Please let me get on with my story. I had just cleared Point
Loma and was about to surrender the bridge to my first mate when an
interesting little message came trickling out of the ether--and my
wireless boy picked it up, because it was addressed to 'Captain Grant,
Master S. S. Tillicum.'"
Cappy Ricks quivered and licked his lower lip, but said nothing.
"That message," Matt continued, "was brought to me by the operator,
who really didn't know what to do with it. Captain Grant had left the
ship and Sparks didn't know what hotel in San Diego the late master of
the Tillicum would put up for the night; so I read the message to see
whether it was important, for I felt that it had to do with the ship's
business and that I was justified in reading it."
Again Cappy Ricks squirmed. Mr. Skinner commenced to gnaw his thumb
nail.
"That message broke me all up," Matt continued sadly. "It destroyed
completely my faith in human nature and demonstrated beyond a doubt
that there is no such thing in this world as fair play in business.
It's like a waterfront fight. You just get your man down and
everything goes--kicking, biting, gouging, knee-work!" Matt sighed
dolorously and drew from his vest pocket a scrap of paper. "Just
listen to this for a message!" He continued.
Pages:
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315