Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-05-11

"yom do what Glib says" McGuffey
ordered thieateningly. Remember. l
got 5 half interest In any judgment ne
gifts agin us-nn' what's more l op-
ject to them Goldfish clutterin' up my
half interest"
"You bullied me on the old Maggie,
Scraggs screeched, "but l won't Dc
bullied no more. II you want to low
that barge, Mac, you buy me out. lock,
stock and barrel. An the price Tor
nv half interest Is five thousand dol
lars"
you've sold something, Scraggsy,
Mr.. McGuffey flashed back at him,
obeying a wink from Mr.. Gibney. An
here's a hundred dollars to bind the
bargain. Balance on delivery Of proper
bill-o'-sale."
While Scraggs was counting the
money Mr.. Gibney was writing re-
ceipt in his note book. Scraggs. still
furious, signed the receipt.
"Now, then. Scraggsy," said Mr.. Glib
ney affably. "hustle up to the custom
house. get formal bill-o'-sale blank,
fill her In, an hustle back agin for
your check. An see to 1t you don't
change your mind, because 1t won't do
you any good. II you don't come
through now can sue you an force
you to-
"Oh! So you're buyin' my interest.
eh?"
"Well, I'm lendin' Mac the money,
| an got a hunch he'll sell the interest
to me an NeIls without figgerin' on a
profit. You're jarrin' note In the
syndicate, Scraggsy, an I've come to
that time O. life where I want pence.
An there won't be no peace on the
Victor unless I skipper her."
Captain Scraggs departed to draw
up the formal bill of sale and Mr.. Glib
ney. drawing The Squarehead and Nc
Guffey to him. favored each with a
searching glance and said:
Gentlemen, did 1t ever occur to yOu
that there's money in the chicken
business?"
1t had! Both McGuffey and Neils
admitted 1t. There are few men In
this world who have not, ut some
period OF their lives. held the same
view. albeit the ma ajority Of those who
have endeavored to demonstrate that
fact have subsequently changed their
minds.
II thought as much," the commo.
dore grinncd. "If was to let you two
out O my sight for day you'd both
be fiat busted the day after. So we
won't buy no farm an go In for chick.
ems. Well sell the Victor an buy a
little tradin' schooner. Then we'll &c
back to the South seas an earn a
legitimate lIvin'."
But why'll we sell the victor?" Nc
Guffey demanded. "Gib, she's a love
Of boat"
Because I've just had talk with
the owners o. the two opposition lines
an they. knowin' me to be chummy
with YOU an Scraggsy, give me the tip
to tell you two that you could have
your choice O. two propositions-a
rate war or a sale o. the Victor for
ten thousand dollars. That gets you
out clean an saves your original capt.
tai. an 1t gifts Scraggsy out the same
way, while nettin' me an Neils five
hundred each"
"A rate war would ruin u.s." Nc
Guffey agreed. "In addition to sourin'
Scraggsy's disposition until he
wouldn't be fit to live with. Glib, you're
| a wonder"
II know It," Mr. Gibney replied.
Within two hours Captain Scraggs'
half interest had passed into the hands
Of McGuffey. and half nn hour later
the Victor had passed into the hands
Of the opposition lines, to be operated
for the joint profit of the latter. Later
In the day all four members of the
syndicate met In the Bowhead saloon,
where Mr.. Gibney explained the deal
to Captain Scraggs. The latter was
dumfounded.
you'll run without me, Glib"
Scraggs declared emphatically. 1--WE
had a-plenty O. the dark blue for mine.
I got little stake now, so I'm going
to look around an invest in a"
"A chicken ranch." McGuffey inter-
rupted.
"Right-O. Bart. How'd you guess
itT
imagination" quoth McGufrey, tap
ping his forehead, "imagination,
Scraggsy"
Three weeks later Mr.. Gibney had
purchased, for account Of his now ab-
breviated syndicate. the kind Of pow
er schooner he desired. and the in.
spectors gave him a ticket as master.
With The Squarehead as mate and
Mr.. McGuffey as engineer and general
utility man, the little schooner cleared
for Pago Pago on day when Captain
Scraggs was too busy buying incuba.
tors to come down to the dock and see
them off,
And for aught the chronicler of this
tale knows to the contrary. the syndi.
cate may be sailing In that self-same
schooner to this very day.
1.-THE END.1
Must Live and Learn.