The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-04-18
CONTINUED from last issue)
CHAPTER ".

BoLega slept late, for they were
weary and, fortunately, no calls for
a tug came into the Office of the Red
Stuck company all morning. About
ten o'clock Dan Hicks and jack Fla
hcrty breakfasted and about ten-thr-
ty both met in the office. Apparently
they were two souls with but Il single
thought, for the right hand Of each
sought the shelf whereOn reposed the
blue volume entitled "Lloyd's Regis
ter" Dan Hicks reached it first, car
ried it to the counter, wet his tarry
index finger and started turning the
pages in vain search for the Aneri-
can steamer Yankee Prince. Presently
he looked up at Jack Tlaherty.
'F1aherty," he said, II think you're
n liar"
''1he same to you and many Of
them" Flaherty replied, not hit
nbasued. "You snid she was an eight
thousaDd-ton tramp" ! .4
II never went so far as to say I'd
been aboard her on trial trip. though
AND did cnt down her tonnage. show
in I got the fragments of Il con-
science left" Hicks defended himself.
He closed the book with sigh and
placed it back on the shelf, just as
tho door opened to admit no less
perennngs than Bartholomew McGuf-
fe;. !a:s chief engineer, first assist
ant. second assistant. third assistant,
wiper. o;;or. water-tender and stoker
Of the s. S. Maggie. With brief nod
to Jack Fiaherty Mr.. McGuffey ap-
preached Dan Hicks.
II been lookin' for you, captain" he
announced. "Say, hear the chief O.
the Aphrodite's goin' to take a three
months :ayotY to get shet Of his rheu-
matisn. Is that straight"
II believe 1t Is. McGufrey."
"Well, say, I'd like to have a chance
to substituot for him. You know my
capabilities, Hicks. an If it would be
agreeable 20 you to have me for your
chief yonr recommendation would go
n long way toward landin me the job.
I'd sure make them engines behave"
"Whnt vessel have you been on late
ly?" Hicks demanded cautiously. for
he knew Mr.. McGuffey's reputation for
non-reliability around pay day.
II been with that freshwater scaven-
ger, Scraggs, in the Maggie for most
year."
did you quit or did Scraggs fire
you?'
ale fired me-" McGufey replied
honestly. III he hadn't I'd have quit,
so It's toss-up. Comm in from
Halfmoon hay last night we got In the
fog an piled up on the beach just
below the Cliff house."
This is interesting" Jack Flaherty
murmured. "You say she walked
ashore on you, McGuffey? Well. I'll
be shot!"
"She did Scraggs blamed 1t on me-
Flaherty. He said I didn't obey the
signals from the bridge, one word led
to another. an he went dancin' mad
an ordered me off his ship. Well, it's
his ship-or it was his ship, for I'll
bet n dollar she's ground to powder
by now--so all l could do was obey.
I hoped overheard an waded ashore.
I suppose all my clothes an things is
gone bynow. I left everything aboard
an had to borrow this outfit from
Scab Johnny He grtnned pathetical-
ly. Sol guess you understand, Cap
tain Hicks. Just how bad 7 need that
Job I spoke about a minute ago"
"I'll think 1t over, Mac, an let you
know" Hicks replied evasively.
Mr.. McGuffey, sensing his defeat.
retired forthwith to hide his embar-
.rassment and distress; as the door
closed behind him, Hicks and Flahcrty
faced each other.
"Jack," quoth Dan Hicks. 'cnn two
towboat men. holdin' down two hun
dred-dollar jobs an presumed to have
been out o their Swaddlin' clothes for
at least thirty years, afford to be
laughed Off the San Francisco water
'front:"
II know one Of them that can't,
..... +, 49, ..arr