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 THE GREAT AZTEC WONDER

Mr. McGuffey Attempts a Flight in High Finance

By PETER B. KYNE

Author of the Scraggs Stories

Illustrated by Louis J. Rogers

HE syndicate, composed of Captain Phineas Scraggs, Mr. Adelbert P. Gibney, Bartholomew McGuffey and Neils Halvorsen, and organized for the promotion of mutual profit and adventure,

“Not on your life. You wasn’t in on that, Scraggsy.”

was holding a meeting in Captain Scraggs'

“But I thought you was for takin' up the syndicate an’ reorganizin’ it at the place where we bruk off,” complained McGuffey. “We’re a-willin' to let you an’ Neils buy

cabin

a quarter interest each in the Victor—”

aboard

the

stern-wheel

steamer

Victor, the property of Scraggs and McGuf

“The Maggie III” corrected Mr. Gibney.

fey. Mr. Gibney, the acknowledged brains of the syndicate, was presiding, as usual.

“—on a basis o' seven thousand dollars,

which is what she cost me an’ Scraggsy.

“Well, gentlemen,” he announced, “it havin’ developed, after two weeks o' dis solution on the part o' the syndicate, that

Anybody'll tell you this craft's worth ten thousand easy.”

the members hereof are unanimous in ask

just been makin' barrels o' money with

ing me to come back an’ take charge o' things, I'm agreeable an' we'll consider

her, eh? Strikes me, Mac, your proposi

we've took up business where we dropped it two weeks ago. Nothin' now remains except arrangin' a program o' Settlement

me an' Neils to share our profits with you

an' gettin' back together on an equal basis. Scraggsy, old tarpot, I see a swarm o' idees squirmin’ in your noddle. Speak up.”

“Yes? An' I suppose you an’ Scraggsy's tion's one-sided. You an’ Scraggsy want an' you want to share your losses with me an’Neils. No, sir. I ain’t that kind of a bird. We pools our dough all over agin today an’ makes a fresh start.” “Well, it'll cost you twenty-five hundred

“Well, Gib, in the first place, we ain't

each for a quarter interest in the Maggie

got no name for the syndicate since we give the Maggie II away.”

III” warned Captain Scraggs. “Which we won't pay” retorted Mr.

“Easiest change the to Maggie known as

Gibney serenely. “If I owned an equal interest with you in the Maggie III you don’t suppose I’d let you be skipper, do

thing in the world. We'll name o' this packet from Victor III. From now on we'll be the Maggie III Syndicate for

“About that six thousand odd bucks

you? • I been a commander-in-chief an’ you was my sailin’ master oncet, Scraggs. I can’t demean myself. If me an’ Neils was to buy in, you know dog-gone well it

you an' Neils picks up on them spºiled cod

wouldn’t be a week until Mac an' Neils

fish.

was votin’ with me an' I'd be captain

the promotion o’ fun, frolic, profit an’ adventure. Anything else, Scraggsy?” How about it?

Does me an’ McGuf

fey get a split o' them profits?”

an' you'd be mate. What would be the 785