Williams news., 1922-02-24
CHAPTER V.

A week had elapsed ana notnlns oi an eventful nature had transpired 10 disturb the routine of life aboard the Maggie, until Bartholomew McGuffey. having heard certain waterfront whls- pers, considered it the part of pru- dence to lay his information before Scraggs and MT. Gibney.
 Look here, Scraggs," he began briskly Its all fine an dandy to promise me a new boiler, but when do I git it?'
 "Why, jes' as soon as we can get this glut O freight behind us. Bart. my boy You've managed with the old boiler this long, so it pears to me you might be patient an bear with It mite longer. Bart.
 "Oh. I ain't tryin' to be disagreeaDie, Scraggs, only 1t sort O worries me to have to go along without bein' able to use our whistle."
 even fix it when business stacks up." Scraggs decided with fnality. He glanced at his watch. "Sufferin' saflorI" he cried in simulated dis tress. Here it's one o'clock an I afn't collected a dollar O the freight money from the last voyage. I must beat it."
 When Captain Scraggs had "beaten It." Gibney and McGuffey exchanged expressive glances. Hes runnin' out on us," McGuffey complained.
 "Even so, Bart, even so. Therefore, the thing for us to do Is to run out on him. In other words, we'll work a month, save our money, an then, with out word O complaint or argument. we'll. walk out"
 "Oh, I ain't exactly broke. Glib. I got efghty-f1ve dollars"
 Then" quoth Gibney decisfvely. "we1l go on strike tonight. Scraggsy'll be stuck in port week before he can get another engineer an another navf- gatfn' 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"
 q don't want no compromise. what I want is new boiler.
 "You'n git it. We'll make him order the paint an the boiler an pay for both in advance before we'll agree to go back to work"
 The engineer nodded his approval and after sealing their pact with a hearty handshake, 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 MT. Gibney and McGuffey dressed in their other suits-inc1uding 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 MT. Gibney.
 sLikewise in mine," McGuffey added.
 Consequently" Mir. Gibney con- cluded, "we're quittin' the Maggie an if it's all the same to you we'll have our time"
 "My dear Glib. Why, whatever's come over you two boys?"
 "Stow your chatter, Scraggs. Shell out the cash You've fooled us once in the matter O. that new boiler an the ipaintin', an we're not goin' to give you a second chance. Come through-or take the consequences We'll sail no more with liar an fraud"
 "Them's hard words, MT. Gibney."
 s"The truth is alters bitter" McGuf- fey opined.
 Captain Scraggs paused to consider the serious predicament which con- fronted him. It was Saturday night He knew MT. McGuffey to be the pos sessor of more money than usual and
  reserve should be diSSipated before Monday morning he was aware, from experience, that the strike would be broken by Tuesday at the latest. And he could afford that delay. He re- solved. therefore, op diplomacy. Well. I'm sorry,' he answered with every appearance of contrftion. " ot feIlers got me in the nine-hOle an can't help myself. At the same time I appreciate fully your pint of view while realizin' that I can't convince | YOU O mine. So we won't have nc | hard feelin's at partin, boys, an tt 1 show you I'm a sport I'll treat to { l French dinner an motion picture 1 show afterward. Further. I shall re | gard a refusal of said invite as { ] pers'nal affront."
 By golly,. you're gittin' sporty 1T your old age" the engineer declared | ssI'H go you, Scraggs. How about you l Gib?'
 l .I accept with thanks. Scraggsy, ol' | starpot. Personally. I maintain tha seamen should leave their trouble | aboard ship"
 | ..That..s the scorrit. l. apErecIate