Phoenix tribune., 1922-01-21

y
temnlatin' hoOkin' on to that bark.
snakin' her into San Francisco bay, an
libelin' her for ten thousand dollars
salvage. You an Mac an The Square
head here have sailed this strip O.
coast too long together to quarrel over
the first good piece O. salvage we ever
run into. Come, Scraggsy. Be decent,
forget the past, an let's dig in to-
gether."
The new navigating officer drew
Captain Scraggs aside and whispered
in his ear: MAKE it up with these
Smart Alecks, Scraggs They got it on
u.s. but if we can send you an Hal
vorsen, McGuffey and Gibney over
to the bark, you can get some sail on
her an what with the wind helpin'
us along, the Maggie can tow her all
right"
Nj. Gibney saw by the hopeful, even
cunning, look that leaped to Scraggs'
eyes that the problem was about to be
solved without recourse to the Gibney
Imagination, so he resolved to be alert
and not permit himself to be caught
out ON the end of a limb. swell,
Scraggsy?" he demanded.
81 guess need you in my business,
Glib. You're right an I'm always
wrong. It's a fact. l amt got no
more Imagination than a chicken"
spoken like a mani do not think.
Scraggs, for once in my life 1 have
you where the hair is short I'm
willin' to dig in an help out in
pinch, but it's gettin' so me an Mac
can't trust you no more. We're that
leery of you we won't take your word
for nothin', since you fooled him on
the new boiler an me on the paint;
consequently, we're off you an this
salvage job unless you give us a clear
ance, in writin', statin' that we are
not an never was pirates, that we're
good, law-abidin' citizens an aboard
the Maggie as your guests, takin' the
trip at our own risk When you sign
such paper, with your crew for wit
nesses, I'll demonstrate how that bark
can be salvaged. My imagination's
better'n my reputation. Scraggsy, an
l amt workin' it for nothin"
"Gib, my dear boy. You're the most
sensitive man 1 ever sailed with.
Can't you take a little joker
"Sure. I can take a little joke. It's
the big ones that stick in my craw
an stifle my friendship. Gimme
fountain pen an a leaf out o. the
log book an I'll draw up the affydavit
for your signature"
Scraggs complied precipitately with
this request, whereupon Mr.. Gibney
spread his great bulk over the chart
case and with many a twist and flip
of his tongue on the up and down
strokes, produced this remarkable doc
ument:
"At Sea, OF Point Montara,
"aboard S. S. Maggie,
"of San Francisco.
"June 4, 49,.
'This is to certify that A. P. Gibney,
Esq, and Bart McGuffey Esq, is law
abidin' sitisens of the U. S. A. and
the cOnstitootion thereof. and in no
way pirates or such; and be it further
resolved that the said parties hereto
are aboard said American steamer
Maggie this date on the special invite
of Phineas P. Scraggs, owner, as his
guests and at their own risk.
"Witness> my hand and seals"
Captain Scraggs signed without
reading and the new mate and Neils
HalNOrsen appended their signatures
as witnesses. Mr.. Gibney thereupon
folded this clearance paper into the
tiniest possible compact bah, wrapped
it in piece of tinfoil torn from a
package of tobacco, to protect it from
his saliva, tucked it in his cheek and
with a sign for McGuffey to follow
him, started crawling over the cargo
aft. BY this time the Maggie was
within hundred yards of the dis
tressed bark and was ratching slowly
backward and forward before her
TN all my born days." quoth Mr.
Gibney, speaking trifle thickly be-
cause of the document in his mouth,
HCNGl SOL SuNh Il NdilOp uS AONA dSSo
handed me an you last night. / don't
forget things like that in q hurry.
Now that we got vindication O. the
charge O. piracy again us. I'm achin'
to get shet of the Maggie an her crew;
so if you'll kindly peel off all Of your
clothes with the exception, say, of
your underdrawers, Wen swim off to
that bark an give Phineas P. Scraggs
an exhibition Of real sailorizin' an
seamanship."
"What's the big idee?" McGuffey
demanded cautiously.
"Why, we sail her in ourselves
me an you an glom all the salvage
for ourselves. Tell with Scraggs an
the Maggie an that new mate an
engineer. Pm off'n 'em for life"
Pop-eyed with excitement and intes-
est, B. McGuffey, Esquire, stood up.
and with single twist shed his cap
and coat. His shirts followed Both
he and Gibney were already minus
their shoes and socks. To slip out of
their faded dungarees was the work
~, oIA