. "I've got to go down anyway
and check over some stuff for us at the freight-house so it might as
well be now."

On nearing the Lang dock he heard Dickie's voice issuing from a pile of
fish-boxes at the shore end. McCoy checked his steps involuntarily at
the girl's words, and without meaning to--listened.

"So you want to pay me a flat rate for my boats and hire me to train
your men with my fishermen?"

"Yes. With a share in the profits."

It was Gregory's voice. McCoy noted the quiet tone used by the girl. He
felt ashamed to eavesdrop. But he was torn with curiosity to hear Dick's
answer.

"Well, you've got your nerve, I'd say. And then some. Do you think you
can run my business better than I can myself?"

"If I did, I'd try to buy you out. I'm asking you to run my boats as
well as your own and----"

"Be your hired girl."

Dickie supplied the words and went on angrily: "Say, the Lang boats were
here a long time before you came. And they'll be here as long after you
go. They have gone on their own hook ever since they went into the
water. And that's the way they are going to stay. My dad never took
orders from anybody. He ran his boats the way he pleased. He was
independent. I'm the same way. And I want to tell you right now, I
wouldn't sell out my independence to you or any other man."

McCoy crept back into the shadow of the fishing-boxes and making a wide
detour went on into town. He was sorry he had listened. It wasn't a
white thing to do. He liked Gregory. He was his friend. Then why, he
asked himself, was he kind of glad that Dick had turned down his
proposition?

CHAPTER IX

DIABLO LUCK

Busy days followed for Kenneth Gregory, and with the loyal support of
Jack McCoy, much was accomplished.

The Legonia Fish Cannery wakened from its long sleep and took on new
life. From the receiving floor to the warehouse everything had been
carefully overhauled and put into first-class shape. Necessary repairs
and alterations had been made. Supplies and material were on hand. A
nucleus of skilled labor had been carefully selected by McCoy and
brought to train the service men who came to Legonia on every incoming
train.

The sleepy little fishing village viewed the vanguard of the ex-soldiers
with sullen indifference. Silvanus Rock had told them not to worry their
heads over the "efforts of an impractical dreamer to turn the town
upside down." And who knew, if Rock didn't? As the days went by,
howev