RID OLOUD, HEBBABKA, CHIEF
The QREEN PEA
PIRATES
By PETER B. KYNE
Copyright, by Peter D. Kyne
o
re-enter McQUFFEY.
Synopsis. Captain Phlncas P.
Bcrnags hns crown up around the
dock of Ann tYnnclsco, and from
mess boy on a river steamer, rUcn
to tbo ownership of tho steamer
Maggie. Sluco each annual In
spection promised to bo tho last of
tho old wcatlicrboatcn vessel,
Scminrs naturally has some dlrU
cultjr In socurlns a crow. When
the story opons, Adelbert P. Gib
ney, likable, but erratic, a man
whom nobody but Scraggs would
hJro, Is the sklpptr, Nells Halvor
scn, a solemn Strode, constitutes
the forccastlo hands, and Bart Mc
Ouffey, a wastrel of tho Glbnoy
type, reigns In tho engine room.
With this motley crew and his an
clont vessel, Captain tJcraggs Is
engaged In freighting garden
truck from Hnlfmoon bay to San
Francisco, The Inevitable happons;
the Maggie goes ashore In a fog.
A passing vessel hailing the wreck,
Mr. Qlbnoy gota word to a towing
company In San Franc loco that the
ship ashore Is tho Yankee Prince,
with promlso of a rich salvage.
Two tugs succeed In pulling Uie
Maggto Into doop water, and nhe
slips her tow linos and goU away
In the fog. Furious nt the decep
tion practiced on thorn, Captains
Illckn and Flaherty, commanding
the two tugboats, ascertain the
identity of tho "Yankee Prince"
and, fcnrlng ridicule should the
facts become known along tho wa
ter front, determine on personal
vengeance. Tholr hostile visit to
tho Magglo results In Captain
Bcraggs promising to got a now
boiler and mako uor.ded repnlrs to
the steamer. Scroggn refuses to
fulfill his promises and Qlbnoy and
McGuffey "strike " Willi marvel
ous luck, Scratrgs ships a frcah
crew. At tho ond of a few days
of wild conviviality aibnoy and
McGuffey aro stranded and seek
their old positions on tho Maggie.
Tiioy aro hontllely received, but re
main. On (heir way to San Fran
cisco they sltrht a derelict and Qlb
noy and McQurfoy swim to It. The
derelict proven to bo the Chesa
peake, richly laden, Its entire craw
htrlckon .with scurvy. Scraggs at
tempts to tow her In, but tho Mag
Rio Is unequal to Uie tank and Gib
ney and McQuffoy, nlone, nail tho
ship to Ban Francisco, their sal
vaqo money amounting to $1,00
nploco. Ills crew having deserted
him, Captain Scraggs Induces thorn
to return. At on "old horso" sale
tho three purclmso two mysterious
boxes which thoy bellovo to con
tain smuggled "Oriental goods."
They find, Instead, two dcrfd Chi
namen. Scraggs Reeks to "double
cross" his two associates, but Mr.
Glbnoy outwits him nnd makes a
satisfactory financial Bettlement
with tho Chinese company to
whom tho bodies have been con
signed, leaving Scraggs out In the
cold. Glbnoy resents McGuffey's
action In lomllng monoy to Scraggs
Without consulting htm, and after
n tcrrlllo wordy combat tho three
separate, McGuffey bocomlng as
sistant engineer on an oil tanker,
Glbnoy disappearing, nnd Scraggs,
forced to lay up tho Mngglo, takes
a Rubordlnate position on a ferry
steamer. Scnor I.opcz, Mexican
revolutionist, makes Scraggs a gen
erous offer for transportation of
munitions to Ixm'er California.
Scraggs accepts, and the old Mag
glo Is onco moro put Into commis
sion. Arriving nt Ills destination,
Scraggs finds his oLl companion,
Mr, Glbncy, Is tho consignee. Time
having rottmed animosities, the re
union Is joyful. Glbney plans to
steal tho nmmunltlon and convey
It to revolutionists In Colombia. On
tho way thoy aro attacked by a
Xfexlcan gunboat nnd a terrific
combat ensues.
I
I
CHAPTER IX Continued.
10
As the first muzzle burst raked the
Mexican Captain Scraggs saw tbnt
most of the terrible blast of lead bad
gone too high. Nevertheless, It was
effective, for to a man the crews of
the one-pounders deserted their posts
nnd tumbled below; seeing which the
Individual In command lost his nerve.
He was satisfied now that the Infernal
Magglo purposed ramming him ; he had
marveled that tho filibuster should
use shrupncl, after she had ranged
with shell (he did not know It was
percussion shrapnel) and In sudden
panic ho decided tlint the Maggie, mor
tally wounded, purposed getting dose
enough to sink htm with shell-fire If
sho failed to ram htm ; whereupon the
yellow streak cumn through and he
waved his arms frantically above his
head In token of surrender,
"She's hauled down her rag,"
shrieked Scraggs. "Be morclfnl, Olb,
There's men dyln' on that boat"
"Lay alongside tbnt craft," Mr. Glb
ney shouted to the helmsman. Tho
schooner had hove to and when tho
Maggie also hove to some thirty yards
to wlndwurd of her Mr. Glbnoy In
formed the Mexican, In utroclous Span
(all well mixed with English, that If
the latter so much as lifted his little
finger he might expect to bo sunk like
n dog. "Down below, everybody but
tho helmsman, or I'll sweep your
decks with another muzzle burst," he
thundered.
The Mexican obeyed and Captain
Scraggs went up in rtie pilot house nnd
laid the terribly battered Maggie
alongside the schooner. The Instant
she touched, Mr, Glbnoy sprang
aboard, quickly followed by Captain
Scraggs, who had relinquished the
helm to his first mate.
Suddenly Captain Sraggs shouted,
"Look, Gib, for the love of th Lord,
look I" and pointed with his finger. At
the head of the little trotfrallefl com-mnlon-wny
leading down into the en
Cine room nan wa atandlng. Be
had a monkoy wrench In one hrnid nnd
a greasy rag In tho other.
Mr. Glbney turned and looked at the
juan.
"McGuffey, for a thousand I" he bel
lowed, und ran forward with out
stretched hand. Captain Scraggs was
at Glbney's heels, nnd between them
thoy came very nearly dislocating Bar
tholomew McGuffey's arm,
"McGuffey, my dear boy," said Cap
tain Scraggs. "Whatever are you
a-doln' on tills heathen battleship?"
"Mo I" ejnculnted Mr. McGuffey, with
his old-time deliberation. "Why, I'm
the chief engineer of this craft. I had
a good Job, too, but I guess It's nil off
now, unci the Mexican governmcnt'll
lire "me. Say, who chucked that buck
idiot down Into my engine room?"
"Admiral Glbney did It," said
Scraggs. "Tho old Maggie's along
side and mo nnd Gib's filibusters. Bunr
a hand, Mac, und help us clap tho
hatches on our prisoners."
"Thank God," said Mr. Glbney pious
ly, "I didn't kill you. Come to look
Into tho matter, I didn't kill nuybody,
though I see half a dozen Mexicans
around dcckB more or less cut tip.
Whero you been all these years, Mac?"
"I been chief engineer In the Mexi
can navy," replied McQuffoy. "Have
you captured us In the name of the
United States or what?"
"Wo've captured you In tho name or
Adelbert I. Glbnoy," was tho reply. "I
been huntln' all my life for n ship or
my own, and now I've got her. Lord,
Mac, she's a beuuty, ain't she? All
hardwood finish, tenk rail, well found,
and Just the ticket for the Island
trade. Well, well, well I I'm Captain
Glbney nt last."
"Where do I come In, Gib?" asked
Captain Scraggs modestly. .
"Well, scelu' as the Mugglu hns to
holes through her hull below tho wn-
terllnc, nnd Is generally nicked to
pieces, you might quit askln' questions
and get back nhnnrd nnd put the
pumps on her. You're lucky If she
don't sink on you before we get to Des
cntifio bny. If she sinks, don't worry.
I'll glvo you n Job as my first mate.
Sine, you're my engineer, but not at no
fancy Mexican prlre. I'll pay you the
union scale and not n blasted cent
moro or less. Is that fair?"
McGufrey said it was, and went be
low to tune up his engine. Mr. Glbney
took the wheel of the gunboat, and
sent Captain Scruggs bad; aboard the
Maggie, and In a fow minutes both
vessels were bowling along toward
Ucseanso bay. They were off the hay
ut midnight, and while with Mr. Glb
ney In command of the federal gun
boat Captain Scraggs had nothing to
fear, the rapid rise or water in me
hold of the Mngglo was sadly discon
certing. About daylight he made up
his mind that she would sink within
two hours, and without pnuslng to
whine over his predicament, he
promptly beached her. She drove far
up tho beach, with the siiici: water
breaking around her scarred stern, and
when the title ebbed she lay high and
dry. And tho rebel soldiers came
trooping down from the Megatio
rancho and falling upon her carcass
like so many ants, quickly distributed
her cargo amongst them, and disap
peared. Captain Scraggs sent his crew out
nbonrd tho enptured gunboat to assist
Mr. Glbney In rowing his prisoners
ashore, and when finally he stood
alono beside tho wreck of the brave
old Maggie, plied up at Inst In tho port
of missing ships, something snupped
within his breast und tho big tears
rolled In quick succession down his
sun-tnnncd cheeks. Tho old hulk
looked peculiarly pathetic as she lay
thore, listed over on her benm ends.
Sho had served him well, but she had
finished her lust voyage, and with some
vague ldon of saving her old bones
from vandal hnnds, Captain Scraggs,
sobbing audibly, scattered tho contents
of half a dozen cans of kerosene over
her decks and In tho cabin, lighted
fires In threo different sections of the
wreck, and left her to tho consuming
llnmes. Half an hour later he btood
on the battered decks of the gunboat
beside Glbney nnd McGuffey and
watched the dense clouds of smoke
Hint heralded the passing of tho Mug
gle. "She was a good old hulk," said
Mr. Glbney. "And iow, as tho spo-
clal envoy or the Liberal army of Mex
ico, here's a draft on Los Angeles for
ilvo thousand bucks, Scrnggsy, which
constitutes tho balance duo you on
this hero filibuster trip. Of course,
I needn't remind you, Scrnggsy, that
you'd never have earned this money If
It hadn't been for Adelbert P. Glbnoy
workln' his Imagination overtime.
I've made you a chunk of money, and
while I couldn't save your ship, I did
suvo your life. As u reward for all
this, I don't claim one cent of tho
money due you, ns I could if I wanted
to be rotten mean, I'm goln' to keep
tills flno little power schooner for ray
share of the loot. She's nicked up
some, but that only bears evidence to
what a bully good shot I am, aud It
won't take, much to fix her up all ship
shape ugaln. Usln' high hursts
shrapnel uln't very destructive. All
them bumps an' scratches can be
planed down. But we'll have to do
some mendln' on her canvas I'll tell
the world. She's called tho Uelna
oAuthor of'
"WEBSTER-MAN'S
MAN,"
"THE VALLEY
of the
GIANTS,"
Etc.
Mtirla, but I'm going to run her to
Panama nnd change her name. She'll
bo known ns Maggie II, out of re
spect for the old girl that's burnlii'
up there on the beach."
Captain Scruggs was so touched at
this delicate little tribute that he
turned away and burst Into teuvs.
"Aw, shut up, Scrnggsy, old hunks,"
said McGuffey consolingly. "You
uln't got nothln' to cry about. You're
a rich man. Look at mc. I uln't
u-buwlln', am I? And I don't get so
much ns n bean out of this mix-up,
ull on account of mo belli' tied up
with a lot of hounds that quits fight
In' before they're hulf licked."
"That's so," said Captain Scraggs,
wiping his eyes with his grimy fists.
"I declare you're out In the cold, Mc
Guffey, nnd It uln't right. Gib, my
boy, us threo hns .hnd somo stlrrln'
times together nnd wo've had our dif
ferences, but I ain't a-goln' to think
of them past griefs. The sight o' you,
single-handed, mcctln' and nunlhllatln'
tho pride of tho Mexican navy, culm
In tit moment o' despair, generous In
victory and delicate us blazes to n
fallen shipmate, goln' to work nn'
nnmln' your vessel after him that way,
Is somcthltr that wipes nwoy nil sor
rer nnd welds n friendship that's
bound to endoor till death us do part.
If McGuffey'd been on our side, we
know from past performances Mint
he'd n fit like a tiger, wouldn't you,
Mnc?" (Here Mr. McGuffey coughed
slightly, ns much ns to suy that he
would have fought like len tigers had
he only been given the opportunity.)
Cnptnln Scraggs continued : "I should
say that a fair valuation of this
schooner ns she stands is ten thousand
dollars. That belongs to Gib. Now
I'm wlllln' to chuck live thousand dol
lars Into the deal, we'll form n close
corporation und ns u compliment to
McGuffey. elect him chief engineer In
his own ship and glvo him, say, u
quarter Interest In our layout, us n
little testimonial to tin old friend, tried
nnd true."
"Scrnggsy," snld Mr. Glbney, "your
fin. We've fought, but we'll let that
go. Wo wipe the slate clean and start
In all over again on tho Maggie II,
and I'm freu to state, without fear of
contradiction, that In the last embrog
llo you showed up like four nces and
u king with the entire company stnnd
in' pat Scraggsy, you're a hero, and
whnt you propose proves that you're
vnnsidcruhtc of n singed cat better'n
you look. We'll go frcebootln' down
on the Gold coast. There's war, red
war, brenkln' loose down there, and
we'll shy In our horseshoe with the
strongest side und pry loose u fortuno
somewhere. I'm for u llfo of wild ad
venture, nnd now thnt we've got the
ship and the funds aud tho crew, let's
go to It. There's u deal or line liquor
In the wardroom, aud I suggest that
we nominate I'hlnens Scraggs, lute
master or the battleship Maggie, now
second In command of the Maggie II,
to brew a kettle o' hot grog to cele
brate our victory. Mac Scraggsy
your fins. I'm proud of you both.
Shake."
They shook and as Captain Glbney's
eye wandered aloft, First Mate Scraggs
and Chief Engineer McGuffey looked
"She'll Be Known as Maggie II, Out
of Respect for the Old Girl Th.it 'a
Burnln Up There on the, Beach."
up also. From the main topmus. of
the Maggie 11 flouted a long blue
burgee, with white lettering on it, nnd
as It whipped out Into the breeze the
old familiar name stood out against
the noonday sun.
"Good old dishcloth!" murmured Mr.
Glbney. "She never comes down."
"The Mngglo forever!" shrieked
Scruggs.
"Hooray!" bellowed McGuffey.' "An
now, Scruggsy, If you've got ull tho
enthusiasm out of your blood, kick In
with a hundred an' fifty dollnrs nn
Interest to date. An' dou't toll mc that
in -ill
Iff
note's outlawed, or I'll feed you to the
fishes."
Captain Scraggs looked crestfallen,
but produced tho money.
CHAPTER X.
"Well, Scraggsy, old hunks, this Is
ploasunt, uln't It?" snld Mr. Glbney,
und sput on the deck of the Maggie II.
"Itlght-o," replied Captain Scraggs
cheerily, "though when 1 was a young
feller and first went to sen, It' wasn't
considered no pleasantry to spit on u
nlto clean deck.' You might cut that
out, Gib. It's vulgar."
"l'assln' over the fact, Scraggs, that
you uln't gut no cull to Jerk me up on
sea ettycat, moro particular since I'm
tho mnstcr und muunglu' owner of tills
here schooner, I'm free to confess,
Scruggsy, that your observation does
you credit. I Just did Hint to see If
you was goln' to take as big an Inter
est In the new Muggie ns ou did In
tho old Maggie, aud the fact that you
object to me expcctonitln on the deck
proves to me that you're lonvln' behind
you all them buy scow tendencies of
the grcen-peu trade. It leads me to be
lieve thnt you'll rise to high rank nnd
distinction In the Colombian navy.
Your fin, Scruggsy. Expcctorntin' on
the decks Is barred, and the Maggie II
goes under nuvy discipline from now
on. Am I right?"
"Jllght us u right whule," wild Cap
tain Scraggs. "And now thnt you've
given that old mate of mine the course,
and we've temporarily plugged up the
holes' In this here Mexican gunboat,
rind everything points to a safe and
profitable voyage from now on, sup
pose you delegate me as a committee
of one to brew n scuttle of grog, nfter
which the syndicate holds a niettln'
und lays out n course for Its future
conduct. There's a few questions of
runk nnd privileges that ought to he
settled once und for nil, so there cun't
be no come-back."
"The point Is well taken and It Is
m ordered," said Mr. Glbney, who hail
once held office' in Hnrhor 1.". Muster
und Pilots Association of America, und
knew n fragment or two of parlia
mentary law. "Bustle up the grog, call
McGulTey up out of the engine room,
und we'll hold the ineetln'."
Twenty minutes later Scruggs came
on deck to unnounco the successful
concoction of n kettle of whisky punch ;
whereupon the three ndventurers went
below nnd sut down at the cabin table
for u conference.
"I move thnt Gib be appointed presi
dent of the syndicate," said Captain
Scraggs.
"Second thu motion," rumbled Mc
Guffey. "The motion's carried," snld Mr. Gib
ney. and banged the table with his
horny list. "The mootln' will please
come to order. Tho chair hereby ap
points Phlueus Scraggs secretary of
the syndicate, to keep n tecord of this
and nil future mcetln's of the board.
I will now entertain propositions of
any nnd nil natures, und I Invite the 1
members or tho board to knock the
stopper out of their Jaw tackle and
go to It."
"I move," said Captain Scraggs, "that
B. McGuffey, Esquire, be, and he Is
hereby nppolntod, chief engineer of the
Maggie II nt n salary not to exceed
the wage schedule of the Marino En
gineers' Association of the Pacific
coast, and thnt he be voted n
one-fourth Interest hi the vessel and
ull subsequent profits."
"Second the motion," said Mr. Gib-
ney, "und not to bumper the business
of the meetln', we'll Just consider that
motion carried unanimous."
B. McGulTey, Esquire, rose, bowed
his thanks, nnd sat down again, ap
parently very much confused. It was
evident that he hail something to say,
but was having dllllculty framing his
thoughts In parliamentary language.
"neuve away, Mac," said Mr. Glb
ney. "Cnst off your lines, McGuffey,"
chirped Scraggs.
Thus encouraged, McGurfey rose,
bowed his thanks once more, moistened
his Inrnyx with a gulp of the punch,
nnd spoko:
"Feller members and brothers of thu
syndicate: In the management of the
deck department of this now craft of
ourn, my 'previous knowledge of the
worthy president nnd the unworthy
secretary leuds me to believe thut
there's coin' to be trouble. A shin
divided ugln herself must surely go
on her beum cuds. Now, Scrnggsy
here has been master so long that the
Julco of authority lias sorter soaked
Into his marrer bones. For twenty
yenrs It's been 'Howdy do, Captain
Scruggs,' 'Hove a drink, Captain
Scraggs.' 'Captnln Scraggs this nn'
Cnptuln Scraggs that.' I don't mean
no offense, gentlemen, when I state
thnt you can't teach an old dog new
tricks. No man that's ever been a
master makes n good mute. On the
other hand. I realize that Gib here
bus been n-pnutln' und n-bcllyachln'
nil hlSs life to get a ship of his own
nn' hnvo folks call him 'Captain Gib
ncyj Now thnt he's gone an' done
it, I say he's entitled to It. But the
fnct of the whol thing Is, Gib's the
natural leader of the expedition or
whatever It's goln' to be, and he can't
have his peace of mind wrecked and
ills plans disturbed n-chnshi' Millors
around tho deck of the Maggie II.
Gib is sorter what the feller cnlls
tho power behind the throne. He's
too big u llggcr for tho grade of cap
tain. Therefore, I move you,' gentle
men, that Adelbert P. Glbney be, nud
is hereby nominated nnd appointed to
the grade of commodore, in full com
mand und supervision of ull of tho
nronertv of the syndicate. And I al-
so move Hint Phlnens Scraggs be an
pointed chief navlgatln' ofllcer of this
packet, to retain his title of captain,
and to be obeyed and respected ns
such by every man nbonrd with the
exception of mc and Gib. The pres-
- nt mnte'll do the navlgatln' while)
Scwggsy'.s lenrnln' thn deep uea Bluff."
"Second Hie motion," rulil Captain
Scraggs briskly. ".MeGiinej, jour ar
gument docs you it heap of credit.
It's It's dog my cats, McGulTey, li'.s
masterly. It show u kien apprecia
tion of tin old skipper's leelln'.s, and
If the move Is agieeahle to Gib, I'm
wlllln' to hail liiui as commotion; and
fight to maintain his ollicc I 1 dun
no, Gilt, what I'd do If I didn't huve a
mute to order around."
"Gentlemen," said Mr. Glbney, beam
ing, "the motion's carried unanimous,
Captain chief jour flu. I look me.
l'tp honoied by the hand-hake. Now,
regarding that crew jou hrougn: down
from Sail Francisco iu the oia Mag
gie, Scruggs, they're u likely lot and
will come lu hundy If times Is us live
ly In Colombia as I llggcr they, will
be when we anlu there. Captain
Scraggs, you will huve your mate pipe
the crew to muster and nseertnln their
feel In's on Hie subject of taklu' u
chance with Coiuinodoie Glbney. If
they object to goln' further, we'll land
'cm lu Panama an' pay 'em off us
agreed. If they feel like follnwln' the
Jolly lloger we'll give 'em the coast
seaman's scale for n docp-wnter cruise
nnd u 'live per cent bonus hi case we
turn n big trick."
Captnln Scruggs went at once on
deck. Ten minutes later ho returned
to report that the mute und the four
seamen elected to stick by the ship.
"Bully boys." said the commodore
"bully boys. I like that inn to. He's
u sranrt man nnd handles a gun well.
"Gentlemen and Brothers of the Syn
dicate," He Began.
While I should hesitate to take ad-,
vantage of my prerogative as comtnoi
doie to Interfere with the normnl work
in's of the deck department, I trust
that on this special occasion our es
teemed navlgatln' oiliccr, Captain
Scraggs, will not consider It beneath
his dignity or nn attack on his olllce
If I suggest to him that lie brew an
other kettle of grog for the crew."
"Second the motion," replied Mc
GufTey. "Carried," said Scraggs, nnd pro
ceeded to heat some water.
"Anything further?" stated the pres
ident.
"How about uniforms?" This from
Captnln Scraggs.
"We'll leave thut to Gib," suggested
Mi Guffoy. "He's been In the Colombi
an navy and he'll know just whnt to
get us."
"Well, there's another tiling Hint's
got to be settled," continued Cnptuln
Scraggs. "If I'm to be navlgatln' oili
ccr on the flagship of u furrln' fleet,
strike me pink If. I'll do more cookln'
lu the galley. It's degradln'. I movo
thut we engage some onterprisiu' Ori
ental for that Job."
"Carried," said Mr. Glbncy. "Any
further business?"
Once more McGuffey stood up. "Gen
tlemen nnd brothers of the syndicate,"
he began, "I'm saUsfled that the buck
bltln', thu scmpphi', tho petty Jeul-
ousles and general eussedness that
characterized our lives on tho old
Maggie will not be duplicated on the
Muggie II. Theih vicious days Is gone
forever, I hope, nn' from now on the
motto of us three should be:
"All for onn and one for all
United wo stand, divided wo full."
This earnest little speech, which
came straight from the honest McGuf
fey's heart, brought tho tears to the
commodore's eyes. Under the Inspira
tion or McGuffey's unselfish words the
glasses were retllted and ull three
pledged their friendship anew. As for
Captain Scraggs. be wus naturally of
n cold and sulflsh disposition, nnd Mc
Guffey's toast appealed more to his
brain than to his heart. Had he known
what was to happen to him In the
days to come and whnt that simple
little motto was to mean in his par
ticular cusu It Is doubtful if he would
huve tossed off his liquor us gnlly as
he did.
CTO DI3 CONTINUKD.)
Has One- Good Point.
Scribbler "Do you find nny merit
In my poem?" Editor "Well, it isn't
very long." Boston Transcript
If a pair of shoes aro too small they
may fit a woinnn, but If thoy arc too
largo she bus a fit
Tho Maggie II sails for
the South teas.
CITY OF MISERY
Desolation Marks the Great
Georgian Capital.
All 'Gayety and Prosperity Vanished
With Introduction of the Bol-
chevlk Influence.
Tinis, Georgia, Is today it city dreary
by day, terrible by night. Tho Inst
city of Inipottnnce to come under tho
Influence of the Bolshevik emblem of
the hummer nnd the scythe, replnclng
the double-headed eagle of the em
pire, here are contrasted the happy
old days of guyety and prosperity with
the dull misery or the new regime.
At the rullwny station, on entering
the city, the difference Is seen and felt.
Instead of swaggering guards In black
boots, black long couts and Hashing
silver belts nnd swords, aro seen n few
lll-dresscd red soldiers, looking hungry
nnd uncomfortable In Ill-fitting clothes
held together by a loose belt Bare
footed, dirty, white-faced, ragged boys
clamor for u chance to, carry baggage.
Peasant women nrid bourgeois wom
en of tho old regime stagger along un
der londs of baggage or pnekages
of food nnd fruit brought from Uie
country. Broken-down bucks wait for
fares, pulled by thin, underfed horses.
The streets are dirty and ill-swept,
full of holes.
People wear clothes that seem t
belong to another era. Here, where n
dozen tongues were spoken and where
100 tribes used to gather In the proud'
finery of their national costumes, nil
Is down at the heel.
Women often go stocklnglcss Their
shoes show signs of patches done over
und over ngaln until they are com
posed of patches only. Their skirt:
may be of old pieces of silk nnd tlicli
Jnckets of military cloth, or even thr
black leather of nvhitor coats. Shawh
have replaced hats.
The men civilians wear clothes that
nre n parody on shabby gentility. Their
top boots are all top, the soles and
heels long since worn nwuy. All sorta
of mllltnry odds and ends, from nil
the nrnilcs of Europe, contribute to
their dress khaki puttees, yellow
leather Jackets, British canvas trous
ers, French blue cups,' United Stn'vs
urmy coats.
The stores are boarded up, for the
most part, nnd when open only have
a few bottles of French or Italian per
fumes, nnd little else. A pair of Amer
ican shoes of poor quality was seen in
one window, marked 750.000 rubles,
an incredible sum of money In u city
where u monthly snlnry of a soviet em
ployee Is 3,000 to 5,000 rubles.
Small trading Is done on the market
place, where starving families sell off
llnery nnd Jewelry which escaped the
wrecks of their homes. These homes,
once so comfortable and bountiful In
hospltnllty, nre cold for lack of fuel,
dreary for lack of food, often curtain
less, with here nnd there bullet marks
on the outside walls. The toilets and
baths arc useless because the city
water supply Is cut off for lack of fuel.
The Bed urmy of occupation has or
ders from Moscow to be "good" to
Georginns and It is "good," yet Its com
manders go about with set, stern faces,
as If tho woild was watching.
Cholera In summer, starvation lu
winter this Is the lot of Georgia.
Busiest Station In the World.
Twenty years ago Londoners. prouJ
of thu size of the city and the dimen
sions of Its traffic, used to point to the
fact that Clnphnni Junction was the
busiest railway station in the world
on nn average n train n minute passed
through It Now thnt record Is doubled
qt the Underground station nt Earl's
court, whero 1-0 trains an hour puss
through during the rush hours, and nt
Charing Cross, with Its three under
ground stations In one, there are often
four nml on un nvernge three trains
i minute. Twenty years ngo, ngaln,
thore were no motor omnibuses, und
the horse omnibuses were but n frac
tion of their number. During tho
busiest hours today 010 omnibuses pass
Charing Cross In tho hour, 500 pass
the bank, 542 pass Oxford Circus anil
518 puss Piccadilly Circus. Omnibuses
and underground trains carry 4,000,000
passengers u dny. The population hns
Increased less than 20 per cent slnc
the beginning of the century, but for
every Journey In bus. tram, train, or
cnb people made then, they make be
tween :U) and 40 today.
Put Liability on City.
In thu Botanical gardens, Glasgow,
belonging to the city, was a bed of
specimen plants, Including some bella
donna. Children ate some of the
bright purple berries of this, became
111, nnd one of them died. The father
sued the city for damages on the.
ground that tho death of his son was
duo to Its fault.
Tho judge dismissed Hie suit, but
this Judgment wus reversed on ap
peal. A further appeal was taken to
the house of lords, which has Just de
cided against the city. It holds that
ns the children were entitled to go
where the shrub grew, that no warn
ing was given to parents or guardians,
and thut the city authorities knew of
the danger of the pretty but dendly
berries, their presence might be con
sidered a trap for tho yery young, und
therefore the city was fully liable.
Regulating the Ratio.
"I have devised n motor that will
run thirty miles to the gallon," ex
claimed tho Inventor.
"I'm glad to hear It," said Mr. Dus
in Stux. "Tills announcement will
Justify tin Immediate Increase In tho
price of gas."
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