treet.

"Confound it!" Drummond grumbled to Lucy little later. "Why in thunder
doesn't Tweet put a telephone line to civilization? We're wasting
time!"

"Couldn't do anything, anyway, till Jo's on her feet again," the girl
practically pointed out. "Don't be overimpatient."

Eight days later Heine Schultz faced them again.

"Jo's still too sick to write," he announced. "But she's gettin'
better right along. She told me to tell you that what you wrote was
fierce, and that you was too greedy. That's only what Jo said. Don't
take it out on me. She said she'd be willin' to let you have a fourth,
over an' above all expenses."

"Well, she'll do nothing of the sort!" Lucy cut in hotly.

"Come around later, Heine," put in Drummond. "I'll have another note."

"Gotcha!" replied Heine, and picked up a rifle to sight at a target
before strolling nonchalantly on.

Two miles out of town next morning Heine took out his pocketknife and
slit the envelope covering the note that Drummond had given him to be
delivered to Jerkline Jo.

"M'm-m!" he mumbled, reading slowly, a great calloused forefinger
following the lines.

You'll come to our terms immediately, or our copy
of the instructions goes into the fire. We've reached
the end of our rope, and won't monkey any longer.
Take your choice, Miss Modock--or Miss Jean
Prince--half or nothing. Yes, we're just ornery
enough to rob ourselves to spite you.

Heine scratched his head and muttered: "Lord, be merciful unto me, a
skinner! Now what'll I say to that? Guess I'll stretch this trip out
to twelve days--we c'n have a breakdown or somethin'."

It was indeed twelve days before the outfit was again seen in Ragtown;
and then Mr. Schultz had this to say to Drummond and the girl:

"Jo says she'll be about pretty soon now, and she'll come over with us
next trip and see you herself. Says for you not to do anything rash,
or anything like that. What'll I tell her?"

"Tell her to hurry up!" Drummond said angrily.

"Gotcha!" drawled Heine, and betook himself to camp.

Ten days later Mr. Schultz had this to report:

"Well, sir, Jo she just naturally had a terrible relapse. Doctor's
worried blue about 'er. She can't talk, and she can't see to read.
She just lays there and gasps somethin' fierce."

"What on earth has she?" cried Lucy.

Heine scratched his head. "The doc said it was a kind o' complication
or somethin'. Dip'theria and appendiseetus, I