Pagina 393 di 416

"It's a good catch, Code, and fine fish," answered Boughton, who

had been writing. "How will you have the money--in a lump or

individual checks?"

"Separate checks." Boughton went back to his glass-surrounded

desk to write them.

Code, being the sole owner of the Charming Lass, took two

thousand dollars as his share, and the rest was divided almost

equally among the other nine men, a trifle extra going to Pete

Ellinwood for his services as mate.

"It was a toppin' haul," declared Pete jovially, slapping his

well-filled pocket after a visit to the bank, "an' the rest of

them poor devils won't get over two and a half a pound--some of

'em only two, when there's lots of fish. Half a cent a pound is a

pretty good bonus!"

Code had dinner with his mother that night, and appeared for it

carefully dressed. What was his surprise to see his mother in her

one silk dress.

"I'm going up to Mallaby House," he said in answer to her

inquiring look. "But you! What's all this gaiety, mother?"