The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-01-12

The towboat men held council OF
war and decided TO drown Scraggs out.
Dan Hicks ran up on deck and re
turned dragging the deck fire hose be-
hind him. lie thrust the brass nozzle
into the shaft-alley entrance and IN
vItcd Scrnggs TO surrender uncondl-
tlonally or be drowned like kitten.
Scraggs. knowing his own fire hose
deiied them. so Dan Hicks started the
pump while Flaherty turned on the |
water. Instantly the hose burst up on |
deck and Scraggs' jeers OF triumph |
filed the engine room. The enemy
was about to draw lots TO see which
one Of the two should crawl Into the
shaft alley and throw cupful OF
chloride OF lime (for they found can
OF this In the engine room) In Captain
Scraggs' face, when shadow dark
ened the hatch and Mr.. bartholomew
McGuffey demanded belligerently:
whats goln' on down there1 Who
the devils takin' liberties In my en-
gine room7"
Dan Hicks explained the situation
and the Just cause for drastic action
which they held against the fugitive
In the shaft alley. Mr.. McGuffey con
sidered a few moments and made his
| decision.
| 'If what you say is true-an' / ain't
In position to dispute you, not havln'
been present when you hauled the
Maggie of the beach, l don't blame
| fas n In
you for. though. Is carryin' the war
aboard the Maggie. II you wanted to
whale Glib an Scraggsy you should ha'
laid for 'em on the dock. Under the
circumstances. you make this per-
s'nai affair, an as member o the
crew o the Maggie I got to take n
hand an defend my skipper agln youse
two. Fact is, gentlemen, ! got a date
to lick him first for what he done to
me last night Howsumever. that's a
private crouch. The fact remains that
you two jumped my pal Bert Glbney
an licked him somethn' scandalous.
Hicks, I'll take you on first. Come up
out of there. you swab. and fight. Fla
herty, you stay below until ] send for
you; II you try to climb up an horn In
on rly fight with Hicks. Gibney'n brain
you"
A faint cheer came from the shaft
alley. GOOD old Mac. At-a-boy"
you're on, McGuffey. Nobody ever
had TO beg me TO fight him." Dan
Hicks replied cordially, and climbed
TO the deck. To his great surprise,
Mr.. McGuffey winked at him and drew
him OF to the stern Of the Maggie.
"Therell be no fight" he declared
although wen thud around on deck
an yell a couple o. times to make
Scraggs think we're goin' to 1t. He
iiggers that by the time I've fought
you an Flaherty l won't be fit fol
combat with him, even II lick you
both; he's got II all fggered out that
I'll wait couple o. days before
tacklin' him, an he thinks my tenn
peru cool by that time an he car
argy me out O. my revenge. Saveyf"
''I twig."
Mr.. Gibney had returned to the
Maggie by this time and he now tool
his station Mt the engine-room hatcl
and growled at Flaherty and abused
him. "Keep up your courage
Scraggsy." he called. as Hicks and Nc
Guffey pranced around the deck II
simulated combat. "Mac's whalin' th'
whey out o. Hicks an Hicks couldn'
touch him with buggy whip"
At the conclusion of the three min
, utes of horse-play. Mr.. McGuffey CAM
TO the hatch again. "Up with you
Flaherty," he called loud enough 70
, Captain Scraggs to hear. "up with yo'
, before l go down after you"
Flaherty was about to possess him
, self of hatchet when the face of h,
. confrere. Dan Hicks, appeared owe
. | McGuffey's shoulder and CRIME
4 knowingly at him. Immediately, Fla
D herty hurled defiance at his enemie
5 and came up on decS, and once NOR
\ TO Captain Scraggs came the du
:. sounds of apparent conflict overhead.
/. Suddenly cheer broke from Nj
o Gibney. "All Off an gone to Cooper
!. town. Scraggsy," he shouted. Com
n up an take look at the fallen"
4 Out OF the shaft alley came Scragg
: with a rush. tossing his wrench asid
: the better to climb the ladder. He wa
e half way up when Mr.. Glbney reache
down a great hand, grasped him b
a the collar, and whisked him out o
e deck with single jerk. Here, to HI
e horror he found himself confronte
Y by singularly scathless trio wh
e grinned triumphantly at him.
d "Seein' is believin', Scraggs," Da
2. Hicks Informed him. "That's lessO
y you taught me an Flaherty last nigh
" but evidently you don't profit by e,
l. perienee. You're too miserable
E. beat up, but just TO show yod II ain
e possible for dirty bay pirate III
n YOU to skin the likes o. me an FL,
'r herty we purpose hangin' the seat
a your pants up around your coat CO
a. lar. Face him about. Gibney."
IL g.t