Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-02-09


mar Hicks ran up on deck ana re-
turned dragging the deck nre nose. o
hind him. He thrust the Drass noN",e
into the shatt-alley entrance anu
vited Scraggs to surrender uncohai-
tionaIly or be drowned like q Ritte"'
Scraegs knowing his own hre nose
dat,ed them. so Dan Hicks started the
pump while Flaherty turned on 'ne
water. Instantly the hose burst up on
deck and Scraggs' jeers OF tr'u'''pn
filled the engine room. The ehem!
was about to draw lots to see which
one of the two should crawl into the
sbaft alley and throw cupful OF
chloride of lime (for they found a can
OF this in the engine rOOm) in captain
Scraggs' face. when a shadow darh-
ened the hatch and Mr.. Bartho'o'ne"
McGufrey demanded beliigerentiy:
"Whats goin' on down there! VINO
the devils takin' liberties In my en-
CINE room?"
Dan Hicks explained tho situation
and the just cause for drastic action
which they held against the fugitive
In the shaft alley. Mr.. McGuhey con-
sIdered a few moments and made MS
decision.
"If what you say Is true-an' amt
in position to dispute you, not haVih
been present when you hauled the
Maggie of the beach. don't blame
you for feeling sore. What DO name
YOU for. though. is carryin' the war
aboard the Maggie. II you wanted to
whale Glib an Scraggsy you should ma
laid for 'em on the dock. Under the
circumstances, you make this per-
s'nal affair, an as member o the
crew O. the Maggie I got to take
hand an defend my skipper agin youse
two. Fact is. gentlemen. / got dare
to lick him first for what he done to
me last night. Howsumever. that's n
private crouch. The fact remains that
you two jumped my pal Bert Gibney
an licked him sOmeth!n scandalOus
Hicks. I'll take you on first. Come up
out Of there, you swab. and fight. Fla-
herty. you stay below until send for
you; II you try to climb up an horn In
on my fight with Hicks. Gibneyu brain
yOu."
A faint cheer came from the shaft
alley. Good old Mac. At-a-boy.'
"You're on. McGuffey. Nobody ever
had to beg me to fight him." Dan
Hicks replied cordially, and climbed
to the deck. To his great surprise.
Mr.. McGuiley wInked at him and drew
him of to the stern Of the Maggie.
"There'll he no fight" he declared.
"althOugh we'll thud around on deck
an yell couple O. times to make
Scraggs think we're goin' to 1t. He
figgers that by the time I've fought
you an Flaherty I won't be fit for
combat with him, even II ! lick you
both; he's got 1t all figgered out that
I'll wait a couple o days before
tncklin' him, an he thinks my tenn
peril cool by that time an he can
argy me out o my revenge. Savey?"
81 twig."
Mr.. GIbney had returned to the
Maggie by this time and he now took
his station at the engine-rOOm hatch
and growled at Flaherty and abused
him. keep up your courage,
Scraggsy." he called. rs Hicks and Nc
Guffey pranced around the deck In
simulated combat. Macs whalin' the
whey out O. Hicks an Hicks couldn't
touch him with buggy whip"
At the conclusion of the three min
utes of horse-play. Mr.. McGufrey came
to the hatch again. up with you.
Flaherty," he called loud enough for
Captain Scraggs to hear. "up with you
before 90 down after you"
Flaherty was about to possess him.
self of hatchet when the face Of his
confrere. Dan Hicks, appeared over
McGuney's shoulder and grlnned
knowingly at him. Immediately, Fla.
herty hurled defiance at his enemies
and came UP on deck. and once more
TO Captain Scraggs came the dull
sounds OF apparent conflict overhead.
Suddenly cheer broke from Mr.
Gibney. "All Off an gone to Cooper.
town. Scraggsy," he shouted. "Come
up an take look at the fallen"
Out of the shaft alley came Scraggs
with a rush. tossing his wrench aside
the better to climb the ladder. He was
half way up when Mr.. Gibney reached
down great hand, grasped him by
the collar, and whisled him out on
deck with single jerk. Here, to his
horror, he found himself confronted
by singularly scathless trio who
grinned triumphantly at him.
"Seein' is believin', Scraggs," Dan
Hicks Informed him. That's a lesson
you taught me an Flaherty last night
but evidently you don't profit by exY
perience. You're too miserable tc
beat up, but Just to show you 1t ain,
possible for dirty bay pirate like
you to skin the likes o me an Fla
herty we purpose hangin' the seat o
your pants up around your coat col
lar. Face him about. Gibney."
With quick twist, Mr.. Gibney pre-
sented Captain Scraggs for his pen
ance; Flaherty and McGuffey followed
Dan Hicks promptly and Captain
SCraggS screamed at every kick Apf