"
"Well, we'll excuse him from attending to this detail," Matt replied.
"I want a check and I want it now, because it is a week overdue; the
vessel is nearly loaded and about to go to sea, and if I do not get my
money--"
"Well, suppose I give you half of it now and the other half in a day
or two?" Kelton suggested.
He looked worried and unhappy, and Matt felt sorry for him; for,
indeed, Kelton was a likable chap and perfectly trustworthy, and Matt
sensed some of the worry that was falling on the manager in his
desperate efforts to run a business on short capital. However, Matt's
own financial shoestring was too short for him to afford any
sentiment, though, for the reason that he was naturally kind-hearted
and considerate, he consented to accept a check for half the amount
due and left Kelton to the society of the many devils which seemed to
be tormenting him.
On the sidewalk he paused suddenly. So Morrow was on the verge of
nervous prostration, eh? That was bad. It had been Matt's experience
that, as a usual thing, but two things conduce to bring about nervous
prostration--overwork and worry; and in Morrow's case it must be
worry, for Kelton did all the work! Kelton, too, looked haggard and
drawn.
"I must be very careful," Matt told himself, "for if that concern
should go broke while the Tillicum is en route to Panama my charter to
Morrow & Company may be considered to have terminated automatically;
and if they go under owing me from ten to twenty thousand dollars, I'm
still responsible to Cappy Ricks for my charter of the Tillicum until
I can bring her back to her home port and turn her back to him.
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