had to go slow. Just think what would have happened if Florry
found me out! Why, I would have had to call off the dogs before I was
half through the job."

"He's probably told her all about it by now," Skinner suggested.

"Don't get him wrong," Cappy protested. "He's no tattle-tale. He'll
fight fair. However, as I was saying, I couldn't do anything raw,
Skinner. I had planned, when Matt reached Panama and discovered he had
been double-crossed to pass the buck up to you!"

Mr. Skinner started, but Cappy continued serenely:

"I planned to be away from the office when the blow-off came, and you
were to have borne the brunt of Matt's fury and despair. Why, what the
devil do I have a general manager for if not to help me out in these
little affairs? And besides, Skinner, when he blew in here the day
Morrow & Company hit the ceiling, he was so excited and worried I felt
positive he was busted then; so what was the use calling him for his
overdue payment when if I let him run on I'd have his young soul in hock
for the next ten years?" Cappy leaned forward and laid an impressive
hand on Mr. Skinner's knee. "You know, Skinner, we really need that boy
in this office, and it would have been a fine thing to have gotten him
and gotten him right. Then he wouldn't be leaving the reservation to
chase rainbows. However, as the boys say, I overlooked a bet, but I'll
not overlook another."

"You said you had an idea," Mr. Skinner suggested.

"I have. Just at present there is a libel on the Tillicum, and when we
lift it Matt Peasley is prepared to plaster another libel on her, and
another, and still another. Now, as a result of our conversation with
Matt yesterday, he thinks we'll lift the libel to-day--in fact, settle
with him for what he paid the crew when they assigned their wage claim
to his company, and thus prevent any further libels. Now, if we do that
it leaves Matt in the clear to commence discharging his cargo, but at
the same time it makes it incumbent upon him to slam a certified check
for eighteen thousand dollars down on the Blue Star counter, in order
to hold the vessel long enough to discharge her and collect the freight.
Then he'll turn the vessel back on our hands with many thanks--rot him!"

"I have no doubt that such are his intentions, Mr. Ricks; in which event
he will, of course, be ready with the certified check the instant we
make formal, written demand upon him for our money. I believe I have
already warned