Mr. Skinner glanced at Cappy Ricks with the closest approach to downright affection he considered quite dignified to permit during business hours.

“I notice you were going to quit a minute ago to become president emeritus—­and now you’re including yourself in the new program of activity,” he reminded Cappy Ricks.  “I seem to remember that for the past few years you’ve been talking of the happy day when you could retire and learn to play golf.”

“Golf!” Cappy glanced at Mr. Skinner witheringly.  “Skinner,” he continued, “don’t be an ass!  Golf is an old man’s game—­and I belong with the young fellows.  Why, don’t you remember the day, three years ago, when we discovered we had a sailor named Matt Peasley before the mast in the old Retriever?  Why, ever since I’ve been having so much fun—­”

“And that reminds me,” Matt interrupted:  “We must send a new skipper to Aberdeen to relieve Mike Murphy in the Retriever.  He has his ticket for steam and I’ve hired him at two hundred and fifty a month to skipper the Narcissus.  Mike is one of the best men under the Blue Star; he has come up from before the mast.”

“The only kind I ever gave a whoop for,” Cappy declared.  “In effect, he once told me to go chase myself.”

“But,” Skinner persisted, “how about playing golf?”

Cappy Ricks raised his eyes reverently upward.  “Please God,” he said, “I’ll die in the harness!”

“Amen!” said Mr. Skinner; and Matt Peasely re-echoed the sentiment.

*** End of the project gutenberg EBOOK, Cappy Ricks ***

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