Phoenix tribune., 1922-05-13
PRECEDING ISSUE)

ashore for the feast. Mr. Gibney, him
self rather Illuminated by this time,
thought it might not be a bad idea.
'It's a rotten shame, Scraggsy," he
said, ito think of that fool McGuffey
not bein here to enjoy himself I'm
goin' to send a note out by one OF
Tabu-Tabu's boys, askin' him once
more to come ashore. or to let the
first mate and one or two Of the sea-
men come If Mac still refuses to be
civil"
Good idea, Gib," said Captain
en- and yams. So Mr.. Gibney tore
leaf out of his pocket memorandum
book, scrawled a note to McGuffey, and
handed it to Tabu-Tabu, who at once
dispatched a messenger with it to
the Maggie II.
Within half an hour the messenger
returned. He was wildly excited and
poured torrent of native gibberish
into the attentive ears of Tabu-Tabu
and the king. He pointed several
times to the point of his jaw, rubbed
the small of his back, and once he
touched his nose; whereupon Mr.. Glib
ney was aware that the said organ had
a slight list to port, and he so in
formed Captain Scraggs. Neither of
the gentlemen had the slightest trou-
Bile in arriving at the correct solution
of the mystery, The royal messenger
had been incontinently kicked over
board by B. McGuffey, Esquire.
Tabu-Tabu's wild eyes glittered and
grew wilder and wilder as the mes
senger reported the indignity thus
heaped upon him. The king scowled
at Captain Scraggs, and Mr. Gibney
was suddenly aware that goose-flesh
was breaking out on the backs of his
sturdy legs. He had haunting SEN
sation that not only had he crawled
into a hole, but he had pulled the en-
tire aperture In after him. For the
first time he began to fear that he
had been too precipitate, and with the
thought it occurred to the gallant COM
modore that he would be much safer
back on the decks of the Maggie II.
Always crafty and imaginative, how
ever Mr.. Gibney came quickly to the
front with an excuse for getting back
to the ship. He stepped quickly to-
ward the little group around the out |
ragged royal ambassador, and inquired
the cause of the disturbance. Culver
ing with rage, Tabu-Tabu Informed
him of what had occurred
Mr.. Gibney's rage, of course, knew
no bounds. Nevertheless, he did not
have to simulate his rage, for he was
truly furious. When he could control
his emotions, he requested Tabu-Tabu
to inform the king that he, Gibney, ac-
companied by Captain Scraggs, would
forthwith repair to the schooner and
then and there fay the offending Nc
Guffey within an inch of his life Suit
ing the action to the word, Mr.. Gibney
called to Captain Scraggs to follow
him, and started for the beach.
AS Captain Scraggs arose, a trifle
unsteadily, from his seat, black hand
reached around him from the rear and
closed over his mouth. Now, Captain
Scraggs was well versed in the rough
and-tumble tactics of the San Fran
cisco waterfront; hence, when he felt
long pair of arms crossing over his
neck from the rear, he merely stopped
and whirled his opponent over his
head. In that instant his mouth was
free, and clear above the shouting and
the tumult rose his frenzied shrek for
help. Mr.. Gibney whirled with the
speed and agility of panther just in
time to dodge blow from war club
His fist collided with the jaw of Tabu-
Tabu, and down went that savage as
if pole-aXed.
Pandemonium broke loose at once.
Captain Scraggs, after his single shrek
for help, broke from the circle of saw
ages and fed like a frightened rabbit
for the beach. One Of the natives
hurled rock at him. The missile took
Scraggs in the back of the head, and
he'instantly curled up in heap.
"Scraggsy's dead" thought the hor-
rifed Gibney, and sprang at the king.
In that moment it came to Mr.. Gibney
to sell out dearly, and if he could dis
pose Of the king, he felt that Scraggs'
death would be avenged In an instant
the commOdore's great arms had
closed around the king, and with the
helpless monarch in his grizzly bear
grip Mr.. Gibney backed up against the
nearest bungalow. A fringe of spears
threatened him in front, but for the
moment he was safe behind, and the
kings body protected him. Whenever
one of the savages made jab at Mr..
Gibney, Mr.. Gibney gave the king a
boa-constrictor squeeze, and the mon-
arch howled.
'Ill- squeeze him to DEATH" painted
Mr.. Gibney to Tabu-Tabu when that
individual had managed to pick him
self up. ''Let me go, or I'll kill your
king"
The answer was an earthenware pot
which crashed down on Mr.. Gibney's
head from window in the bungalow
behind him. He sagged forward and
fell on his face with the gasping king
in his arms.