"Ah--that first time a man goes broke!" he soliloquized. "What a blow
to one's pride! What a shock to the nervous system!" He sighed.
"Poor old Matt! Nobody knows better than Cappy Ricks how you feel,
because he's been there twice and it blamed near broke his heart each
time it happened."
He shook his head with an air of satisfaction, for things were going
well with him. He had made a prophecy and it was in a fair way of
being fulfilled--nay, its fulfillment was inevitable; whereat Cappy,
after the habit of the aged in their conflict with Youth, felt very
much like shaking hands with himself. Indeed, so pleased was he that
presently he called in Mr. Skinner and related the story in meticulous
detail to the general manager.
Mr. Skinner was delighted. More--he was overcome. He sat down and
permitted himself the most soul-satisfying laugh he had had in years.
CHAPTER XLII
UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS
Mr. Skinner thrust his head into Cappy Ricks' office and said:
"I've just had a telephone message from the Merchants' Exchange. The
Tillicum is passing in."
"Then," said Cappy Ricks, "in about two hours at the latest we may
expect a mournful visit from Captain Matt Peasley."
"If you don't mind, Mr. Ricks," said Skinner with a smirk, "I should
dearly love to be present at the interview.
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