urse you don't know positively," she replied. "But I'll bet you
ten to one that you'll never sublet that piece of heavy-rock work
through the buttes. I don't know a subcontractor--and I've not been
out of touch with the grade so very long--who could tackle that
stupendous task. So, if you can't sublet it--and I'm betting you
can't--it will be up to you folks to do it yourselves. So that tells
me where your largest camp will be, and at the nearest water to your
largest camp the rag town will spring up. Isn't that all logical?"

"Sound as a dollar," he told her. "You weren't raised by Pickhandle
Modock for nothing, were you?"

She rose from her chair. "Tell your subs to send me a wire at Julia
when they're ready for any freight, at two and a half cents for a
starter," she said. "I'll get it to 'em. But if no one meets my
price, look for a raise to three cents for the second trip. Of course,
if I don't hear from them, I'll know some one has beaten me out. Then
I'll see what can be done. Your camp, of course, won't be in till
last, I suppose. I'll go back to Palada now, take the stock off
pasture, and begin hardening them up. Then I'll start for Julia, and
will be there before your outfit moves in."

CHAPTER XII

SKINNERS FROM FRISCO

Back at Palada, Jerkline Jo began hunting up the expert skinners who
had pulled the long sash-cord lines for her foster father, and who had
drifted to parts unknown since the completion of the paved road that
had virtually put Pickhandle Modock out of the running. The world has
not an oversupply of expert jerkline skinners, and the plucky girl's
chances for success depended in great part on obtaining good men to
handle her teams. She was able to trace some of the men, and her offer
to pay their expenses to Palada brought replies favorable to the
project in each case. For jerkline jobs are scarce these days, and a
jerkline skinner would rather follow his calling than do any other sort
of work.

The blacksmith, horseshoer, and wagoner, Carter Potts, was still in
Palada, and wished for nothing better than to serve the girl. They had
decided to reopen the shop at Julia, and for his devotion Jo promised
him a generous per cent of any profits which might accrue from work
aside from the care of the immense wagons and shoeing the teams. This
in addition to his monthly salary of a hundred dollars and board.

From Oregon now came "Blink" Keddie, who had driven teams for