Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-02-02

swered. Hicks and Fluherty hltched
forward in their chairs to listen.
"HellO. Yes, Red STACK oil'ce
Steamer Yankee Prince.
Whats that? silk and rice?
Half a mile below the Clih house
Eh? Sure. I'll send tug right
away, Lindstrom."
TIernan hung up and faced the TWO
skIppers. "Gentlemen." he announced,
'here's q chance for little salvage
money tonight. The American steam
er Yankee Prince Is ashore half
mile below the Cliff house. She's
big tramp with valuable cargo from
Hong Kong. with the rudder gone anu
her crank shaft busted
"Its high water at twelve thirty
seven," Jack Flaherty pleaded. "foud
better send me, Tiernan. The Bodega
has more power than the Aphrodite.
This was the truth and Dan Hicks
knew 1t. but he was not to be beaten
out of his share Of the salvage by
such fiimsy argument Jack" ne
pleaded, "dOn't be hog all the time.
The Yankee Prince Is an eight thou
sand-ton vessel and It's two-tug job.
Better send us both, Tlernan, and play
safe. Chances are our competitors
have three tugs on the way right
now"
What q wonderful Imagination you
have, Dan. Eight thousand tons!
You're crazy, man. She's thirteen
hundred net register and know 1t be-
cause l was In Newport News when
they launched her. and went out with
her skipper on the trial trip. She's
long, narrow-gutted craft. with en-
gines aft. like lake steamer"
well play safe" Tiernun decided.
best man win. She'll belong to you.
Jack. If she's thirteen hundred net and
you get your line aboard first. If she's
US big rs Dan says she is, you'll be
equal partners"
But he was talking to himself.
Down the docks Hicks and Flnherty
were racing for the respective COM
mands. each shouting to his night
watchman to pipe all hands on deck.
Fortunately. n goodly head of steam
was up I'm each tugs boilers; because
of the fog and the liability to COLL
sions and consequent hasty summons,
one engineer on each tug was on duty.
Out through the Gate they nOsed
their way. henving the lead cOntlnu-
ously, made wide dctour around Mile
rock and the Seal rocks, swung n
mile to the south Of the position Of
the Maggie, and then came cautiously
up the coast. whistllng continuously
to acquaint the Yankee Prince with
their presence In the neighbOrhOOd.
In anticipation Of the necessity for
replying to this welcome sound. Cap
tain Scraggs and Mr. Glbney had. for
the past two hours. busted themselves
getting up another head Of steam in
the Maggie's boilers, repairing the
whistle and splicing the wires OF the
engine room telegraph. Like the wise
men they were. however, they declined
to sound the Maggie's siren until the
tugs We're quite close. Even then, Mr..
Gi5ney shuddered, but needs must
when the devil drives. so he pulled
the whistle cord and was rewarded
with weird. mournfM grunt, dying
| away Into gasp.
Sounds like she has the pip" Jack
Faherty remarked to his mate.
Must have taken on some Of that
dirty Asiatic water" Dan Hicks solilo-
Qu!zed, "and now her tubes have gone
to glory"
Immediately both tugs kicked ahead
under dead slow bell, guided by n
series of toots as brief us Mr.. Gibney
could make them, and presently both
tug loOkouts reported breakers dead
ahead.
Dan Hicks sent man forward to
| heave the lead under the nose Of the
Aphrodite. which was edging In GIN
gerly toward the voice. He had a
searchlight. but he did not attempt
to use 1t, knowing full well that in
such n fog 1t would be of no avail.
Guided, therefore, by the bellowings
Of Mr.. Gibney. reinforced by the shrill
yips Of Captain Scraggs. the tug crept
In closer and closer. and when 1t
seemed that they must be within n
hundred feet of the surf, Dan Hicks
trained his Lyle gun In the direction
Of Mr.. Glbney's voice and shot a heav-
ing line into the fog.
Almost simultaneous with the report
of the gun came q shrek of pain from
Captain Scraggs. Straight and true
the wet. heavy knOtted end Of the
heaving line came In over the Maggie's
quarter md struck him In the mouth.
In the darkness he staggered back
from the singing blow, clutched wild.
ly at the air, slipped and rolled over
among the vegetables with the pre-.
cious rope clasped to his breast.
II got It," he sputtered, II got it
Glib"
Safe, o." Mr.. Gibney bawled. "Pay
out your hawser."
They met 1t at the taffrail as 1,
came up out of the breakers, wet but
welcome. "Pass 1t around the main.
mast, Scraggy," Mr.. Gibney cautioned