"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.
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