ellow," he advised. "You are horning in among gentlemen."

"So am I," squawked Mr. Speed, with weather eye out for clouds of any
sort.

Captain Mayo gave his supporter a glance of mingled astonishment and
relish. "We'd better not have any words about the matter, gentlemen,''
he suggested, mildly.

"Certainly not," stated the spokesman. "If you'll pass on there'll be no
words--or anything else."

"Then we'll dispense with words!" The quick anger of youth flared in
Mayo. The air of the man rather than his words had offended deeply.
"You'd like to have this room to yourself so that you can attend to your
business, I presume?" he asked the operator.

"Yes, I would."

Oakum Otie laid his folded paper upon the packet of Captain Mayo.

"You will leave the room gentlemen," advised the captain.

Mr. Speed thrust out his bony elbows and cracked his hard fists
together. "I have never liked dudes," he stated. "I have been brought up
that way. All my training with Cap'n Epps has been that way."

"How do you fit into this thing?" demanded one of the yachtsmen.

"About like this," averred Mr. Speed. He grabbed the young man by both
shoulders and ran him out into the night before anybody could interfere.
Then Mr. Speed reappeared promptly and inquired, "Which one goes next?"

"I think they will all go," said the captain.

"Come on," urged one of the party. "We can't afford to get into a brawl
with natives."

"You bet you can't," retorted Oakum Otie. "I hain't hove bunches of
shingles all my life for nothing!"

Mayo said nothing more. But after the yachtsmen had looked him over they
went out, making the affair a subject for ridicule.

"Hope I done right and showed to you that I was thankful for good
advice," suggested Mr. Speed, seeking commendation.

"Just a bit hasty, sir."

"Maybe, but there's nothing like handing folks a sample just to show up
the quality of the whole piece."

"I thank you--both of you," said the grateful operator.

"You'd better lock your door," advised Mayo. "Men are thoughtless when
they have nothing to do except play."

"I am so grateful! And I'm going to break an office rule," volunteered
the girl. "I shall send off your telegrams first."

"And I hope you can tuck that little one in second--it won't take
up much room!" pleaded Oakum Otie. "It's to help an awful pretty
girl--looks are a good deal like yours!"

"I'll attend to it," promised the young woman, blushing.

Outside in the v