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Three days after Johnny's departure, two small schooners came
to Coralio. Some time later a boat from one of them brought a young
man ashore. He found on the beach someone who showed him the
way to the consul's office, where he went.
Keough was sitting in the official chair, drawing caricatures. He
looked up at the visitor.
"Where is Johnny Atwood?" asked the young man, in a
business tone.
"He's gone," said Keough.
"Will he be here soon?" asked the visitor.
"I don't think so," said Keough.
"And who runs his business?"
"I'm looking after the business just now," said the acting
consul.
"Are you — then, say! — where's the factory?"
"What factory?" asked Keough, with a polite interest.
"Why, the factory where they use cockleburrs. God knows,
what they use them for, anyway! My both ships are loaded with them.
I'll give you a bargain, in this lot. Every man, woman, and child
around Dalesburg was picking them for me for a month. I hired these
ships to bring them here. Everybody thought I was crazy. Now you
can have this lot for fifteen cents a pound, delivered on land.
Agreed?"
Joy appeared in Keough's face.
He dropped his pencil. "Please, tell me," said Keough, "are you
Pink Dawson?"
"Yes, my name is Pink Dawson," said the cornerer of the
cockleburr market.
Keough dropped to the floor in uncontrollable laughter, while
the young man looked at him with wonder and amazement.

***

Assignments

1. Skimming: Skim the reading to gain a general idea of its form, length,
and content. Give the gist of the story.