then," Mr. Gibney
roared, as he cast the skipper loose, "let that be a lesson to
you to let the skeletons in my closet alone hereafter. Mac,
you're not to lend Scraggsy a cent to help him out on expenses,
added to which me an' you quit the _Maggie_ here an' now."

"You're a devil," McGuffey growled at Scraggs, "an' sweet
Christian thoughts is wasted on you."

Glowering ferociously, the worthy pair went over the rail.

CHAPTER XVI

Godless and wholly irreclaimable as Mr. Gibney and Mr. McGuffey
might have been and doubtless were, each possessed in bounteous
measure the sweetest of human attributes, to-wit: a soft, kind
heart and a forgiving spirit. Creatures of impulse both, they
found it absolutely impossible to nourish a grudge against
Captain Scraggs, when, upon returning to Scab Johnny's boarding
house that night, their host handed them a grubby note from their
enemy. It was short and sweet and sounded quite sincere; Mr.
Gibney read it aloud:

On Board the _Maggie_, Saturday night.

DEAR FRIENDS:

I am sorry. I apologize to you, Gib, because I hurt your
fealings. I also apologize to Bart for hurting the
fealings of his dear friend. Speeking of hurts you and
Gib hurt me awful with your kidden when you took the
_Chesapeake_ away from me so I jest had to put one over
on you. To er is human but to forgive is devine. After
what I done I don't expect you two to come back to work
ever but for God's sake don't give me the dead face when
we meat agin. Remember we been shipmates once.

P.P. SCRAGGS.

"Why, the pore ol' son of a horse thief," Mr. Gibney murmured,
much moved at this profound abasement. "Of course we forgive him.
It ain't manly to hold a grouch after the culprit has paid his
fair price for his sins. By an' large, I got a hunch, Bart, that
old Scraggsy's had his lesson for once."

"If you can forgive him, I can, Gib."

"Well, he's certainly cleaned himself handsome, Bart. Telephone
for a messenger boy," and Mr. Gibney sat down and wrote:

Scraggsy, old fanciful, we're square. Forget it and come
to breakfast with us at seven to-morrow at the Marigold
Cafe. I'll order deviled lam kidneys for three. It's
alright with Bart also.

Yours,
GIB.

This note, delivered to Captain Scraggs by the messenger boy,
lifted the gloom from the latter's miserable soul and sent him
home with a light heart to Mrs. Scraggs. At the Mar