Cappy Ricks called up J. O. Heyfuss and in a few terse sentences told that individual where to head in.
“Now, then—” he began, facing round on Redell once more.
Again Redell's index finger tapped Cappy's knee. Dramatically he pronounced a single word:
“Wheat!”
“Wheat?”
“Wheat!”
“What kind of wheat?” In his amazement Cappy was rather helpless.
“Number One white Australian wheat.”
“You jibbering jackdaw! Wheat? Don't you know blamed well that wheat is one of the commodities Australia never exports to these United States? Why? Because we don't need her doggoned wheat! We grow all the wheat we need and a lot more we don't need; we export that, and it's just as fine wheat as you'll find anywhere. Moreover, any time our crop is a failure, our next-door neighbor, Canada, is Johnny-on-the-spot, ready to make prompt delivery. So what in thunder are you talking about?”
For answer J. Augustus Redell drew from his pocket that morning's paper and pointed to the headline of a front-page story. Cappy adjusted his spectacles and read: Bakers Announce Six-Cent Loaf!