Middletown transcript., 1922-01-07
lcontinued.

well, what's the wind this
time" inquired McGuffey.
Were invited to a big feed with
the king OF Kandavu," replied Captain
Scraggs. as happy as boy. "Hop into
clean suit Of ducks. Mac, and come
along. Gibs goin' to broach little
keg of liquor and we'll make night
Of it."
Good lord,' groaned McGuffey,
"does the man think I'm low enough
to eat with niggers?'
leave him to his own Devices
said Mr.. Gibney, indulgently. "Macs
just as Irish as If he'd been born III
Dublin, instead Of his old man. No
body yet overcome the prejudice of
an Irishman so We'll do the honors
ourself, Scraggsy, old skittles, and
leave Mac in charge Of the ship"
Mind you're both back at season.
able hour warned McGuffey. "If you
amt, I'll suspect mischief and-say!
Glib! Well, what's the use Of talkin'
to a man with an imagination? Only
If have to 60 ashore after you two,
those islanders'll date time from my
visit, and don't you forget it."
Upon arrival at the beach the two
adventures were met by contingent
of frightful-looking savages bearing
long spears. AS the procession formed
around the guests of honor and
plunged into the bush, bound for the
kings wari, two island maidens
marched behind the two sea-dogs, wav-
ing huge palm-leaf fans, the better to
make the passage a cool and comfort
able one.
"By the gods Of war, Glib, my dear
boy" said the delighted Captain
Scraggs, "but this is class, eh, Gib?'
every time" responded the commo.
dore. If that chuckle-headed McGuf-
fey only had the sense to come along
he might be enjoyin' himself, too. You
must be dignifed, Scraggsy, old sala-
mander. Remember that you're big
ger an better'n any king, because
you're an American citizen. Be digni-
fed. by all means. These people are
sensitive and peculiar. and that's why
we haven't taken any weapons with
us. II they thought we doubted their
hospitality they'd have the court
bouncer heave us out Of town before
you could say Jack Robinson"
'Td love to see them giving the
bounce to McGuffey," said Captain
Scraggs musingly. Mr.. Gibney had a
swift mental picture of such a proceed
ing and chuckled happily. Had he been
permitted glance at McGuffey at
that moment he might have observed
that worthy sweltering in the heat OF
the forward hold of the Maggie II
for he was busy getting his guns Oh
deck. From which 1t will readily be
deduced that B. McGuffey. Esquire
was following the advice of his pa
ternal ancestor and getting an anchor
out to windward.
One might go on at great length and
describe the triumphal entry of Com
modore Glbney and Captain Scragg.
into the capitol Of Kandavu; of how
the king an understood, shrlveled ole
savage, stuck his bushy head out tn.
window of his bungalow when he saw
the procession coming; of how min
ute later he advanced into the spac
In the center of his wari, where in tn
olden days the populace was wont t.
gather for Its cannibal orgies: hoy
he greeted his distinguished visitor
with the most prodigious rubbing o
noses seen In those parts for man,
day; of the feast that followed; 0
the fowls and pigs that garnished tn
festive board, not emitting the keg o
Three Star thoughtfully provided b.
Mr.. Gibney.
Tabu-Tabu acted as interpreter an
everything went swimmingly unit
Tabu-Tabu, his hospitality doubles
strengthened by frequent libations Q
the Elixir of Life, begged Mr.. Chine
to Invite the remainder Of his ere,
ashore for the feast. Mr.. Gibney, hin
fw self rather illuminated by this tim'
thought it might not be bad idei
"Its rotten shame, Scraggsy," h
said, ITO think Of that fool McGuffe
not bein' here to enjoy himself. II
goin' to send note out by one {
Tabu-Tabu's boys. askin' him ono
more to come ashore, or to let tn
first mate and one or two Of the SET
men come If Mac still refuses to b
civil"
"Good idea, Gib," said CAPITAL
Scraggs. his mouth full Of roast chicl
en- and yams. So Mr.. Gibney tore
leaf out Of his pocket memorandum
book, scrawled note to McGuffey, an
handed 1t to Tabu-Tabu, who ut one
dispatched a messenger with 1t
the Maggie II.
Within half an hour the messengt
returned. He was wildly excited ar
poured torrent Of native gibberis
into the attentive ears of Tabu-Tat
and the king. He pointed sever
times to the point of his jaw, rubbe
the small Of his back, and once
touched his nose whereupon Mr.. Gil
ney was aware that the said organ ha
a slight list to port, and he SO 4
formed Captain Scraggs. Neither
the gentlemen had the slightest tro
BILE in arriving at the correct solutie
Of the mystery. The royal messeng
had been incontinently kicked owe
board by B. McGuffey, Esquire.
Tabu-Tabu's wild eyes glittered al
grew wilder and wilder as the me
senger reported the indignity tn,
heaped upon him. The king scowl,
at Captain Scraggs, and Mr.. Glbh,
was suddenly aware that goose-fb!
was breaking out on the backs of lh
sturdy legs. ~ a haunting 4e
sstion that not only had he crawl
into hole, but he had pulled the lie