The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-04-20

The pirates once more sat uONu iuu
J permitted their hot feet to loll over
board.
About ten o'clock next morning the
little vessel completed taking on her
cargo. the lines were cast off, and the
homeward Voyage was begun. Messrs.
Gibney and McGuffey were seated on
the stern bits as the Maggie came
abreast the Point Montara fog signal
station. when Mr. Gibney observed a
long telescope poking out the side VIM
dow Of the pilot house, and following
! the direction in which the telescope
was pointing he made out large bark
standing in dangerously close to the
beach. In fact, the breakers were tum-
bling in a. long white streak over the
reefs less than quarter of mile
| from her.
In an instant all was excitement
aboard the Maggie. 'That looks like
! an elegant little pickup. She's plumb
deserted" ScEaggs shouted to his navi-
; eating officer II don't see any distress
signals flynn an yet she's got an
| anchor out while her canvas is hangin'
| $780,"
IF she had any hands aboard, you'd
think they'd have sense enough to
clew up her courses" the mate an
| swered.
At this juncture, Mr.. Gibney and
| McGuffey, unable to restrain their Gu
riosity, and forgetful Of the fact that
they were pirates with very sore feet,
came running over the deckload and
invaded the pilot house. Gimme that
glass, you sock-eyed salmon, you." Glib
ney ordered Scraggs, and tore the tele-
scope from the owners hands.
| "Hum-ln-m! American bark Chesa-
| peake. Starboard anchor out: yards
braced a-box; royal an to'-ga1lan'-s'ls
| clewed up; courses hangin in the
buntlines an clew garnets, Stars-an'-
Stripes upside down."
He lowered the glass and reared at
| Neils HalvOrsen, who was Mt the
wheel, "Starboard your helm, Square
| head. Don't be afraid of her. We're
! coin' over there am hook on to her.
should say she is pick-up!"
! rate and assumed command of the S.
S, Maggie. With the memory Of a
scant breakfast upon him, however,
| Captain Scraggs was still harsh and
! bitter.
"Git out o. my pilot house an aft
where the police can find you when
! they come lookin' for you," he
screeched. Don't you give no orders
to my deckhand."
"Stow it, you ass. YOnder's prize,
but it'll require imagination to win it
consequently you need Adelbert P.
Gibney in your business, If you're con-
templatin' hookin' on to that bark,
snakin' her into San Francisco bay, an
libelin' her for ten thousand dollars
! salvage. You an Mac an The Square
head here have sailed this strip O
! coast too long together to quarrel over
the first good piece O. salvage we ever
run into Come, Scraggsy. Be decent,
forget the past, an let's dig in to-
| gether."
The new navigating officer drew
Captain Scraggs aside and whispered
in his ear: make it up with these
Smart Alexis, Scraggs. They got it on
us, but if we can send you an Hal
vorsen, McGuffey and Gibney over
to the bark, you can get some sail on
her an what with the wind helpin'
us along, the Maggie can tow her all
right"
To- +, h0 h0n0fl1J
cunning, look that leaped to Scraggs'
eyes that the problem was. about to be
solved without recourse to the Gibney
imagination. so he resolved to be alert
and not permit himself to be caught
out on the end of limb. "Well,
Scraggsy?" he demanded.
II guess I need you in my business,
Glib. You're right an I'm always
wrong. It's a fact. I amt got no
more imagination than chicken"
spoken like mani do not think.
Scraggs. for once in my life 1 have
YOU where the hair is short. I'm
wil!in' to dig in an help out in
pinch, but it's gettin' so me an Mac
can't trust you no more. We're that
leery Of you we won't take your word
for nothin', since you fooled him on
the new boiler an me on the paint;
consequently, we're Off you an this
salvage job unless you give us clear
ance, in writin', Stain that we are
not an never was pirates, that we're
good. law-abidin' citizens an aboard
the Maggie as your guests. takin' the
trip at our own risk When you sign
such paper, with your crew for wit
nesses, I'll demonstrate how that bark
can be salvaged. My imagination's
bettern my reputation, Scraggsy, an
l amt workin' It for nothin'!"
"Gib, my dear boy: You're the most
sensitive man I ever sailed with.
Can't you take little joke?'
"Sure. I can take a little joke. It's
the big ones that stick in my craw
an stife my friendship. Gimme
fountain pen an a leaf out o the
log book an I'll draw up the affydavit
for your signature"
Scraggs complied precipitately with
this request, whereupon Mr.: Gibney