Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-01-05


and just the ticket for the island
trade Well, well. well I'm Captain
Gibney at last"
"Where DO l come In, Gib?' asked
Captain Scraggs modestly.
"Well. seem as the Maggie has two
hofes through her hull below the wa
terline, and is generally nicked 10
pieces, you might quit askin' questions
and get back aboard and put the
pumps on her. You're lucky IL she
don't sink on YOU before we get to Des-
canso bay. IL she sinks, don't worry.
I'll give you job as my first mate.
Mac, you're my engineer, but not at no
fancy Mexican price. I'll pay you the
union scale and not blasted cent
more or less. Is that fair:'
McGuffey said 1t was, and went be-
low 10 tune up his engine. Mr.. Gibney
took the wheel of the gunboat, ana
sent CAPTAIN Scraggs back aboard the
Maggie, and in a few minutes both
vessels were bowling along toward
Descanso bay. They were of the bay
mt midnight. and while with Mr.. Glib
new I'm command Of the federal gun
boat Captain Scraggs had nothing 10
fear, the rapid rise Of water in the
hold OF the Maggie WAS sadly ciscon-
certing. About daylight he made up
his mind that she would sink within
two hours. and without pausing TO
whine over his predlcanent, he
promptly beached her. She drove far
up the beach. with the slack water
breaking around her scared stern, ana
when the tide ebbed she lay high anu
dry. And the rebel soldiers came
trooping down from the Megano
rancho and falling upon her carcass
like so many ants, quickly distributed
her cargo amongst them, and disap-
peared.
Captain Scraggs sent his crew out
aboard the captured gunboat TO assist
Mr.. Gibney in rowing his prisoners
ashore, and when finally he stood
alone beside the wreck OF the brave
old Maggie, piled up ar last In the port
Of missing ships. something snapped
within his breast and the big tears
rolled In quick succession down his
sun-tanned cheeks. The old hulk
looked peculiarly pathetic as she lay
there. listed over on her beam ends.
She had served him we'll, but she had
finished her last voyage, and with some
vague idea OF saving her old bones
from vapdal hands, Captain Seraggs,
sobblng audibly, scattered the contents
OF half a dozen cans OF kerosene over
her decks and In the cabin, lighted
fires in three different sections Of the
wreck, and left her to the consuming
flames. Half an hour later he stood
on the battered decks of the gunboat
beside Gibney and McGuffey and
watched the dense clouds Of smoke
that heraIded the passing of the Mag
gle.
"She was a good old hulk" said
Mr.. Gibney. "And now, as the spe-
cial envoy of the Liberal army OF Mex
leo, here's q draft on Los Angeles for
five thousand bucks. Scraggsy, which
constitutes the balance due you on
this here flibuster trip. OF course.
/ needn't remind you, Scraggsy, that
you'd never have earned this money II
it hadn't been for Adelbert p. Gibney
workin' his Imagination overtime.
I've made you chunk OF money, and
while couldn't save your ship, ! did
save your life. AS reward for all
this. don't claim one cent of the
money due you, as / could II l waited
to be rotten mean. I'm goin' TO keep
this fine little power schooner for my
share OF the loot. She's a.cked up
some, but that only bears evidence 10
what bully good shot ] am, and it
won't take much TO fix her up all ship
shape again. Usin' high bursts
shrapnel amt very destructive. All
them bumps an scratches can be
planed down. But well have 20 do
some mendin' on her canvas-lIl tell
the world. She's called the Reina
Maria, but I'm going 10 run her 10
Panama and change her name. She'll
be known as Maggie II, out OF re-
spect for the old girl that's burnIn'
up there on the beach"
Captain Scraggs was so touched at
this delicate little tribute that lie
turned away and burst into tears.
Jaw. shut up, Scraggsy, old hunks"
said McGuffey consolingly. you
amt got nothin' 20 cry about. You're
rich man. Look Mt me. | aln't
a-bawlin'. am !? Aud / don't get so
much as bean out Of this mix-up,
all on account Of me bein' tied up
with lot OF hounds that quits fight
In before they're half licked"
That's So" said Captain Scraggs.
wiping his eyes with his grimy fists.
IL declare you're out In the cold, Nc
Guffey, and II Amt right. Glib. my
boy, US three has had some stirrin'
times together and we've had our diff
ferenccs, but l amt a-goin' to think
OF them past griefs. The sight o you,
sin yle-handed, meetin' and annihilatln'
the pride of the Mexican navy. calm
IN tn moment o. despair, generous In
Yictory and delicate as blazes to
fallen shiprlate, goln' to Cork an
namia' yJur vessel after him that way,
Is somethin' that wipes away all sor-
rer and YIELDS friendship that's