for Quesnelle, at a cabin
called the One Hundred and Four where old Pete Mathson lives, a hairy
little person, like a Skye terrier with a faithful heart.

"And said Mathson has blazed a cut-off, crossing the foot of the gorge,
then climbing by an easy grade to the ninety-five-mile post. The said
cut-off is five miles long. Made into a wagon road, it would give a
better gradient for traffic, save four miles, employ local labor at a
season when money is scant, and be an all-round blessing to mankind. At
the foot of the gorge we'd locate the new Hundred Mile House.

"Incidentally, Spite House would be side-tracked, left in the hungry
woods four miles from nowhere."

"Tell me," I urged, "what you think."

"My dear madam, when I've made a survey you shall have dates and figures
for a temporary snow road, a permanent way, and a house."

"It can be done?"

"Why, certainly."

"You approve?"

"Yes. I see dollars in this, for me."

"You think I'm foolish!"

"It will be an excellent road."

"But the result?"

"Please don't blame the engineer."

"Oh, tell me what you think, as a man."

"Well, let's pretend I'm Polly."

I laughed.

"Being Polly, and from my Polly point of view, frankly, I'm pleased.
Here are hundreds of new customers, with Madame Scotson's money to spend
at Spite House."

"My men will sign an agreement. The man who visits Spite House forfeits
a bonus for good service, loses all outstanding pay, and leaves my camp
that day."

"Is that so? Of course the coaches change horses at Spite House."

"When I've bought out the stage company, they'll change horses at the
New Hundred."

"And only stop at Spite House for the mails?"

"I shall appeal to the postmaster-general."

"On the ground that you're running a rival house? Captain Taylor, you
say, did that."

"My house shall charge nothing. It shall be free, and the visitors my
guests."

"Then, in my little Polly way, I'm afraid I'll have to move Spite House
down to the new road."

"On to my land?"

"Your cruelty reduces me to tears. I am a martyr. I appeal to the
chivalrous public to boycott that new road."

"When I've brought money into the country? Oh, you don't know this
hungry neighborhood!"

"Mercy! My client's done for. I'm Madame Scotson's managing engineer.
May I ask a plain question?"

"Certainly."

"Is there water-power in this gulch?"

"There's a lovely waterfall."

"I'll look around to-morrow."

And then came Mr. E