“'You--you--' he stammers, shakin' all over, he was so mad. 'Didn't I hire you--' “'You hired me to take you out to the fishin' grounds and back, provided the launch was made ready by YOU. It wa'n't ready, so THAT contract's busted. And you was to furnish your extrys and I was to furnish mine. Here they be and I need 'em. It's as legitimate a deal as ever I see; perfect case of supply and demand--supply for one and demand for two. As I said afore, I'm the one.' “'By thunder!' he growls, standin' up, 'I'll show you--' “I stood up, too. He was fat and flabby and I was thin and wiry. We looked each other over. “'I wouldn't,' says I. 'You're under the doctor's care, you know.' “So he set down again, not havin' strength even to swear, and watched me eat my breakfast. And I ate it slow. “'Say,' he says, finally, 'you think you're mighty smart, don't you. Well, I'm It, I guess, for this time. I suppose you'll have no objection to SELLIN' me a breakfast?' “'No--o,' says I, 'not a mite of objection. I'll sell you a couple of slices of pork for five dollars a slice and--' “'FIVE DOLLARS a--!' His mouth dropped open like a main hatch. “'Sartin,' I says. 'And two slabs of johnnycake at five dollars a slab. And a cup of coffee at five dollars a cup. And--' “'You're crazy!' he sputters, jumpin' up. “'Not much, I ain't. I've been settin' at your feet larnin' high finance, that's all. You don't seem to be onto the real inwardness of this deal. I've got the grub market cornered, that's all. The market price of necessaries is five dollars each now; it's likely to rise at any time, but now it's five.' “He looked at me steady for at least two more minutes. Then he got up and banged out of that shanty. A little later I see him down at the end of the sand spit starin' out into the fog; lookin' for a sail, I presume likely. “I finished my breakfast and washed up the dishes. He come in by and by. He hadn't had no dinner nor supper, you see, and the salt air gives most folks an almighty appetite. “'Say,' he says, 'I've been thinkin'. It's usual in the stock and provision market to deal on a margin. Suppose I pay you a one per cent margin now and--' “'All right,' says I, cheerful. 'Then I'll give you a slip of paper sayin' that you've bought such and such slices of pork and hunks of johnnycake and I'm carryin' 'em for you on a margin. Of course there ain't no delivery of the goods now because--' “'Humph!' he interrupts, sour. 'You seem to know more'n I thought you did. Now are you goin' to be decent and make me a fair price or ain't you?' “'Can't sell under the latest quotations,' says I. 'That's five now; and spot cash.' “'But hang it all!' he says, 'I haven't got money enough with me. Think I carry a national bank around in my clothes?' “'You carry a Wellmouth Bank check book,' says I, 'because I see it in your jacket pocket last night when I was dryin' your duds. I'll take a check.'