbert 7. Chimney
workin' his Imagination overtime.
I've made you a chunk OF money. and
While couldn't save your ship. did
ssva vour life. As a reward for all
-. .anE.., one cent OF the