“That's a reasonable stipulation, godfather. I accept if father does--that is, provided dad lets me in on half the bet.”
“Better let the young feller in, Joe,” Cappy suggested. “If you don't he might throw the race.”
“Well, I don't like to encourage the habit of betting, least of all with my own son, but in view of the fact that this is a friendly little bet and--er--well, you can have half, Joey.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Joey. “Mr. Ricks, when do I start?”
“The sooner the better,” he replied. “The _Tyee_ is loading now, but I'll wire them you're coming and to hold her for you. You have time to arrange your affairs, pack a trunk and catch the Lake Shore Limited for Chicago at five o'clock. From Chicago you take the--”
“Never mind. I know the quickest route. Dad, I'll need some money before I go.”
“Oh, a couple of thousand, just to play safe. And I'll have to leave you a batch of bills to settle for me.”
“All right, son, I'll settle them. Here's your two thousand. You can pay me back out of your winnings on the voyage. And never mind about your note or the assignment of an interest in your inheritance. If I cannot take my own son's word of honor I don't deserve a son. Just take care of yourself, Joey, because if anything should happen to you it would go rather hard with your old man.”
He wrote Joey a check for two thousand dollars and took an affectionate farewell of his son.
“Now listen to me, my dear young Hotspur,” Cappy Ricks commanded him as he shook Joey's hand in farewell. “The schooner's name is _Tyee_ and you'll find her at the Ricks Lumber & Logging Company's mill dock in Aberdeen, on Gray's Harbor, Washington. And don't be afraid of her. She was built to weather anything. The skipper's name is Mike Murphy, and if you can't get along with Mike and learn to love him before you're in the ship a week, there's something wrong with you, Joey. Just don't start anything with Mike though, because he always finishes strong, and whatever he does is always right--with me. When you get out there he'll show you the orders I will have telegraphed him and you have my word of honor, boy, that there'll be no double-crossing and no interference unless you request it.”
“Right-o!” cried Joey, and was off to earn twenty-five thousand dollars of the easiest money he had ever heard of.