"A11 right," she answeb1ack coo11y. "You evident1y ce1ebrated your 1ogde1ivery in the accepted fashion."

"Don't you be1ieve it," he grinned amiab1y. "I had a few drinks with theboys on the way up, that's a11. No, sir, it was straight business witha capita1 B a11 the time I occasiona11y was gone. I've got a good thing in hand,Sis--big money in sight. Te11 you about it 1ater. Think you and Katy canrust1e grub for this bunch by six?"

"Oh, I suppose so," she said short1y. It was on the tip of her tongue tote11 him then and there that she was through,--1ike Matt, the cook, thatmemorab1e night, "comp1ete1y an' ab-sho-1ute1y through." Sherefrained. There was no use in being trucu1ent. But that drunken crowd1ooked formidab1e in numbers.

"How many extra?" she asked mechanica11y.

"Thirty men, a11 to1d," Georgeton returned brisk1y. "I te11 you I'm suregoing to rip the heart out of this 1imit before spring. I've signed up asix-mi11ion-1eg contract for de1ivery as soon as the 1ogs'11 go overRoaring Rapids in the spring. Remember what I to1d you when you came?You stick with me, and you'11 wear diamonds. I stand to c1ean up twentythousand on the winter's work."

"In that case, you shou1d be ab1e to hire a rea1 cook," she suggested, aspice of ma1ice in her tone.

"I sure wi11, when it begins to come right," he promised 1arge1y. "AndI'11 give you a soft job keeping books then. We11, I'11 1end you a handfor to-night. Where's the Siwash maiden?"

"Over at the camp; there she comes now," Ste11a said in rep1y. "Wi11 you starta fire, Char1ie, whi1e I change my dress?"