The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-04-20

Monday morning he was aware, from
experience, tina: the strike would be
broken by Tuesday at the latest. And
he could afford that delay. He re-
solved, therefore, on diplomacy.
"Well. I'm sorry" he answered with
every appearance Of cOntritiOn. "YOu
fellers got me in the ninehole an !
can't help myself At the same time.
l appreciate fully your pint Of view,
while realiZin' that I can't convince
you O. mine. SO we won't have no
hard feelins Mt partin', boys, an to
show you I'm sport I'll treat to
French dinner an motion picture
show afterward. Further, I shall re-
gard Il refusal Of said invite as a
pers'nal affront."
by golIy, you're gittin' sporty In
your old age" the engineer declared.
"1ll go you, Scraggs. How about you,
Gib?"
81 accept with thanks, Scraggsy, old
tarpot. Personally, l maintain that
seamen should leave their troubles
aboard ship"
"That's the sperrit I appreciate,
boys. Come to the cabin an I'll pay
you off. Then wait coupler min
utes till shift into my glad rags an
away we'll go, like Paddy Ford's goat
ON our own hook
"Old Scraggsy's as cunnin' as pet
fox. amt her. the new navigating OFF,
Ger whispered as Scraggs departed
for his other suit. Hes gOin' to blow
himself on us tonight, thinkin' to soften
our hard resolution. Wen fool him.
Take all he gives US, but stand pat,
Bart"
Bart nodded. His was one of those
sturdy natures that could always be
depended upon to play the game, win,
lose or draw.
., AS Il preliminary move, Captain
Scraggs declared in favor Of couple
Of cocktails to whet their appetites
| for the French dinner, and according
~ the trio repaired to an adjacent
saloon and tucked three each under
their belts-all at Captain Scraggs'
expense. When he proposed fourth,
Mr., Gibney's perfect craftsmanship
caused him to protest, and reluctantly
Captain Scraggs permitted Gibney to
buy. Scraggs decided to have cigar,
however, instead Of another Martini.
The ethics Of the situation then indi-
Gated that McGuffey should "set EN-
up." which he did over Captain
Scraggs' protestant again the wary
Scraggs called for cigar alleging as
an excuse for his weakness that for
years three cocktails before dinner had
been his absolute limit. A fourth cock
tail on an empty stomach, he declared,
would kill the evening for him.
But why descend to sordid and vul-
gar details? Suffice that when the
artful Scraggs, pretending to be over
come by his rotations and very Ill into
the bargain. begged to be delivered
back aboard the Maggie, Messrs. Nc
Gufrey and Gibney loaded him into a
continued their sea-ch for excite
ment. Where and how they found
it requires no elucidatiOn here:
it is sufficient to state that it was ex
persive. for when men Of the Gibney
and McGuffey type have once gotten a
fair start naught but financial dIssolu-
ton can stop them.
On Monday morning, Nlessrs. Glib
ney and Mc('uffey awOke in Scab
Johnny's boarding house. Mr.. Gibney
awoke first, by reason Of the fact that
his stomach hammered Mt the door Of
his soul and badc him be up and do
ing. While his head ached slightly
from the fiery usquebaugh Of the Row
head saloon, he craved Il return to
solid diet, so for several minutes he
lay supine, conjuring in his agile brain
ways and means ht supplying this
need in the absence Of ready cash.
"Ill have to hook my sextant,"
was the conclusion at which lie pres
emily arrived. Ten minutes later he
took his seXtant under his arm and de-
parted for n pawnshop in lower Mar
ket street. From the pawnshOp he re-
turned to Scab Johnny's with eight
dollars in his pocket. routed out the
contrite McGuffey. and carried the Int.
ter Off to ham and eggs.
They felt better after breakfast and
for the space Of an hour lolled at the
table. discussing their adventures OF
the past forty-eight hours. well
there's one thing certain" McCuffey
concluded. AN that thing is sure a
cinch. Our strike has petered out.
Let's mosey along down to the Mag
gie's dock an see how Scragssy's get
tin along"
Forthwith they set out to Interview
Captain Scraggs. The owner of the
Maggie greeted them cheerily, but att
or discussing generalites for half an
hour, Scraggs failed to make over
lures, whereupon Mr.: Gibney an
nounced casually that he guessed he
and Mac would be on their way.
Same here. boys" Captain Scraggs