Isn't she a queen? I want her and there isn't a
single reason on earth why I shouldn't have her, unless it be that she
doesn't want me. However, I'll learn all about that when I get good
and ready, and if I'm acceptable Cappy Ricks and one of his employees
are going to have a warm debate--subject, matrimony. What do I care
for him? He's only her father, and I'll bet he wasn't half so well
fixed as I am when he got married. I'll just play the game like a
white man, and if Cappy doesn't like it he'll have to get over it."
"Miss Florence," Matt began, "this is Matt."
"Matt who?" she queried with provoking assumption of innocence.
"Door Mat," he replied. "Your daddy has just walked all over me at
any rate."
"Oh, good morning, captain. Why, what has happened? Your voice
sounds like the growl of a big bear."
"I suppose so. I'm hopping mad. The very first day I was ashore I
turned a nice little trick for your father. I wasn't on the pay roll
at the time, so we went into the deal together and chartered the Lion
and the Unicorn to freight ore for the Mannheim people from Alaska to
Seattle. I furnished the valuable information and the bright idea,
and he capitalized both. The result of the deal was that he has his
own steamer, the Lion, off his hands for four years, chartered at a
fancy figure.
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