“What is it, lad?” the captain queried.  “Find somethin’ queer there, eh?”

“Yes, sir,” was the reply; “I don’t understand it at all.  I sent down one hundred boxes, and this paper gives only eighty.  And, oh, look, he pays only six cents a box,” and Rod held up the account for the captain to see.

“What’s the meaning of this?” and Captain Josh turned suddenly upon McDuff, who was keenly watching the two.  “This boy sent you down one hundred boxes of strawberries.  I was at the wharf myself when each crate was shipped, and I counted them, though Rod didn’t know it.  Then you give him here only six cents a box when they were bringing from seven to nine.  Surely there has been some mistake.”

“There has been no mistake,” McDuff angrily returned.  “I never make mistakes.  Only eighty boxes were sent to me, and six cents is all they were worth.  You can take that or nothing.  I am too busy to waste all the morning talking.  Here’s your money,” and he held out four dollars and eighty cents to Rod.

“Don’t take it, lad,” and the captain reached out a restraining hand.  “The full amount or nothin’.  Is that all ye’ll give?” he asked, turning to McDuff.

“Not a cent more.  It’s all I got, and it’s all they were worth.”

For an instant the captain looked the storekeeper full in the face.  Then glancing quickly around the store, and seeing a telephone, he moved toward it.

“You can’t use my phone,” McDuff cried, feeling sure that the captain had some special object in view.

“I can’t, eh?  Well, if you say so, that settles it.  I kin git one next door.  I only want to call up my lawyer, that’s all.  He knows me pretty well.  I’d like to use other means to settle this matter, but I guess Lawyer Allen’s advice might be the better way.”

“What! you don’t mean to go to law over this little matter, do you?” McDuff anxiously enquired.

“Certainly I do.  It isn’t the amount so much as the principle.  Ye’re tryin’ to cheat a little boy, and I’m goin’ to stand by him, I don’t care how much it costs.  I’m scoutmaster, and he’s patrol leader of the Hillcrest troop, and if ye think ye kin do him a mean trick, then ye’re mighty much mistaken.”

“But look here,” McDuff angrily replied.  “You seem to be making a big fuss over nothing.  And, besides, you’ve charged me with cheating that boy, and I’ll make you take back your words.  Two can play at this game.”

“No doubt they kin,” the captain reflectively answered as he moved toward the door.  “But look, Peter McDuff, it makes a great difference who’s in the right, and who kin back up his statements.  It’s no use fer us to argue any longer.  Come on, Rod.”

“Wait a minute,” the storekeeper called out, when he saw that the captain meant business, “maybe we can arrange this affair without going to law.  I’m willing to come to some reasonable terms.  What will you take to settle?  Split the difference, eh?”