Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast

Mayo heard fragmentary explanation of how the combination of steamboat

and barge interests had operated to leave only pickings to the

schooners. The two men were tramping the deck together, and at the turns

were too far away from him to be heard distinctly.

"But they're putting over the biggest job of all just now," proceeded

Bradish. "Confound it, Captain Downs, I'm not to be blamed for running

away with a man's daughter after watching him operate as long as I have.

His motto is, 'Go after it when you see a thing you want in this world.'

I've been trained to that system. I've got just as much right to go

after a thing as he. I'm treasurer of the Paramount--that's the trust

with which they intend to smash the opposition. My job is to ask no

questions and to sign checks when they tell me to, and Heaven only knows

what kind of a goat it will make of me if they ever have a show-down in

the courts! They worked some kind of a shenanigan to grab off the Vose

line; I wired a pot of money to Fletcher Fogg, who was doing the dirty

work, and it was paid to a clerk to work proxies at the annual meeting.

And then Fogg put up some kind of a job on a greenhorn captain--worked

a flip trick on the fellow and made him shove the Montana onto the

sands. I suppose they'll have the Vose line at their price before I get

back."

Mayo sat there in the shadow, squatting on legs which trembled.

This babbler--tongue loosened by his new liberty and by the antagonism

his small nature was developing, anticipating his employer's enmity--had

dropped a word of what Mayo knew must be the truth. It had been a

trick--and Fletcher Fogg had worked it! Mayo did not know who Fletcher

Fogg's employer might be. From what office this tattler came he did not

know; but it was evident that Bradish was cognizant of the trick. As

a result of that trick, an honest man had been ruined and blacklisted,

deprived of opportunity to work in his profession, was a fugitive, a

despised sailor, kicked to the Very bottom of the ladder he had climbed

so patiently and honorably.

Furious passion bowled over Mayo's prudence. He leaped down from the top

of the house and presented himself in front of the two men.

"I heard it--I couldn't help hearing it!" he stuttered.

"Here's a nigger gone crazy!" yelped Captain Downs. "Ahoy, there,

for'ard! Tumble aft with a rope!"