cceptance'--saves our faces in case we
find ourselves unable to deliver the goods," he explained, and turned
again to Skinner.

"We can freight the shingles from Grays Harbor to San Francisco in
the Unicorn; re-ship on cars from Long Wharf and beat the direct car
shipments from the mills ten cents, and still make our regular profit.
Besides, the cut in price will bring us in a raft of orders we could not
get otherwise. We can thus keep the Unicorn busy for sixty days without
losing a cent on her, and if we haven't come to terms with the Mannheim
people at the end of that time we'll find something else for her.
And, of course, if we succeed meantime in chartering the Lion at a
satisfactory price, we can throw the Unicorn back on Hudner at the end
of the sixty days." And Cappy snickered malevolently as he pictured his
enemy's discomfiture under these circumstances.

Mr. Skinner nodded his comprehension and hastened away to prepare the
charter parties.

CHAPTER XXIV. THE CLEAN UP

Hudner, manager of the Black Butte Lumber Company, arched his eyebrows
as Matt Peasley entered his office half an hour after he had left it and
presented for Hudner's signature a formal charter party, in duplicate,
wherein the Blue Star Navigation Company chartered from J. B. Hudner,
managing owner of record, the American Steamer Unicorn for sixty days
from date, at the rate of three hundred and twenty-five dollars a day,
said managing owner to pay all expenses of operating said Unicorn.

"Huh!" Mr. Hudner snorted. "I'd like to know what the devil Cappy Ricks
wants of my Unicorn when he's got her infernal sister squatting in the
mud of Oakland Creek? There's something rotten in Denmark, Mr. Peasley.
There always is when that old scoundrel Ricks does incomprehensible
things."

"Very likely he's up to some skullduggery, sir," Matt opined.

"I wish you had informed me of the identity of your client, Mr.
Peasley," Hudner complained. "I don't like to sign this charter."

"I cannot help that now, sir," Matt retorted. "You have agreed in
writing to charter the vessel to any responsible person I might bring
to you, and I guess the Blue Star Navigation Company comes under that
head."

Mr. Hudner sighed and gritted his teeth. Instinct told him there was
deviltry afoot, but in an evil moment he had sewed himself up and he had
no alternative now save to complete the contract or stand suit. So he
signed the charter party and retained the orig