The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-05-18
(Continued from last issue)


goldfish. She was cut in two just ford
O. the bulkhead an her anchors car
ried away on the section that was cut
off. She amt worth the cost O. TOWN.
her in on the flats"
$50 that Goldfish has some value"
Eneered Captain Scraggs.
"Great grief, Scraggsy! Don't tell
me it's Spilled" cried McGufrey, slmu-
lating horror.
mo, not quite, Mac, not quite. Just
slightly. I s'pose Chill tack a sign
to the stub o the main mast; Slight
ly spoiled Goldfish for sale. Apply to
A. p. Gibney, on the premises. Spe-
cial rates ON Friday"
Mr.. Gibney quivered, but made. no
reply. He carefully examined that
portion Of the derelict above water and
discovered that by an additional ex-
penditure Of about fifty dollars he
might recover an equal amount in
brass fittings. The Kadiak's house
was gone and her decks completely
gutted. Nothing remained but the am
putated hull and the foul cargo below
her battered decks.
In majestic silence the commodore
motIoned all hands into the launch.
In silence they returned to the city.
Arrived here, Mr.. Gibney paid off the
launch man and the diver and ac
companied by his associates repaired
to prominent jewelers. shop with
the pearls they had accumulated in
the South seas. The entire lot was
sold for thirty thousand dollars. An
hour later they had adjusted their
accounts. divided the fortune Of the
syndicate equally, and then dissolved.
At parting, Mr.. Gbney spoke for the
first time when it had not been alb
sOlutely necessary.
"Put beggar on horseback an
he'll ride to the devil" he said. "When
you two swabs was poor you was con-
but now that you're well-heeled, you
think you're business men. All right
I ain't got Il word to say except this:
Before I get through with you two
beachcombers I'll have all your money
and you'll be a-beggln' me for n job.
that diseased Goldfish, an for old sake's
sake we won't fight. We're still
friends, hut business associates no
longer, for I'm too big figger in this
syndicate to stand. for any criticism
on my handlin' o the joint finances.
Hereafter, Scraggsy, old kiddo, you
an Mac can go it alone with your
sternwheel steamer. Me an The
Squarehead legs it together an takes
our chances. You don't hear that poor
untoOtered Swcde maxim no hOller ut
the way I've handled the syndicate"
But. Glib, my dear boy" chattered
Captain Scraggs, twill you just listen
to re"
Enough! Too much is plenty.
Let's shake hands an part friends.
We just can't get along in business
together that's all."
"Well, I'm sorry, Glib" mumbled Me-
Guffey, very much crestfaIlen. "but
then you hove that dog-gone fish Mt
ME an"
"That was fortune hittin' you
belt in the face, Mac. an you was too
self-cOnceted to recognize It. Rcmem-
her that, both of you two. Fortune
hit you in the face today an you
didn't know It,"
"ld ruther die poor, Glib" walled
McGuffey.
The commodore shook hands cor
daily and departed. followed by the
faithful Neils Halvorsen. The mo-
ment the door closed behind them
Scraggs turned to the engineer.
Mac" he said earnestly, "Gib's up
to somethin'. He's got that imagina-
ton O. his workin'. 1 can tell It every
time; he gets foggy look in his eyes.
We made Il mistake kiddin' him today.
Gibbs q sensitive boy some ways an
l reckon we hurt his feelin's without
intcndin' it,
"IIe tlrun dead Goldfish Mt me-"
protested McGuffey. II love old Glib
like brother, but that's cnrryin'
things with mighty high hand"
"Well, I'll apologize to him." de-
clared Captain Scraggs and started
for the door to follow Mr.. Gibney,
McGuffcy barred his way.
YOU apologize without my consent
an you gotta buy me out O. the Vic
tor I won't be no engineer with n
skipper that lacks backbone"
"Oh, very well, Mac" Captain
Scraggs realized too we'll the value of
McGulfey in the engine room. He
knew he could never be happy with
anybody else. "We'lI complete the
deal with the Victor. ship crew, get
down to business, an leave Glib to his
Goldfish. An let's pay our bill an get
outer here. It's too high-toned for
MEAN expensive"
For two weeks Captain Scrnggs and
McGuffey saw no more of Mr.. Gihney
and Neils Halvorsen. In the mean.
time, they had commenced running the
Victor regularly up river. soliciting
business in ouroei.,on to th" re-ular