r to collecting from Morrow & Company. Kelton had
promised a check on the following Wednesday, and on the appointed day
Matt called, only to be met with a request for further delay. Kelton
explained that Mr. Morrow had been taken very ill and things were at
sixes and sevens in the office as a result. Could not Matt wait until
Saturday, when Mr. Morrow would be back to sign a check?

"What's wrong with Morrow?" Matt demanded pointedly. "Has he got
paralysis of the right hand?"

"Worse than that," Kelton answered seriously. "He's on the verge of
nervous prostration."

"But can't you sign a check?"

"Y-e-s; but Mr. Morrow generally attends to all financial details."

"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. Thank God for
that clause in the charter which gives me the privilege of terminating
my charter with Cappy in case Morrow & Company terminate their c