esert.

"So, my friend, it follows as the night the day that Demarest, Spruce &
Tillou will eventually move in with their heaviest-hitting outfit to
run that cut, which certainly will be left on their hands. It follows
as the night the day, again, that the leeches who always drift in to
get the stiff's pay day away from them will settle near the biggest
camp, if there's sufficient water.

"Down near those buttes, where the big camp is bound to be, there's
plenty of water, and before many days have passed Ragtown in all its
glory will be erected right there.

"These supplies that we're hauling now are charged to the account of
Demarest, Spruce & Tillou," she further explained. "You see, they
furnish their subs with everything they need. Now when Demarest,
Spruce & Tillou move in there will be little or no freighting for us to
any camp but theirs. All goods will be concentrated in their
commissary then, and the subs will buy direct from them and do their
own hauling to the various camps. Of course, Ragtown will have to be
supplied--but Ragtown and Demarest, Spruce & Tillou's Camp Number One
will be virtually the same as regards our freight terminus."

"And how long before the main contractors will get here?" he asked,
working his twisted nose from side to side as if in the hope of
eventually persuading it to point dead ahead.

"That all depends on whether they have given up trying to sublet any
more work or not. If they think they won't be able to load any one
else up with a job, they'll be in directly--almost any day. But if
they still think there's a chance to get rid of the hard pieces,
they'll hold off until the matter is settled, of course."

"Thank you," said Mr. Tweet abruptly, and was turning briskly away when
she remarked:

"I've decided that perhaps I can use you after all, if----"

"Sorry," he interrupted, "but I can't accept your offer, even though I
appreciate it and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Truth is, I
gotta get busy. I've heard there's a stage goin' out to the north
to-night, and I gotta make it. By the way, did Hiram speak to you
about advancin' him what pay was comin' to him?"

Jo's eyes narrowed. "No," she said coldly, "he didn't mention such a
matter."

Twitter-or-Tweet came back to her. "Listen," he said, "you owe him
about twenty bucks. I want it. I'll need it. You slip it to Hiram,
and I'll borrow it off o' him. You see----"

"Why, I'll do nothing of the so