“If you didn't think so much of him, sir,” he comforted Cappy, “you'd worry less. She really will not be overdue until she's out a hundred and twenty days.”
“Skinner,” Cappy piped wearily, “don't try to deceive me. I've been in the shipping game for forty-odd years, boy. I know it's about six thousand miles from San Francisco to Manila, and if a vessel averages ninety miles a day she's making a smart passage. Matt made it down in sixty-six days, and he ought to come back in sixty, because he has fair winds all the way. Skinner, the boy's a month overdue; and if he never shows up--if he stays out much longer--Florry'll break her heart; and my grandson--think of it, Skinner!--think of the prenatal effect on the child! Oh, Skinner, my dear, dear boy, I want him big and light-hearted and sunny-souled like Matt--and to think this is all my doing--my own daughter! Oh! Oh, Skinner, my heart is breaking!”
Mr. Skinner fled to his own office and did something most un-Skinner-like. He blinked away several large bright tears; and while he was blinking them the telephone bell rang. Mechanically Mr. Skinner answered. It was Jerry Dooley, in charge of the Merchants' Exchange.
“Mr. Skinner,” said Jerry, “I've got some bad news for you.”
“The-the-_Retriever_--” Skinner almost whispered.
“Yes, sir. I thought I'd tell you first, so you could break it to the old man gently. The Grace liner _Ecudorian_ arrived at Victoria this morning and reports speaking the _Retriever_ eight hundred miles off the coast of Formosa. The vessel was under jib, lower topsail, foretopmast staysail, mainsail and spanker. She was flying two flags--an inverted ensign and the yellow quarantine flag. The _Ecudorian_ steamed close alongside of her, to windward. Captain Peasley was at the wheel--”
“Thank God!” Mr. Skinner almost sobbed. “What was wrong with her, Jerry? Hurry up, man! Hurry up! Tell me!”
“He was alone on the ship, Mr. Skinner. Bubonic plague! Killed the entire crew! Matt was the only man immune, and he's sailing the _Retriever_ home alone!”
“Good gracious Providence! Why didn't the _Ecudorian_ take him off?”
“Credit them with offering it,” Jerry replied. “He wouldn't come. He declined to jeopardize the people aboard the steamer and he wouldn't abandon the _Retriever_ with her full cargo; so what could they do? They had to sail away without him.”