The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-03-02


"McGuney. for a thousand !" he bel
lowed, and run forward with out
stretched hand. Captain Scraggs was
at Gibney's heels. and between them
they came very nearly dislocating Bar
thoiomcw McGuffey's arm.
"McGuffey. my dear boy" said Cap
tain Scraggs. "whatever are you
a-doin' on this heather battleshipf"
"Me I" calculated Mr.. McGuffey. with
his oid-tlme dellteration. "Why, I'm
the chief engineer OF this craft. had
good job, too, but guess it's all OF
now, and the Mexican governmental
fire me. Say. who chucked that buck
shot down into my engine roomr'
admiral Gibney did It," said
Scraggs. "The old Maggie's along
side and me and Gib's filibusters. Bear
hand Mac, and help us clap the
matches on our prisoners"
"Thank God" said Mr.. Gibney pious-
| ly, 81 didn't kill you. Come to look
into the matter, didn't kill anybody,
though | see half dozen Mexicans
around decks more or less cut up.
Where you been all these years, Macf"
II been chief engineer in the Mexi-
can navy" replied McGuffey. Have
you captured us in the name Of the
| United States or whatr'
"We've captured you In the name OF
Adelbert p. Gibney," was the reply. Il
been huntin' all my life for a ship OF
my own. and now I've got her. Lord.
Mac, she's beauty. amt shel All
hardwood finish. teak rail, well found.
and just the ticket for the island
trade. Well. well. well I'm Captain
Gibney at last"
"where do ] come In. CHR asked
Captain Scraggs modestly.
"Well, seeln' as tho Maggie has two
holes through her hull below the wa
tcrllne. and is generally nicked 20
pieces, you might quit n'questions
and get back aboard and put the
pumps on her. You're lucky II she
don't sink on you before we get to Des-
canso bay. III she sinks, don't worry.
I'll give you a job as my first mate.
Mac, you're my engineer. but not at no
fancy Mexican price. I'll pay you the
|
more or less. Is that fairf'
McGuffey said It was, and went De
low 10 tune up his engine. Mr.. Gibney
took the wheel OF the gunboat. ana
sent Captain Scraggs back aboard the
Maggie, and In few minutes both
vessels were bowling along toward
Descanso bay. They were of the bay
at midnight, and while with Mr.. Glib
ney in command OF the federal gun
boat Captain Scraggs had nothing to
fear, the rapid rise Of water In the
hold of the Maggie was sadly discon
certing. About daylight he made uI
his mind that she would sink within
two hours. and without pausing tS
whine over his predlcament, ht
promptly benched her. She drove fal
up the beach. with the slack watel
breaking around her Scared stern, ant
when the tide ebbed she lay high ant
dry. And the rebel soldiers came
trooping down from the Megan'
rancho and falling upon her carcass
like SO many ants. quickly distributed
her cargo amongst them, and disap
peared.
] Captain Scraggs sent his crew ou
aboard the captured gunboat to assis
Mr.. Gibney In rowing his prisoner
ashore. and when finally he stoo,
? alone beside the wreck OF the brav'
! old Maggie, piled up at last In the por
OF missing ships, something snappe'
5 within his breast and the big tear
7 rolled In quick succession down hi
$ sun.tanned cheeks. The old hull
e looked peculiarly pathetic as she la,
:. there, listed over oa her beam ends
! She had served him we'll, but she hat
. finished her last voyage, and with som
! vague Idea of saving her old bone
O from vandal hands, Captain Scragg'
sobbing audibly, scattered the content
u OF half dozen cans of kerosene owe
: her decks and In the cabin, lighte
e fires In three different sections OF III
I wreck, and left her TO the consumin
flames. Half an hour later he stoo
e nn the battered decks OF the gunboa
$ beside Glbney and McGuffey an
watched the dense clouds OF smok
that heralded the passing OF the Mas
D. gle.
"She was good old hulk" sal
= Mr.. Glbney. "And now. as the sp'
e cIal envoy OF the Liberal arIny'of Me'
e leo. here's a draft on Los Angeles fc
IS five thousand bucks, Scraggsy, whic
l. constitutes the balance due you o
/ this here fllbuster trip or cours'
II | needn't remind you, Scraggsy. th'
e you'd never have earned this money
e il hadn't been for Adelbert z. Chine
II workin' his imagination overtim
lr I've made you a chunk OF money, an
e while couldn't save your ship, ! di
save your life. AS a reward for a
N this, l don't claim one cent OF ii
ID money due you. as ! could II wante
lie TO be rotten mean. I'm goin' to kee
II this fine little power schooner for IN
ig share OF the loot. She's nicked U
In some, but that only bears evidence
a | What N hnllv good shot I am md