ittle longer, then
settled on the paper once more.

A few moments they scanned the column. Then:

"Maybe some o' these'll look attractive ol'-timer. 'Wanted three
bushelmen; one coat-maker; first-class pants operator; shoe shiner; two
farm carpenters, Arizona, four dollars a day, fare refunded; two
carpenters, city, five dollars a day; one hundred muckers, New Mexico,
two-fifty day; one trammer, three-fifty day; one hundred laborers, New
Mexico, three dollars day; porter in bakery, city, must be sober; boy,
sixteen years old, make himself generally useful in pickle plant; two
jerkline drivers--must be good, southern California; cooks, waiters,
teamsters, muckers galore. Call and see us. Morgan & Stroud,
Four-hundred-and-fifteen Clay Street.'"

He lowered the paper and once more fixed the slate-blue eyes on Hiram.
"There you are, ol'-timer--pick yer road to wealth and prominence."

His smile brought Hiram's chair closer.

"How d'ye get any o' these jobs?" he asked.

"Part with two dollars to Morgan & Stroud for the address o' the
advertiser, then beat the other fella to it," was the reply.

"But they wanted a hundred muckers, you read."

"Oh, that's different. They ship you out for two dollars to where the
job is. The contractor deducts your fare from your first month's pay
and refunds it to the railroad company, or sticks it in his pocket if
he's wise. Le's see--where they shippin'?" He glanced at the column
again. "N' Mexico, eh? Yes, they'll ship you down there for two
dollars, and you c'n go to work and grow up with the country. C'n you
drive a team?"

"Sure," said Hiram. "I c'n drive eight or ten, or even sixteen
jerkline, too. You read something about jerkline skinners."

"Then I'd go as a jerkline skinner at--what is it?--fifty-five and
found. Found means board, you know."

"And you're sure they'll send me down to southern California for two
dollars and gi' me a job drivin' mules?"

"They'll be tickled to death to do it. Where you from?"

Hiram heaved a sigh. "Mendocino County," he replied.

"Hittin' the trail for the first time, eh?"

The questioner evidently knew it, so Hiram did not reply.

"M'm-m! Fine big country--Mendocino. You oughta stayed there. That
country'll go to work and come out with a loud report some day."

"You've been there?" asked Hiram eagerly.

"Been everywhere."

"What do you follow?" Hiram used the new expression almost
unconsciously.

"I'm a pr