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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1922)
RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF i i:l 1 H J' r' I II ' J.' I ,( Ml ; II. Hi I I CThe oAuthor of Copyright, by Ptter D. Kyn CHAPTER XII Continued. 13 After lircnkfnst Commodore Ollincy ordered thnt tlio prisoners !o brought before him. Tlio cook served them with lircnkfnst, nntl ns they nte, tliu commodore reminded them tlmt It was mly through his pcrsonnl efforts nml ills natural disinclination to return blow for blow tlmt they wcro nt tlmt moment enjoying n square meal In stead of swinging In the rigging. "I'm goln to glvo you two yeggs n chance to reform," concluded Mr. Gib ney, addressing Tabu-Tabu. "If you show us where we can got a enrgo of black coral and work linrtl and faith ful hclpln' us to got It nbonrd, It may help you to comb a few gray linlrs. I'm goln' to take the Irons orf now, but re member! At the first sign of the double-cross you'i both shark meat." On behalf of himself and the king, Tabu-Tabu promised to behave, and McGuffoy kicked them both Into the small boat. The mate and two sea men followed In another boat, In which the air-pump and diving apparatus was carried, and Tabu-Tabu piloted them to n patch of still water Just In side the reef. The water was so clear Hint McGulTey was enabled to mnkc out vast marine gardens thickly sprinkled with the precious blnck coral. "Over you go, you two smokes," rasped McGuffoy, menacing the enp tlves with his rltle. "UIvc deep, my hearties, and bring up whnt you can llud, and If a shark comes along and takes a nip out of your hind leg, diTn't expect no help from It. McGuffoy, Esquire because, you won't got nny." For nearly two weeks the Maggie II lay nt anchor, while her crow labored dnlly In the gardens of the deep. Vast "Aro You Sure It Ain't All a Dream?" quantities of pearl oysters were brought to the surface, and these Mr. Glbney stewed personally In a groat Iron pot on the bench. The shell was stored uwny In the hold and the pearls went Into a chamois pouch which never for nn Instnnt was out of the commo dore's possession. The const at that point being now deserted, frequent visits ashore were made, and the crew feasted on young pig, chicken, yarns and other delicacies. Captain Scraggs wns nlmost delirious with Joy. He an nounced that be had not been so happy since Mrs. Scraggs "slipped her cnblc." At the end of two weeks Mr. Glbney decided tlmt thero was "loot" enough ashore to complete the schooner's cargo, nnd nt n meeting of the syndi cate held one lovely moonlight night on deck he announced his plans to Captain Scraggs and McGuffey. "Hotter leave the Island alone," counseled McGuffey. "Them niggers may bo n-lnyln' there ten thousand strong, waltln' for a bont's crow to come prowlln' up Into the bush so they can nab 'em." "I've thought of that, Mac," snhl the commodore n trifle coldly, "nnd If I made a sucker of myself once It don't stand to reason that I'm apt to do It iignln. Itcmcmbcr, Mnc, a burnt child dreads the lire. Tomorrow morning, right nfter breakfast, we'll turn tho guns loose nnd pepper the bush for a mile or two In every direction. If there's a native within range he'll have business In the next county and we won't bo disturbed none." Mr. GIbney's program was duly put through and the cnpltnl of Kandavu looted of the trade accumulations of years. And when the hatches were finally battened down, the tanks re filled with fresh water, and everything In readiness to leave Kandavu for the run to Honolulu, Mr. Glbney announced to the syndicate that tho profits of the expedition would figure close up to n hundred thousand dollars. Captain Scraggs gasped and fell limply against the mainmast. "Gib, my dear boy," he sputtered, 'are you sure It ain't all a dream nnd Hint we'll wnko up eomo day and find D'ut we're still In the green-pea trade; Qreen By PETER 'WEBSTERMAN'S MAN," that all these months we've been asleep under a cabbage leaf, communln' with potnto bugs?" "Not for u minute," replied the com modore. "Why, I got a dozen matched pearls bore Hint's lit for a queen. 15lg, red, ponr-shnped boys regular blood In' hearts. There's ten thousand each In them alone." "Well, I'll I'll brew some grog," gnspod Captain Scruggs, und depnrtod forthwith to the galley. Fifteen min utes Inter he returned with n kettle of his favorite nepenthe nnd till throe adventurers drank to a lion voyage homo. At the conclusion of the toast Mr. McGuffey set down bis glass, wiped bis mouth with the back of his hairy hand, nnd thus addressed the syndicate. "In leavln' this paradise of the South Pacific," ho began, "we 11ml thnt we have accumulated other wealth besides the loot boJnw docks. I refer to his royal highness, the king of Kandavu, and bis prime minister, Tabu-Tabu. When these two outlaws wns llrst cap tured, I Informed the syndicate that I would scheme out n punishment bo flttln' their crime, to-wu inuriterln' an' entln' you two boys. It's been a big Job and It's taken some time, mo not belli' blessed with quite as line an Imagination ns our friend, Gib. How ever, I pride myself thnt hnrd work al ways brings success, and I inn ready to announce! what disposition shall be Hindu of these two Intercstln' speci mens of aboriginal life. I beg to an nounce, gentlemen, that I have Invent ed n putiMiment flttln' the crime." "Impossible," said Captain Scraggs. "Shut up. Scraggs," struck In Com modore Glbney. "(Hit with It, Mao. What's the program?" "I move you, members of the syndi cate, that the schooner Maggie II pro ceed to some barren, uninhabited Island, nml thnt upon arrival there Ihls savage king and his still more savage subject bo taken ashore In a small boat. I also move you, gentle men of the syndicate, thnt Inasmuch us the two aggrieved parties, A. I1. Glbney and I. Scraggs, having In a sporrlt of mercy refrained from lnyln' tbolr hands on said prisoners for fear of Invalldln' thorn at u time when their services was of Importance to the ex pedition, be given an opportunity to take out their grudge on the persons of said savages. Now, I notice that tho king Is a miserable, skimpy, sawed off and hammerod-down old cove. By all the rules of the prize ring he's In Soraggsy's clnss." (Here Mr. McGuf foy Hashed n lightning wink to the commodore. It was an appeal for Mr. GIbney's mornl support In the engi neer's scheme to put up a Job on Cap tain Scraggs, and thus relieve the tedium of the homeward trip. Mr. Glbney Instantly telegraphed his an- probation, and McGulTey continued.) "I notice also that If I was to hunt the universe over, I couldn't And a better match for Gib than Tabu-Tabu. And ns we are all agreed that the white race Is superior to nny nice on onrth, und It'll do us nil good to see a tine mill before we leave tho country, I move you, gentlemen of the syndicate, that we pull off a finish tight between Scrnggsy and the king, und Gib and Tabu-Tabu. I'll referee both contests nnd nt the conclusion of the mlxup we'll leave these two murderers ma rooned on the lslnnd nnd then" "lints," sniippod Captain Scraggs. "That ain't no business at all. You shouldn't consider nothln' short of capital punishment. Why, that's only a petty larceny form of " "Quit btittln' In on my prerogatives," roared McGufTcy. "Thnt ain't the fin ish by no menus." "Whnt Is the finish, then?" "Why, these two cannibals, beln' left alone on the desert lslnnd, nnlurally bumps up agin the old question of tho survival of tho fittest. They get scrap pin' nmong themselves, and ona mits the other up." "By tho toe-nails of Moses," mut tered Mr. Glbney In genuine admlra tlon, "but you hnve got nn lmnglnn Hon nfter all, Mnc. The point Is well token and the program will go through ns outlined. Scraggs, you'll fight the king. No buck'ln' nnd grumblln'. You'll light the king. You're outvoted two to one, the thing's been done regular, and you can't kick. 111 light Tabu-Tabu, so you see you're not gettln' any tho worst of It. We'll proceed to nn Island In tho Friendly group called Tuviinn tholo. It lies right In our homewnrd course, nnd there ain't enough grub on tho confounded lslnnd to last two men n week. And I know there ain't no water there. So, now that thnt matter Is all settled, we will proceed to heavo the anchor and scoot for homo. Mac, tuno up your engines and we'll get out of hero a-whoopln' and a-flyln'." It was an elght-hundred-mllo run up to Tuvnnn-tholo, but the weather held good and tho trade-winds never slack cned. Ton days from the date of leav lng Kandavu they hovo to off the Island. It wns a long, low, sandy atoll, with a few coconut-palms growing In tho center of It, and with the exception of n vast colony of soablrds that ap parently made It their headquarters, tho Island was devoid of life. Tho bloodthirsty McGulTey stood at the break of the poop, nnd ns bo gazed shoreward ho chuckled and rubbed his hands together, Pea Pirates B. KYNE "THE VALLEY OF THE GIANTS," Etc i "Great, groat," ho murmured. "I roiildn'l have gotten a better Island If I'd had one built to order." Ho called lift to Hie navigating ofllceri "Scrng gsy, there's the ring. Nothln' else to do now but get the contestants Into It. Along In the tale afternoon, when the heat of tho day Is over, we'll go ashore and pull off the fight. And, by George, Scraggs, If that old king succeeds In Inmbustln' you, I'll set the rascal free." Seeing Hint there was no escape, Cnptnlii Scragga decided to bluff the mutter through. "Let's go nshoro and hnve It over with," he said carelessly. "I'm a man of ponce, but when there's llghtln' to be done, I say go to It and no tomfoolery." "Clear away tho big whaleboat with two men to pull us ashore," said Mr. Glbney to the mnte. Five minutes later tho moihbers of the syndicate, ac companied by the captives, climbed into tho ubalebnnt nnd shoved off, leaving tho Maggie II In charge of tho mate. "We'll be back In half an hour," called the commodore, as thoy rowed away from the schoondr. "Just ratch back and forth and keep hoavln' the load." They negotiated the fringe of break ers to tho north of the lslnnd success fully, pulled tho boat up on the beach, and proceeded nt once to business. Mr. Glbney explained to Tnhu-Tabu whnt? was expected of htm, nnd Tuhu-Tnbti In turn explained to the king. It wns not tho habit of white men, so Mr. Glbney explained, to kill their prison ors In cold blood, nnd he hnd decided to glvo them an opportunity to fight their way out of a sad prcdlcnnient with their naked fists. If they won, thoy would bo tnkon bnck nbonrd the schooner and Inter dropped nt some Inhnbltcd Island. If they lost, they must make their home for the future on Tuvnnn-tholo. "Lot 'or go," culled McGuffoy, nnd Mr. Glbney squnrod off nnd made a hearllke pass at Tabu-Tabu. To the amazement of all present Tabu-Tabu sprang lightly backward and avoided the blow. Ills footwork was excellent and McGuffoy' remarked as much to Captain Scraggs. But when Tabu Tabu put up his hands nfter the most approved method of self-defense nnd dropped Into n "crouch," McGuffey could no longer contain himself. "The beggar can light, tho beggar can fight," bo croaked, wild with joy. "Scraggs, old man, thls'll be a rnrij mill. I promise you. lie's been "aboard a British mnn-o'-wnr nnd learned how to box. Steady, Gib. Upper-cut him, upper wow I" Tabu-Tabu had stepped In nnd planted a mighty right In the center of Mr. GIbney's physiognomy, following It up with a bard left to the commo dore's oar. Mr. Glbney rocked a mo ment on his sturdy legs, stepped back out of range, dropped both hands, and stared at Tabu-Tabu. "I do believe the nlgger'll lick you, Gib," said McGuffey anxiously. "He's got a horrible roach and a mule kick In each mlt. Close with him, or he's due for a full pardon." "In a minute," said the commodore faintly. "lie's so good I hate to hurt him. But I'll Intlght him to n finish." Which Mr. Glbney forthwith pro ceeded to do. Ho rushed his opponent nnd clinched, though not until his right Rocked a Moment on Hlo Sturdy Leuo. eye wns In mourning nnd n stiff Jolt In the short ribs hnd caused him to grunt In most Ignoble fashion. But few men could withstand Mr. Glbney once he got to close quarters. Tabu Tnbu wrapped his long nrms nroutid tho commodore nnd endeavored to smother his blows, but Mr. Glbney would not bo denied. Ills great (1st shot upwnrd from tho hip nnd con nected with tho cnnnlbnl's chin. Tnlai Tabu relaxed his hold, Mr. Glbney fol lowed with left and right to Uio bead lit quick succession, and McGun'ey wus counting the fatal ten over tho fallen wnrrlor. Mr. Glbney grinned rather foolish- ly, spnt, nnd spoke to McGulTey, solo voce: "By George, the Joke uln't nil on Scrnggsy," ho said. Then turning ,to Captain Scraggs: "Help yourself to the mustard, Scrnggsy, old tnrpot. Captain Scraggs took off bis hat, rolled up his sleeves, and made u dive for the royal presence. Ills majesty, lacking the sclontllle training of his prime minister, seized u handful of the Scraggs mane and tore at It cruel ly. A well-directed kick In the shins, however, caused him to let go, and it moment Inter he was flying up the beach with the angry Scraggs In full cry after him. McGuffey headed tho king off mid rounded him up so Scraggs could get at him, and the "hit ter at once "dug In" like a terrJer. After five minutes of mauling and tearing Cnptnln Scraggs wns out of brcnth, so he let go and stood off a few feet to size up the situation. The wicked McGuffey was laughing Immod erately, but to Scraggs It was no laughing matter. Tho fnet of the unit tor was the king was dangerous and Scruggs had glutted himself with re venge. "1 don't want to heat nn old man to dontb," ho gasped llnnlly. "I'll let the scoundrel go. lie's had enough and he won't light. Lot's mosey nlong back to tho schooner and leave them here to ainiiso themselves the best wny they know how." "Itlght-O." said Mr. Glbney. nnd turned to walk down tho beach to the boat. A second later a hoarse scream of rage and terror broke from his lips. "What's up?" cried McGuffoy, the laughter dying out of his voice, for there was a hint of death In Mr. GIb ney's cry. "Marooned !" said the commodore hoarsely. "Those two sailors have pulled back to the schooner, nnd there look, .Mao! My Gawd!" McGuffey looked, nnd his face went whiter than the foaming breakers be yond which ho could see Maggie II. un der full sail, headed for the open sea. Tho small boat had been picked up, and thero was no doubt that at her present rate of speed the schooner would be hull down on the horizon by sunset. "The inurderln' bound," whispered McGulTey, nnd sagged down on the sands. "Oh, the inurderln' hound of a mnte!" "It's It's mutiny." gulped Cnptnln Scraggs In a hnrd, strained voice. "That bloody llcnd of a mute ! The sly sncnk-thlef, with his pleasant smile nnd his wlnnln' ways! Saw a chance to stenl the Maggie and her rich cargo, and he Is leavln' us bore, marooned on a desert Island, with two cannibals." Captain Scraggs fairly shrieked the Inst two words nnd burst Into tears. "Lord, Gib. old man," he raved, "what ever will we do?" Thus appealed to, the doughty com modore permitted his two unmntched optics to rest mournfully upon his shipmates. . He gulped and thoughtfully rubbed tho knuckles of his right bund where the skin wns burked off. He thought of the silly Joke lie nnd McGuffey hud thought to perpetrate on Captain Scraggs by loading him up against a beating at the hands of n caunlbnl king, and with the thought came n grim, hard chuckle, though thero was the look of a thousand devils In his eyes. "Well, Mac, old sporty boy, I guess there ain't much to do except to make up our minds to die like gentlemen. If I was ever fooled by a iiiiin In my life. I was fooled by that doggone mnte. I thought he'd tote square with the syn dicate. I sure diil." For ii long time McGuffoy pi zed sen wnrd. He wns slower than his ship mntos In making up his mind that the mute had really deserted thorn and sailed uway with the fortunes of the syndicate. Of the three, however, the stolcnl engineer nccepted the situation with tho best grace. He spurned tho white sand with his foot und faced Mr. Glbney and Captain Scraggs with Just the suspicion of n grin on bis homely face. "I ninko a motion," he said, "that the syndicate, pass a resolution con demnln' tho action of tho mate." It was a forlorn hope, and the Jest went, over the heads of the deck de partment. Said Mr. Glbney sadly: "There ain't no more Maggie II syn dlcate." CHAPTER XIII. Nolls llnlvorsen often wondered whnt had become of the Mnggle nnd Captain Scraggs. Mr. Glbney nnd Bar tholomew McGiifTey ho knew bad turned their sun-tunned faces toward deep water some years before Cnptnln Scraggs und tho Maggie disappeared from tho envlroits of Sun Francisco bay, nnd Nells llnlvorsen wns wise enough to waste no tlmo wondering what had become nL',them. Thesu two worthies might bo anywhere, nnd every conceivable thing under the sun might hnve happened to them; hence, In his Idle moments, Nells llnlvorsen did not disturb his gray mutter spec ulating on their whereabouts and their then condition of servitude. But tho continued obsenco of Cnp tnln -Scraggs from his old hnunts cre ated Quite a Uttlo gossip aloug Mic waterfront, nnd In the course of time rumors of his demise by sundry und devious routes came to the oars of Nells llnlvorsen. Hence "The Squnrehcnd" was puz zled. In fact, to such an extent wns Nells puzzled, Hint one perfectly calm, clear night, while heating down t'nn Pablo buy In his bay scow, the Willie and Annie, he so far forgot himself and his own nfTnlrs as to concentrate all his attention on tho problem of tho ultimate finish of Cnptnln Scruggs, So engrossed wns Nells lu this vain, speculation that be neglected to oIh serve toward the rules of tho ivoati highways that nicety of attention which Is highly requisite, oven hi tho skipper of u bay scow, If tho fuNomo title of captain Is to bo retained for any definite period. As u result, NolU became confused regarding the exact number of blasts from tho siren of a river stunner desiring to pns him to port. Consequently the Willie und Annie received such a severe butting from the river steamer In question ns to cnuso her to careen and All. Being, unfortunately, loaded with gravel on this particular trip, she subsided In continently t the bottom of Sun Pablo bay. while Nells nnd his crew of two men sought refuge on n plunk. Without attempting to go further Into the details of the misfortunes of Nells llnlvorsen, be It known that the destruction of the Willie nnd Annie usfenPiivsr "(mV'k ji?t raOVrtovT 1 aSt 17 lit XiltiU IliWmtlXr MBMmmu mmmmr Mm It Wa3 Just a Squib In the Shipping News. proved to be such n severe shock to Nells' reputation a:? n safe and sane hay scow skipper Hint be was ulti mately forced to sock other and more virgin fluids. With the fragments of his meager fortune, the amblllou Swede purchased a course In it local nautical school from which ho duly managed to emerge with sufllcten: courage to appear before the IV ted States local Inspectors of hulls and hollers and take his examination for u second mate's certificate. To his un utterable nurprlse the license was granted ; whereupon he shipped us quartermaster on the steamer Ala meda, running to Honolulu, and what with tho lesson taught him In Hi" loss of the Wllllo and Annie and the ex acting duties of his olllce aboard the liner, he forgot that ho had over known Captain Scraggs. Judge of Nolls Halvorscn's surprise, therefore, upon tho occasion of his first trip to Honolulu, when he saw something which brought the whole matter back to mind. They wore standing In toward Diamond head and the Alameda lay hove to taking on the pilot. It wns enrly morning and thu purple mists hung over the entrance to tho hnrbor. Nells llnlvorsen stood at the gnngwny enjoying tho .sunrise over the Punch-bowl, nnd glancing longingly toward tho vivid green of the hills beyond tho city, when ho was aware of n "put," "put," "put," to starboard of the Alameda. Nells turned at the sound Just In tlmo to see a beautiful gasoline schooner of about a hundred und thirty tons bond ing In toward tho bay. She was so close thnt Nells wus enabled to make out that her name was Maggie II. "Veil, aye be dam," muttered Nells, and scratched his head, for the name revived old memories. An hour Inter, when the Alnmeda loafed Into her berth at Brewer's dock, Nells noticed that the schooner lay at anchor off the quarantine station. Thnt night Nells Iltilvorscn went nshore for those forms of enjoyment peculiar to his cnlllng, nnd In the Pan theon saloon, whither his pathway led him, he filled himself with beer nnd gossip. It was hero that Nells came across an ltm In nn afternoon pupor which challenged his Instnnt atten tion. It was Just a squib In tho ship ping news, but Nells Ilalvorsen rend It with amazement nnd Joy: "Tho power schooner Mngulo II arrived thlH morning, ton ilnya from tlio Friendly Islands. The Uttlo schooner camo Into port with her hold bursting with tho moBt vnlunbla carijo that has entered Hono lulu In many yearn. It consists for the moat part of blnck coral. "Tho MukkIo II Is commanded by Cap tain Phlnoas SerasBS. and after tnUlnc. on provisions nnd wntor today wilt pro ceed to San Francisco, tomorrow, for tfls. charRo of enrno." "By ylmlny," quoth Nells llnlvorsen "nyo but you thnt bnno do olo man so sure as you bnno nllve. And nyo bat new hnt ho sknll be Rind to soo Nells Ilalvorsen. I guess uyo htro Knnakn boy nn' he bane pull- mo out to se i do olo man." ITO BS OONTINUED.) A Short Time Ago I Weighed Only 80 Pounds I Now Weigh 112 Pounds and TANLAC is what built mc up so wonderfully, says Mrs. Barbara Weber, 31S Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. She. is but one of thausends oimi larly benefited. If you are under weight, if your digestion is impaired, if you arc weak and unable to enjoy life to the fullest meas ure, you should take Tanlac, At all good druggists. 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