he had no right, was apprehended by
the doorkeeper and asked to show his credentials.

"Oh, I'm Captain Peasley, of the Blue Star Navigation Company," he
replied lightly, and was granted admittance as the courtesy accorded all
sea captains. He knew Cappy Ricks always spent an hour on 'Change after
luncheon at the Commercial Club. When Cappy met him, however, the old
man was mean enough to pay not the slightest attention to Matt; so after
waiting round for three-quarters of an hour longer, the latter left the
Exchange and walked down California Street, where he posted himself in
the shelter of a corner half a block south of No. 258, where the
Blue Star Navigation Company had its offices. From this vantage point
presently he spied Cappy trotting home from the Merchants' Exchange;
whereupon Matt strolled leisurely up the street and met him. And in
order that Cappy should realize whom he was meeting Matt bumped into the
schemer and then begged his pardon profusely.

"Don't mention it, Matt," the old rascal protested. "You shook up a
flock of ideas in my head and jarred one loose. If you haven't anything
on to-night, my boy, better come out to the house and have dinner with
me. I'm all alone and I want company."

"Thank you, sir," Matt replied enthusiastically; "I'll be glad to come."

"You bet you will," Cappy thought. Aloud he said: "At six-thirty."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." And Matt Peasley was off like a tin-canned
dog to slick himself up for the party, while Cappy entered the elevator
chuckling. "If I ever find the sour-souled philosopher who said
you can't mix business and sentiment without resultant chaos," he
soliloquized, "I'll boil the kill-joy in oil."

CHAPTER XXIX. NATURE TAKES HER COURSE

The big steam schooner Quickstep was lying at the Los Medanos dock when
Matt Peasley reported for duty. The captain was not aboard, but the
first mate received him kindly and explained that Captain Kjellin had
gone down to San Francisco by train for a little social relaxation and
to bring back funds to pay off the longshoremen.

Early on Monday morning the crew and a large force of stevedores
commenced to discharge the vessel. Two winches were kept busy, the first
mate being in charge of the work up forward and Matt superintending that
aft. The shingles were loaded in huge rope cargo nets, snatched out of
the ship and swung overside onto flat cars, which were shunted off into
the drying yard as soon as loaded.