Phoenix tribune., 1922-07-22

Oldu OF IL, RrOWleQ McGuHey.
Il don't want no more O. that Goldfish,
an as soon as we git fghtin' room I'll
prove to you that no near-sailor can
insult me an git away with it. Me
an Seraggsy's got some rights. You
can walk on Scraggsy, Glib, but it
takes man to walk on the McGuffey
family"
Nothing but the lack of sea-room
prevented battle royal. Mr.. Gibney
stood glaring at his late partners. His
great ham-like fists were opening and
closing automatically.
you're right, Mac" he said pres
emily, endeavoring to control his an
ger and chagrin. "We'Il settle this
later. Take that helmet off the diver
an let's hear what he's got to report"
With the helmet removed the diver
spoke:
"As near as can make out, boss,
there amt thing O. value in this
hulk but couple o. hundred tons O.
Goldfish. She was cut in two just ford
O the bulkhead an her anchors car
ried away on the section that was cut
off. She amt worth the cost o. towin
her in on the flats"
$50 that Goldfish has some value"
sneered Captain Scraggs.
"Great grief, Scraggsyl Don't tell
me it's spilled" cried McGuffey, simu-
Iating horror.
mo- not quite, Mac, not quite. Just
slightly. l s'pose Gibn tack a sign
to the stub O. the main mast: Slight
ly spoiled Goldfish for sale. Apply to
A. P. Gibney, on the premises. Spe-
cial rates on Friday"
Mr.. Gibney quivered, but made no
reply. He carefully examined that
portion of the derelict above water and
discovered that by an additional ex-
penditure of about fifty dollars he
might recover an equal amount in
brass fittings. The Kadiak's house
was gone and her decks completely
gutted. Nothing remained but 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 off the
launch man and the diver and ac-
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 it 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-heeled, you
think you're business men. All right
l amt got word to say except this:
Before I get through with you two
beachcombers I'll have all your money
and you'll be a-beggin' me for job.
l apologize for soakin' you two with
that diseased Goldfish, an for old sakes
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 1t alone with your
sternwheel steamer. Me an The
Squarehead legs 1t 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, will you just listen
to re-"
"Enoughl 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, Gib," mumbled Me
Guffey, very much crestfallen "but
then you hove that dog-gone fish at
me an"
"That was fortune hittin' you
belt in the face, Mac, an you was too
Self-cOncelted to recognize 1t. Remem-
Der that, both of you two Fortune
hit you in the face today an you
didn't know It,"
ard 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 them
Scraggs turned to the engineer.
Mac" he said earnestly, "Gib's up
to somethin'. He's got that imagina-
tion O. his workin'. can tell it every
time; he gets foggy look In his eyes.
We made mistake kiddin' him today
Glb's a sensitive boy some ways an
reckon we hurt his feelin's without
intendin' it,"
"He thrun a dead Goldfish at me-"
protested McGuffey 'I love old Glib
like a 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.