demand--supply for one and demand for two. As
I said afore, I'm the one.'

"'By thunder!' he growls, standin' up, 'I'll show you--'

"I stood up, too. He was fat and flabby and I was thin and wiry. We
looked each other over.

"'I wouldn't,' says I. 'You're under the doctor's care, you know.'

"So he set down again, not havin' strength even to swear, and watched me
eat my breakfast. And I ate it slow.

"'Say,' he says, finally, 'you think you're mighty smart, don't you.
Well, I'm It, I guess, for this time. I suppose you'll have no objection
to SELLIN' me a breakfast?'

"'No--o,' says I, 'not a mite of objection. I'll sell you a couple of
slices of pork for five dollars a slice and--'

"'FIVE DOLLARS a--!' His mouth dropped open like a main hatch.

"'Sartin,' I says. 'And two slabs of johnnycake at five dollars a slab.
And a cup of coffee at five dollars a cup. And--'

"'You're crazy!' he sputters, jumpin' up.

"'Not much, I ain't. I've been settin' at your feet larnin' high
finance, that's all. You don't seem to be onto the real inwardness of
this deal. I've got the grub market cornered, that's all. The market
price of necessaries is five dollars each now; it's likely to rise at
any time, but now it's five.'

"He looked at me steady for at least two more minutes. Then he got up
and banged out of that shanty. A little later I see him down at the end
of the sand spit starin' out into the fog; lookin' for a sail, I presume
likely.

"I finished my breakfast and washed up the dishes. He come in by and by.
He hadn't had no dinner nor supper, you see, and the salt air gives most
folks an almighty appetite.

"'Say,' he says, 'I've been thinkin'. It's usual in the stock and
provision market to deal on a margin. Suppose I pay you a one per cent
margin now and--'

"'All right,' says I, cheerful. 'Then I'll give you a slip of paper
sayin' that you've bought such and such slices of pork and hunks of
johnnycake and I'm carryin' 'em for you on a margin. Of course there
ain't no delivery of the goods now because--'

"'Humph!' he interrupts, sour. 'You seem to know more'n I thought you
did. Now are you goin' to be decent and make me a fair price or ain't
you?'

"'Can't sell under the latest quotations,' says I. 'That's five now; and
spot cash.'

"'But hang it all!' he says, 'I haven't got money enough with me. Think
I carry a national bank around in my clothes?'

"'You carry a Wellmouth Bank check book,' says I,