disgusted with him."

"Ah! Well, I'm not disappointed. And I suppose Matt will be in here
before long to remind me that I was the bright boy who picked Andrews
for the job. Well, I did, but I call upon you to remember. Skinner, when
I'm assailed, that Andrews' appointment was temporary."

"Yes, sir, it was."

"Well, I suppose I'll have to cast about for his successor and beat Matt
out of his cheap 'I told you so' triumph. I think Comrade Peck has some
of the earmarks of a good manager for our Shanghai office, but I'll have
to test him a little further." He looked up humorously at Mr. Skinner.
"Skinner, my dear boy," he continued, "I'm going to have him deliver a
blue vase."

Mr. Skinner's cold features actually glowed. "Well, tip the chief of
police and the proprietor of the store off this time and save yourself
some money," he warned Cappy. He walked to the window and looked down
into California Street. He continued to smile.

"Yes," Cappy continued dreamily, "I think I shall give him the
thirty-third degree. You'll agree with me, Skinner, that if he delivers
the blue vase he'll be worth ten thousand dollars a year as our Oriental
manager?"

"I'll say he will," Mr. Skinner replied slangily.

"Very well, then. Arrange matters, Skinner, so that he will be available
for me at one o'clock, a week from Sunday. I'll attend to the other