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Updated: May 21, 2025
"Well, the man who would, in cold blood, consider paying half a million dollars for the Penelope is certainly ripe for a padded cell," Cappy jeered. "That fellow Hudner, of the Black Butte Lumber Company, owns her, does he not?" "Yes, sir." "Then you know exactly the condition she's in.
"Because the Black Butte Lumber Company owns her sister, the Unicorn; she's a burden on their back, as the Lion is on mine, there's war to the finish between Hudner, the Black Butte manager, and myself, and he'll get the business. He's a dog, Matt always cutting prices below the profit point and raising hob in the market. Infernal marplot!
Then she had to lay behind the bar two days longer before she could cross out; and when she got here I ordered her to discharge into the British bark Glengarry and discharging from one vessel in to another is the slowest work in the world. And Hudner he's written me, Skinner, declaring he'll never charter a boat to me again; says the Chehalis lost two thousand dollars on the voyage."
I know the Black Butte Lumber Company will be approached for the Unicorn; so I'm going to get the Unicorn out of the way and give you a clear field with the Lion. I figured it all out coming down on the train." And, without waiting to listen to Cappy's protestations, Matt left the office. Three minutes later he was closeted with Hudner, of the Black Butte Lumber Company. "My name is Peasley, Mr.
"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.
Remember that old maid stenographer Hudner stole away from us, Skinner? Remember? Oh, but isn't he paying for her through the nose? Isn't he, Skinner? Oh, dear! Oh, dear, what a lot of fun there is in just living and raising hell with your neighbor particularly, Skinner, when he happens to be a competitor." When Cappy could control his mirth he handed the money back to Matt.
"I'll let you have her at three hundred and thirty," he said desperately; "and that's bedrock. And if your clients elect to take her for four years, I'll pay you a thousand dollars commission on the deal. The vessel simply cannot afford to pay more." After his conversation with Cappy Ricks, Matt realized that Hudner had, indeed, named a very low price on the Unicorn. But Matt was a Yankee.
The rate, by the way, is three hundred and twenty-five dollars. I want you to charter her from Hudner; and then " "Bless your soul, boy, I don't want her! Haven't I got a boat of my own I'd almost be willing to charter at the same figure to Hudner?" "You don't understand, sir.
Hudner," he began truthfully. "I arrived from Seattle this morning. I am looking for a steam freighter for some very responsible people and your Unicorn appears to be about the vessel they're looking for. They would want her to run coastwise, and prefer to charter at a flat rate a day, owners to pay all expenses of operating the ship.
I insist on buying." He reached for Cappy's desk 'phone. "I'm going to tell Hudner to prepare the bill of sale that I'll be up in fifteen minutes with the check. He who hesitates is lost, and " The door opened and a youth stood in the entrance. "Mr. J. O. Heyfuss is calling," he announced.
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