The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-04-20
for life. Fry my eggs hard, tell

for life. Fry my eggs hard, tell
you"
'"This is piracy, men. It's robbery
on the high seas, an I can put you
over the road for it." Scraggs warned
them. "What's more, I'll do it."
"The eggs, Scraggsy." doomed Mr..
Gibney, "the eggs"
Half an hour later. as the pirates,
replete with provender, sat dangling
their damaged underpinning over the
stern railing where the gentle wave
lets laved and cooled them, Captain
Scraggs, accompanied by the new navi-
eating officer, the new engineer. and
The Squarehead, came aft. The Grip
ples looked up, surveyed their success
sors in office. and found the sight far
from reassuring.
"I've already ordered you two
tramps off'n my Ship" Scraggs began
formally, IAN hereby, in the pres
ence o reliable witnesses, repeats the
invitation. You amt wanted; your
rooms preferred to your comp'ny, an
by stayin' a minute longer, in defiance
O. my orders, you're layin' yourselves
liable to charge o. piracy"
Mr.. Gibney carefully laid his pipe
aside and stood up. He was quite an
imposing spectacle in his bare feet.
with his trousers rolled up to his great
knees, thereby revealing his scarlet
flannel underdrawers. With Il stiied
groan, McGuffey rose and stood beside
lis partner, and Mr.. Gibney spoke:
"Scragys be reasonable. We amt
looEin' for trouble; not because we
don't relish it, for we do where a
couple O scabs is concerned. but for
the simple reason that we amt in the
best O condition to receive it, al
though il you force it on us we'll 10
our best. If you chuck us off the Mag
gle an force us to walk back to San
Francisco, we're gnin' to be reported
as miSSin'. Honest, now, ScrAggSy,
old sile-wintler, you amt goin' to
maroon us here, alone with the vege-
tables, are yOu?"
"You done me dirt. You quit me
cold. Git out. Two can play at a
dirty game an every dog must have
his day. This is my day, Glib. Scat -
"Tcrs'nalIy," McGuffey announced
quietly, II prefer to die aboard the
Maggie, If I have to. This amt mov-
in day with r. McGuffey, Esquire"
"Them's my sentiments, too,
Scragssy."
"Then defend yourselves. Come on,
lads. Bear hand an We'll bounce
these muckers overheard" The
Squarehead hung back, having no in
tention Of waging war upon his late
comrades, hut the engineer and the
new navigating officer stepped briskly
forward, for they were about. to fight
for their jobs. Mr. Gibney halted the
advance by lifting both great hands
in a deprecatory manner.
"Tor heavens sake. Scraggsy. have
heart. Don't FORGE us to murder
you. If we're ,peaceable, what's to
prevent you from giyin' US passage
back to San Francisco, where we're
known an where we'll. have at least
a fightin' chance to git somethin' to
eat occasionally" -,
You know mighty we'll what's to
prevent me, Glib. amt got no pas
senger license, an I'll be keel-hauled
an skull-dragged if fall for your
cute little game, my son. amt layin'
myself liable to fine from the inspec-
tors an maybe have my ticket book
took away to boot"
Enough of this gab," Mr.. Gibney
roared. my patience is exhausted.
I'm dog-tired an I'm goin' to have
peace If have to fight for it. Me an
Bart stays aboard the steamer Maggie
until she gets back to Frisco town or
until we're hove overheard in the in
term by the weight Of numbers. An
If any man, or set O. male bipeds that
calls themselves men, is so foolish as
to try to evict us from this packet,
then all l got to say is that they're
triAin' with death. got my arms left,
even if my feet is on the fritz.
Scraggs," he continued, IAN If you
start anything I'll hug you an your