er, called up Kelton, who informed him that he
would accept Matt's offer for a year's charter of the Tillicum. Within
half an hour Matt had his charter parties ready for Kelton's signature
and the deal was closed; whereupon Matt signed the charter party Cappy
Ricks had sent him and handed it to Cappy, together with a check for
nine thousand dollars--one half the monthly rental of the Tillicum.

Cappy whistled softly through his teeth as he handed the documents to
Mr. Skinner and instructed him to put the Tillicum in commission at
once.

CHAPTER XL. THE CATACLYSM

For two voyages all went well. The Tillicum was engaged in carrying
general cargo to Panama for reshipment over the Panama Railroad to
Colon, at which point it was reshipped in steamers to ports along the
Atlantic seaboard. Following the universal custom, Matt's charter
with Morrow & Company stipulated settlement in full every thirty days,
whereas his charter with Cappy Ricks, for reasons best known to Cappy,
stipulated payment in full every fifteen days; which arrangement
operated to keep nine thousand dollars of Matt's money in Cappy's hands
continuously. This fact graveled Matt whenever he reflected that money
was worth at least seven per cent.; but, since he was making sixty
dollars a day profit as the result of his deal, he concluded not to
mention this point to Cappy Ricks.

Morrow & Company met the first monthly payment with cash on the nail. At
the second settlement, however, when Matt called for his check, Kelton
requested, as a special favor, that Matt allow him four days' time.
A clever talker, with a peculiarly winning way about him, he disarmed
suspicion very readily, and Matt assured him he would be very glad
indeed to extend him such a slight courtesy.

Meantime, however, Cappy Ricks had to be reckoned with; so, in order
not to keep him waiting, Matt sent him another check for nine thousand
dollars. Cappy now had eighteen thousand dollars of Matt's money; and
on the fourth day, when the latter called on Kelton for his check, the
latter actually made him feel ashamed of himself for calling and sent
him away with one-half of the sum now overdue! This perturbed Matt
somewhat, but when he showed some slight indication of it Kelton
playfully picked up a glass paper weight and threatened to destroy him
if he did not get out of the office at once; so, because it is difficult
to be serious with a man who declines to take one seriously, Matt fo