The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-04-15

"It's all my fault runnin' by dead
reckonin'." the honest Gibney pro-
tested. "Mac amt to fault. The en-
CINE room telegraph busted an he got
the wrong signal"
"It's his business to see to it that
he's got an engine room telegraph that
won't bust"
"You dog" McGuffey roared and
sprang at the skipper, who leaped
nimbly up the little ladder to the top
of the pilot house and stood prepared
to kick Mr.. McGuffey in the face
should that worthy venture up after
him. II can't persuade you to git me
nothin' that ought to have. I'm tired
workin' with junk an scraps an cop
per wire and pieces O string. I'm
throughv'
You're right-yol're through, be-
cause you're fired!" Scraggs shrieked
in insane rage. Get off my ship, you
maritime impostor, or I'll take pistol
to you. Overheard with you. you
greasy, Anticipated bounder! You're
rotten, understand? Rotten! Rotten!
Rotten!
"You owe me eight dollars an six
bits, Scraggs," Mr.. McGufrey reminded
his owner calmly. "Chuck down the
spondulicks an III get Off your ship"
Captain Scraggs was beyond reason,
so ne tossed the money down to the
engineer. "Now git," he commanded.
Without further ado, Mr.. McGuffey
started across the decklOad to the
focastle head. Scraggs could not see
him but he could hear him-so he
pelted the engineer with potatoes, cab
bage heads and onions, the vegetables
descending about the honest McGuffey
In n veritable barrage. Even in the
darkness several Of these missiles took
effect.
Upon reaching the very apex Of the
Maggie's bow, Mr.. McGuffey turned
and hurled n promise into the dark
! ness: "If we ever meet again,
Scraggs, I'll make Mrs. Scraggs wild
ow. Paste that in your hat-when
you get new one"
The Maggie was resting easily on
the beach, with the broken water from
the long lazy cOmbers surging well
IN above her water line. At most,
| six feet of water awaited the engineer,
who stood, pecring shOreward and lis
tening intently, oblivious to the stray
missiles which whiZZed past. Present
ly, from out of the fog, he heard a
grinding, metallic sound and through
a sudden rift in the fog caught a
brief glimpse Of blue flame with sparks
radiating family from it.
That settled matters for BartholO-
new McGuffey. The metallic sound
was the protest from the wheels Of a
Cliff house trolley car rounding a
curve; the blue flame was an electric
manifestation due to the intermittent
contact of her trolley with the wire,
wet with fog. McGuffey knew the
exact position of the Maggie now. so
he poised moment on her bow; as
a wave swept past him, he lenped
overheard, scrambled ashore, made
MS way up tne DeaCn 10 tie great
highway which TANKS the shore line
between the Cllff house and 1ngleside,
sought roadhouse, and warmed his
| interior with four fingers Of whisky
neat. Then, feeling quite content with
himself, even in his wet garments, he
boarded q city-bound trolley car and
departed for tho warmth and hospital
ity of Scabe Johnny's sailor boarding
house in Oregon street.
Captain Scraggs sat down on the
half-emptied crate of vegetables and
! commenced to weep hitterly-half be-
cause of rage and half because he re-
gartled himself pauper. Already
he had vision Of himself securing
the waterfront in search of job.
mo use boohooin' over split milk,
Scraggsy." Always philosophical, the
| author Of the owners woe sought to
carry the disaster Off lightly. Don't
| add your salt tears to saltier sea
until ytu're certain you're total loss
an no insurance. got you into this