the construction camps. The work was hard, but one was provided with the
material required and efficient tools. Then there was freedom from the
responsibility he felt now; one did one's best and the company took the
risk.

Festing's interest deepened when, at the end of the letter, Kerr told
him about a contract for which nobody seemed anxious to tender. It was
a difficult undertaking, but Kerr thought a bold, resourceful man could
carry it out with profit. He did not know if it would appeal to Festing,
although prairie farmers sometimes went to work with their teams on a
new track when their harvest was poor. Kerr ended with the hope that
this was not the case with Festing.

The latter sat still for a few minutes with his brows knit and then
started his team. It was too late to think of railroad contracts; he had
chosen his line and must stick to it, but his look was irresolute as he
drove on.

Some time after Festing reached the settlement, Wilkinson and three or
four others sat, smoking, in the poolroom. This supplied a useful hint
about their character, because supper would not be ready for an hour or
two, and industrious people were busily occupied. The room was hot,
the floor and green tables were sprinkled with poisoned flies, and
the wooden chairs were uncomfortably hard, but it was cooler than the
sidewalk, and the men lounged with their feet on the empty stove.

"Does anybody feel like another game?" one asked.

"No," said the man he looked at. "I've lost three dollars, and that's
all I can spare. Can't spare it, for that matter, but it's gone. I'm
going broke if this weather lasts.

"That's nothing," remarked another. "Some of us have been broke since we
came here; you get used to it. There'll be other folks in a tight place
if the rain doesn't come; but it won't make much difference to you,
Wilkinson. I guess the storekeepers have you fixed now."

Wilkinson frowned. He knew the remark was prompted by malice because he
had won the money his companion had lost. The fellow, however, had
not exaggerated. His creditors had recently stopped supplies and
made demands with which he was unable to comply, and since they were
obviously consulting each other, it looked as if he would be sold up and
forced to leave the neighborhood. Somebody had put them on his track and
he suspected Mrs. Charnock. He meant to punish her if he could.

"I've certainly got to sell off a bunch of young horses sooner than
I meant; I