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

"
"The same to you and many of
them" Flaherty replied. not bit
nbashcd. "You said she was an eight
thousnnd.ton tramp"
IL never went 80 far as 20 say I'd
been aboard her on trial trip. though
and did cut down her tonnage. show
In got the fragments OF con
science left" Hicks defended himself.
lie closed the book with n sigh and
placed II back on the shelf, Just as
the door opened to admit no less
parsonage than Bartholomew McGuf-
fey. late chief engineer, first assist.
ant, second assistant, third assistant.
wiper. oilcr. water-tender and stoker
Of the s. s. Maggie With brief nod
to Jack Flaherty Mr.. McGufrey ap-
preached Dan Hicks.
81 been lookln' for you, captain" he
announced. "Say. hear the chief o.
the Aphrodlte's goln' to take a three
mntism. Is that strnlghtT
II believe II Is, McGuffey."
"well say. I'd like TO have n chance
TO suhstitoot for him. You know my
capabilities. Hicks. an II II would be
agreeable to YOU Ia have me for your
chief your recommendation would 90
u long way toward landn' 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-rcllablllty around pay day.
IL been with that freshwater scaven-
ger, Scraggs, In the Maggie for most
year"
"Dld you quit or did Scraggs fire
your"
"Ie fred me-" McGufrey replied
honestly. "lf he hadn't I'd have quit.
SO IT'S toSs-up. Comm In from
Halfmoon bay last night we got in the
fog an piled up on the beach jus
below the Cliff house."
"rhIs Is interesting" Jack Flaherty
murmured. "You say she walked
ashore on you, McGuney? Well, I'll
be shot :"
"She did. Scraggs blamed II on me.
Flaherty, He said I didn't obey the
signals from the bridge. one word led
10 another. an he went dancin' mad
an ordered me or his ship. Well, it's
his shlp-or II was his ship, for I'll
bet dollar she's ground to powder
by now--so all | could do was obey.
| hopped overheard an waded ashore.
| suppose all my clothes an things is
| n 1nF h.,a 4
an had to borrow this outfit from
Sca6 Johnny" He grinned pathetical-
| ly. $50 guess you understand. Cap
| tain Hicks. Just how bad l need that
job spoke about minute ago"
an think II over. Mac, an let you
know" Hicks replied evasively.
Mr. McGuftey, sensing his defeat
retired forthwith to hide his emhar-
rassment and distress; as the door
closed behind him, Hicks and Flaherty
faced each other.
"Jack," quoth Dan Hicks, "can two
towboat men, holdin' down two hun
dred-donar jobs an presumed to have
been out o. their swaddlin' clothes for
at least thirty years, afford 10 be
laughed of the San Francisco water
frontT
IL know one OF them that can't
Dan. At the same time, can n rat lik,
Phlneas L. Scraggs and a beachcomb
er like his mate Gibney make pail
ot star-spangled monkeys out OF sale
two towboat men and get away will
itr
"They did that last night. Still, ry,
known monkeys that would fight an
was human enough to settle grudge
Follow me, Jack"
Together they repaired to Jackson
street hulkhead. Sure enough, ther,
lay the Maggie, rubbing her blistere,
sides against the hulkhead Captali
Scraggs was nowhere In sight, but MI
Glbncy was at the winch, swinging
ashore the crates Of vegetables whlcl
The SQuarehead and three longshorc
men loaded into the cargo net.
"We're outnumbered," Jack Flahert
whispered. Let's walt until she's III
loaded an Gibney an Scraggs ar
aboard alone"
tracted the attention OF Mr.. Glbney.
i Promptly at twelve O'Clock the lonl
:, shoremen knocked on work for th
Il lunch hour and Neils Halvorse
/. drfted across the street 10 cool h
n parched throat with steam bee
n While waiting for Scraggs TO come u
II out OF the engine room. and take hll
5 20 luncheon, Mr.. Gihney sauntered a
aud was standing gazing reiectlvel
upon spot ON the Maggie's ster
where the hawsers had chafed ava
the paint, when suddenly his for
g holdings Of evil returned TO him tho'
y sand fold stronger than they had bee
n since ScraggS' return TO the little shi
q lie glanced up and beheld gaxlr
1t down upon him Captains Jack III
|. herty and Daniel Hicks. Battle W,
r. imminent and the valiant Chine
v knew Il; wherefore he determined q
e stantly 10 meet II like man.