roll down when you cut
your track."

"Loose gravel's bad," Jake remarked. "If there's much of it, I don't
see why Cartner and Dawson want the contract."

"For one thing, they reckon it's theirs. Then they have money enough
to get to work properly. You have taken up too big a job, and now's
your chance to quit. If you're prudent, you won't let it go."

Jim pondered, for he thought he had got a hint. Cartner and Dawson
were contractors and with one or two more did much of the public work.
In fact, it was said that the few large firms pooled the best jobs and
combined to keep off outsiders. Jim had been somewhat surprised when
Jake secured the contract and imagined this was because it was not
large enough for the others to bother about. The branch line was short.

"Oh, well," he said as carelessly as he could, "we've got to try to put
it over. Seven hundred and fifty dollars wouldn't pay us for the time
we've spent."

Probyn leaned forward. "You want to call me up? Well, I'll stand for
a thousand dollars, but that's my best."

Jake looked at Jim and both hesitated. A thousand dollars was a useful
sum, and in a way they would get it for nothing. Cartner and Dawson
would pay, but if the offer were refused, their opposition must be
reckoned on. It was obvious that they did not mean to allow poaching
on the preserves they claimed. Then Jim thought about Carrie, and felt
half ashamed of his caution. She was a partner and although she did
not know the difficulties she would not hesitate. He did not know if
he was weak or not, but he did not want her to think he had no pluck.
While he mused, Carrie came in, looking pale and tired, but she stopped
and gave Probyn a direct glance.

"Who is this?" she asked.

"He comes from Cartner and Dawson, the big contractors, and wants to
buy us off," Jake replied. "He offers a thousand dollars if we'll get
out."

"Ah!" exclaimed Carrie. "What did you say?"

"We haven't said much. We were thinking about it when you came in."

Carrie's eyes sparkled and her tired look vanished. "It won't stand
for thinking about! Tell him you undertook the job and are going to
make good."

Jake shrugged humorously and turned to Jim. "Well, I guess we needed
bracing. What do you say, partner?"

"We'll hold on."

Probyn frowned. "Is the dame a member of the firm?"

"She is," Jake said, smiling. "In fact, when we're up against it,
she's the boss partner."

"Very well.