Middletown transcript., 1922-02-04

EutteQ. Morning renamed DuC the am
putated hull and the foul cargo below
her battered decks.
In majestic silence the commodore
motioned all hands into the launch.
In silence they returned to the city.
Arrived here, Mr.. Gibney paid of the
companied by his associates repaired
to prominent jewelers. shop with
the pearls they had accumulated in
the South seas. The entire lot was
sold for thirty thousand dollars. An
hour later they had adjusted their
accounts. divided the fortune Of the
syndicate equally, and then dissolved.
At parting, Mr.. Gibney spoke for the
first time when 1t had not been alb
solutely necessary.
| "Put a beggar on horseback an
he'll ride to the devil" he said. "When
you two swabs was poor you was con-
tent to let me lead you into fortune,
but now that you're well-heeied, you
think you're business men. All right |!
I amt got a word to say except this:
Before get through with you two
beachcombers I'll have all your money
and you'll be a-beggin' me for q Job.
apologize for soakin' you two with
that diseased cedfish, an for old sake's
sake we won't fight. We're still
friends, but business associates no
longer, for I'm too big figger in this
syndicate to stand for any criticism
on my handlin' O. the joint finances.
Hereafter, Scraggsy, old kiddo, you
an Mac can go it alone with your
sternwheel steamer. Me an The
Squarehead legs it together an takes
our chances. You don't hear that poor
untootered Swede maxim no holler at
the way I've handled the syndicate
'But, Glib, my dear boy" chartered
Captain Scraggs, twill you just listen
to re"
Enough! Too much is plenty.
Let's shake hands an part friends.
We just can't get along in business
together that's ALL"
"Well, I'm sorry, Glib" mumbled Nc
Guffey, very much crestfallen, "but
then you hove that dog-gone fish at
me an"
"That was fortune hlttin' you a
belt in the face, Mac, an you was toe
self-conceited to recognize 1t. Remem-
ber that, both Of you two. Fortune
hit you in the face today an you
didn't know It,"
I'D ruther die poor, Gib," walled
McGuffey.
The commodore shook hands cor
daily and departed, followed by the
faithful Neils Halvorsen. The mo
ment the door closed behind then
Scraggs turned to the engineer.
"Mac." he said earnestly, "Gib's W
to somethin'. He's got that imagina
ton O. his workin'. I can tell 1t every
time; he gets foggy look in his eyes
We made mistake kiddin' him today
GIBBS a sensitive boy some ways an
reckon we hurt his feelin's withou
intendin' it."
"He thrun a dead Goldfish at me,
protested McGuffey. II love old Gil
like n brother, but that's carryin
things with mighty high hand"
"Well, I'll apologize TO him." de
clared Captain Scraggs and started
for the door to follow Mr.. Gibney
McGuffey barred his way.
"You apologize without my consen
an you gotta buy me out O. the Vic
tor. won't be no engineer with ,
skipper that lacks backbone"
"Oh, very well. Mac" Captain
Scraggs realized too well the value o
!, McGuffey In the engine room. H.
knew he could never be happy will
anybody else. "We'll complete tn,
; deal with the Victor, ship a crew, ge
down to business, an leave Glib to hi
Goldfish. An let's pay our bill an ge
outer here. It's too high-toned 70
,, mean expensive"
For two weeks Captain Scraggs an,
McGuffey saw no more Of Mr.. Gibne
and Nens Halvorsen. In the mean
time, they had commenced running tn
!, Victor regularly up river, solicitin
business IN opposition to the regula
steamboat lines. While the Victor wa
running with light freights and con
, sequently at loss, the prospect TO
ultimate business was very bright an
=. Scraggs and McGuffey were not at al
+, worried about the future.
Judge at their surprise, therefore
when one morning who should appea
3 at the door Of Scraggs' cabin but MI
] Gibney.
"Mornin', Gib," began Scraggs cheer
lily. "T s'pose you been rolled for you
money as per usual, an you're aroun
O lookin' for a job as mater"
Mr.. Gibney ignored this yelled II
$ suit. "Not yet, Scraggsy. got abou
i five hundred tons O. freight to send Il
to Dunnigan's landing an I want
+ lump sum fgger for doin' the job. w
= parted friends an for the sake o. ol
s times I thought I'd give you chanc
r to fgger on the business"
"Thanky, Glib. I'll be glad t.
r Where's your freight an what doe
1t consist Off"
J, Agricultural stuff. It's Grated, al
8 I deliver 1t here on the steamers dec
J within reach O. her tackles. No heav
d pieces. Two men can handle ever
: piece easy"
t Turnin' farmer, Gib?'
/ "Thinkin' about 1t little," the con
modore admitted. "What's your rat
/" on this freight? 1t amt perishabl'
SO get down to brass tacks."
Il "A dollar ton," declared the greed
l. Scraggs, naming a figure fully fort
cents higher than he would have bee
It willing to accept. "Five hundred do
n lars for Nse lot"