Phoenix tribune., 1922-04-08
THE GREEN PEA PIRATES
Continued From Last Issue)

on. Am right?''
Fright as right whale" said Cap
tain Scraggs. "And now that you've
given that old mate of mine the course,
and we've temporarily plugged up the
holes in this here Mexican gunboat,
and everything points to a safe and
profitable voyage from now on, sup
pose you delegate me as committee
of one to brew scuttle of grog, after
which the syndicate holds a mettin'
and lays out course for its future
conduct. There's a few questions Of
rank and privileges that ought to be
settled once and for all, so there can't
be no comeback"
"The point is well taken and it is
Sc ordered" said Mr.. Gibney, who had
once held Office in Harbor Is, Master
and Pilots Association of America, and
knew a fragment or two of parlia-
mentary law. Rustic up the grog call
McGuffey up out of the engine room,
and Wen hold the meetin'."
Twenty minutes later Scraggs came
on deck to announce the successful
concoction of a kettle of whisky punch
whereupon the three adventurers went
below and sat down at the cabin table
for conference.
II move that Glib be appointed presi-
dent of the syndicate" said Captain
Scraggs.
Second the motion" rumbled Nc
Guffey.
"The notions carried" said Mr.. Glib
ney, and banged the table with his
horny fist. "The meetin' will please
come to order. The chair hereby ap-
points Phineas Scraggs secretary of
the syndicate, to keep a record Of this
and all future meetin's of the board.
I will now entertain propositions of
any and all natures, and invite the
members of the board to knock the
stopper out of their jaw tackle and
go to it."
Il move" said Captain Scraggs, shat
B. McGuffey, Esquire, be, and he is
hereby appointed, chief engineer of the
Maggie II at a salary not to exceed
the wage schedule Of the Marine En-
gineers' Association of the Pacific
coast, and that he be voted a
one-fourth interest in the vessel and
all subsequent profits"
Second the notion" said Mr. Glib
ney, "and not to hamper the business
of the meetin', Wen just consider that
motion carried unanimous"
B. McGuffey, Esquire, rose, bowed
his thanks, and sat down again, ap-
parently very much confused. 1t was
evident that he had something to say,
but was having difficulty framing his
thoughts in parliamentary language.
"Heave away, Mac" said Mr.. Glib
ney.
Cast off your lines, McGuffey,"
chirped Scraggs.
Thus encouraged, McGuffey rose,
bowed his thanks once more, moistened
his larnyx with a gulp of the punch,
and spoke:
"Feller members and brothers of the
syndicate: In the management of the
deck department of this new craft of
ourn, my previous knowledge of the
worthy president and the unworthy
secretary leads me to believe that
there's goin to be trouble A ship
divided agin herself must surely go
on her beam ends. Now, Scraggsy
here has been master so long that the
juice of authority has sorter soaked
into his marrer bones. For twenty
years it's been 'Howdy do, Captain
Scraggs,' Have drink, Captain
Scraggs.' Captain Scraggs this an
Captain Scraggs that l don't mean
no 'offense, gentlemen, when l state
that you can't teach an old dog new
tricks. No man that's ever been a
master makes a good mate On the
other hand, I realize that Glib here
has been a-pantin' and a-bellyachin
all his life to- get ship of his own
an have folks call him Captain Glib
ney.' Now that he's gone an done
it, / say he's entitled to it. But the
fact of the Whole thing is, GIBBS the
natural leader of the expedition or
whatever it's goin' to be, and he can't
have his peace of mind wrecked and
his plans disturbed a-chasin' sailors
around the deck of the Maggie II.
Glib is sorter what the feller calls
the power behind the throne. He's
too big figger for the grade of cap
tain. Therefore, l move you, gentle
men, that Adelbert p. Gibney be, and
is hereby nominated and appointed to
the grade of commodore, in full COM
mand and supervision of all of the
property of the syndicate. And 1 al
so move that Phineas Scraggs be ap-
pointed chief navigatin' officer of this
packet, to retain his title of captain,
and to be obeyed and respected as
such by every man aboard with the
exception of me and Glib. The pres
ent matell do the navigatin' while
Seraggsy's learnin' the deep sea stuff"
'Second the motion" said Captain
Scraggs briskly. "McGuffey, your ar
ey1Inqnt d0QS Won O boon of orodff