At any rate, the concern would doubtless go into
the hands of a receiver, and Matt Peasley might or might not hope for
his in the sweet by and by, according to the amount of salvage
reported. The Tillicum was seventy-six hours at sea!
"Matthew," Matt Peasley murmured to himself, "'theirs not to reason
why, theirs but to do and die'--and all in one thundering big hurry!"
CHAPTER XLI
WHEN PAIN AND ANGUISH WRING THE BROW
Cappy Ricks was having his siesta, with his feet on top of his desk,
when Matt Peasley came bounding in, seized him by the shoulder and
shook him wideawake.
"Well, young man," Cappy snapped querulously, "what's all the
excitement about?"
"Morrow has committed suicide, and I know the firm is in financial
difficulties. I'll not be able to collect now--I'll have to wait with
the rest of the creditors; and meantime the Tillicum, fully loaded, is
somewhere down off the Mexican coast. Good gracious, Mr. Ricks,
there's the very devil to pay!"
"We will, if you please, not include outsiders in this argument for
the present, Matt," Cappy retorted dryly. "The unfortunate devil does
not pay! You do, Matt. I should worry!"
"But you can help me save something from the wreck!" Matt pleaded
desperately. "It's going to clean me of my last dollar to make good
with you on my charter, even if Morrow & Company do not make good with
me on theirs; and--"
Cappy Ricks held up his hand.
Pages:
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306