“You what?” yelled Cappy. “General manager! You infernal duffer, why didn't you cut the whole hog and call yourself president?”
“I had my cards printed to read: Vice President and General Manager,” Matt replied with a twinkle. “I didn't feel any qualms of conscience about cutting that much of the hog, because I knew you would make me vice president and general manager as soon as I got back with the bacon! So I signed all the charters, 'Blue Star Navigation Company, by Matthew Peasley, V. P. and G.M.'—drew a raft of sight drafts on you also. They'll be putting in an appearance in a day or two. I got home just about two jumps ahead of them.”
“You're a devil!” said Cappy Ricks. “But—I'll pay the drafts.” Matt laughed happily. “You're bringing about a million and a half into the company—at least, if everything goes well, you will; and you've got a half interest in what you have brought in,” Cappy continued.
He touched a push button. An instant later Mr. Skinner appeared.
“Skinner, my dear boy,” said Cappy, “Matt has a flock of charters he has made for us in the East—also, a flock of recharters of the same boats—also, a contract of sale on the steamer Narcissus. Make out a form of assignment of that contract from the Pacific Shipping Company to the Blue Star Navigation Company and Matt will sign it. We'll keep that boat ourselves. Then give Matt a check for the next payment due that man MacCandless on the Narcissus and after you've cleaned up with Matt, Skinner, have Hankins issue him seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars' worth of stock—half in the Blue Star and half in the Ricks Lumber & Logging Company. Tell Hankins, also, to call a special meeting of the board of directors of both companies for ten o'clock tomorrow—and to be sure to have a quorum present. And in the meantime put the Narcissus under provisional American registry.”
“Why, what are you going to do?” Mr. Skinner demanded wonderingly.
Cappy walked tip to his general manager and affectionately placed his hand on Skinner's arm.
“Skinner, my dear boy,” he said, “we're going to elect you president of the lumber company and Matt is to be president of the Navigation Company. I'm going to resign and be a sort of president emeritus of both companies and advisory director to both boards. Matt, you might tell Skinner what your plans are for the Blue Star.”
“Well,” said Matt, “I'm going to leave the president emeritus on the job a few months longer.”
“Not by a jugful! I quit tomorrow. Hereafter I'm just scenery. I'm old and I must give way to youth. I've had my day; I'm out of the running now,” Cappy answered sadly.