The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-01-13
CHAPTER v.

CHAPTER v.
A week had elapsed and nothing Of
IN eventful nature had transpired to
disturb the routine of life aboard the
Maggie, until Bartholomew McGuffey,
having heard certain waterfront whis-
pers, considered II the part Of pru-
dence to lay his information before
Scraggs and Mr.. Gibney.
"Look here, Scraggs." he began
briskly. .It's adj fine an dandy to
promise me a new boiler, but when do
git itr
'Why. jes' as soon as we can get
this giut o. freight behind us, Bart,
my boy. You've managed with the old
boiler this long. 80 It pears to me you
might be patient an bear with II a
mite longer. Bart"
"Oh, I amt tryin' to be disagreeable,
Scraggs, only II sort O. worries me to
have to 60 along without bein' able to
use our whistle"
"We1l fix It when business slacks
up." Scraggs decided with finality. He
glanced at his watch. "Sufferin'
sailorr' he cried In simulated dis
tress. ''Here it's one O'Clock an amt
collected a dollar o. the freight money
from the last voyage. must beat it,
Wheu Captain Scraggs had "beaten
NJ Gibney and McGuffey exchanged
expressive glances. "He's runnin' out
"a MS" McGuffey complained.
"Even so, Bart, even so. Therefore,
the thing for MS to do Is to run out
en him. In other words. Wen work a
month, save our money, an then. with
cut a word o. complaint or argument,
we'll walk out" q
"Oh, amt exactly broke, Glib. I
got eighty-five dollars"
"Then." quoth Gibney declsively
well go on strike tonight. Scraggsy'll
b stuck In port week before he can
get another engineer an another navi-
gatin' officer, me an you bein' the
only two natural-born fools in San
Francisco an ports adjacent, an be
fore. three days have passed he'll be
huntin' us up to. compromise"
Il don't want no compromise. What
j want is q new boiler"
you'll git 1t. Wen make him order
the paint an the boiler an pay for
both In advance before wen agree to
20 back to work."
The engineer nodded his approval
and after sealing their pact with a
hearty hahdshake, they turned to and
commenced discharging the Maggie.
When Captain Scraggs returned to
the little steamer shortly after five
o'clock, to his great amazement, he
discovered Mr.. Gibney and McGuffey
dressed In their other suits--including
celluloid collars and cuffs.
The cargo's out. Scraggsy, my son,
the decks has been washed down an
everything in my department Is ship
shape" Thus Mr.. Gibney.
Likewise In mine." McGuffey
added.
Consequently" Mr.. Gibney con-
eluded, "we're quittin' the Maggie an
u IT'S all the same to you wen have
eur time.~
my dear Glib. Why, whatever's
rome over you two boys7"
Stow your chatter, Scraggs. Shell
cut the cash. You've fooled us once
b the matter o. that new boiler an
the paiDtin', an we're not goin' to
give you second chance. Come
through--or take the consequences.
Wen sail no more with liar an a
ffsud.w
'srhem's hard words. Mr.. GIbney,"
The truth 10 aIlers bitter" McGuf-
~ opjred. "a; !. "a
Captain Scrages paused to consider
be serious predicament which con-
4runted him. It was Saturday night.
He knew Mr. McGuffey to be the pos
sosss,r Of more money than usual and
& he could assure himself that this
reservs should be dissipated before
Monday morning he wns aware. from
experience, that she strike would be
bfoken by vnesdky At the latest. And
- could afford that delay. He re-
solved, therefore. on diplomacy.
well. I'm sorry he answered w.sh
eyery appcarsnce of contritI0n. 'sYou
nPIlfrs eos me \ the nine-h hole an I
ssr hr'e qy>s'{ ~ ne sspss time.