the railroad grade few men could have put
anything over on her. But this was another matter.

Fifty-six dollars for the eighteen-mile trip through the pass! It
would be ruinous. She would be obliged to advance her rate to meet
this additional expense, and then the truckman holding the franchise
would be able to haul freight cheaper than she could.

Back of her the men were muttering useless threats among themselves.
Jo found her voice at last. There was no need to ask to see a copy of
the franchise, because there was not the slightest doubt in her mind
that everything was aboveboard in that respect. She simply had been
outgeneraled. There was nothing to do but to pay--for the present, at
least--as the freight on her wagons must be delivered at any cost, now
that she had contracted to deliver it. What she said was:

"Will you accept my check?"

"Certainly, ma'am--most certain," was the ready reply.

"I'll go back to my wagon and write one for you then," she said, trying
to keep her voice steady. "Let the wagons go on, please. When mine
reaches you I'll hand out the check."

Tehachapi Hank touched his broad-brimmed hat again. "All right and
proper, ma'am," he assured her.

He was waiting by the roadside when her stanch whites marched past him,
and she reached the check out through the slats of the rack. He
touched his hat brim again and smiled then with true Western
politeness, pocketed the slip of paper without so much as glancing at
it.

Dully she watched the broad straining backs of her beloved animals as
they planted their great fetlocked feet and heaved their burden ever
upward. Ahead of them she could hear her skinners shouting back and
forth from wagon to wagon above the jingling of the bells, their tones
high-pitched and angry. Why had she not consulted with Demarest and
asked him to lay before her details of every angle that might present
itself in such an undertaking as hers?

Demarest knew all the twists and turns of modern business ruthlessness.
He might have been able to foresee a situation like this and to put
weapons into her hands with which she might have combated it.

She shrugged her sturdy shoulders finally, and as noon was close at
hand gave attention to her cooking. For the present she would drive
the matter from her thoughts. There was work to be accomplished, which
was a part of the present delivery of freight. When this task was
completed she would see what could be don