“Sure!” agreed the jobber readily, with a laugh. “Sure! But you won't get anything. I'll give you ten per cent quick.” “Good enough!” cried Thorpe. “But don't be too sure you'll earn day wages doing it,” warned the other. “I saw Daly when I was down here last week.” “My time's not valuable,” replied Thorpe. “Now when we get to town I want your power of attorney and a few figures, after which I will not bother you again.” The next day the young man called for the second time at the little red-painted office under the shadow of the mill, and for the second time stood before the bulky power of the junior member of the firm. “Well, young man, what can I do for you?” asked the latter. “I have been informed,” said Thorpe without preliminary, “that you intend to pay John Radway nothing for the work done on the Cass Branch this winter. Is that true?” Daly studied his antagonist meditatively. “If it is true, what is it to you?” he asked at length. “I am acting in Mr. Radway's interest.” “You are one of Radway's men?” “Yes.” “In what capacity have you been working for him?” “Cant-hook man,” replied Thorpe briefly. “I see,” said Daly slowly. Then suddenly, with an intensity of energy that startled Thorpe, he cried: “Now you get out of here! Right off! Quick!” The younger man recognized the compelling and autocratic boss addressing a member of the crew. “I shall do nothing of the kind!” he replied with a flash of fire. The mill-owner leaped to his feet every inch a leader of men. Thorpe did not wish to bring about an actual scene of violence. He had attained his object, which was to fluster the other out of his judicial calm. “I have Radway's power of attorney,” he added. Daly sat down, controlled himself with an effort, and growled out, “Why didn't you say so?” “Now I would like to know your position,” went on Thorpe. “I am not here to make trouble, but as an associate of Mr. Radway, I have a right to understand the case. Of course I have his side of the story,” he suggested, as though convinced that a detailing of the other side might change his views. Daly considered carefully, fixing his flint-blue eyes unswervingly on Thorpe's face. Evidently his scrutiny advised him that the young man was a force to be reckoned with. “It's like this,” said he abruptly, “we contracted last fall with this man Radway to put in five million feet of our timber, delivered to the main drive at the mouth of the Cass Branch. In this he was to act independently except as to the matter of provisions. Those he drew from our van, and was debited with the amount of the same. Is that clear?” “Perfectly,” replied Thorpe. “In return we were to pay him, merchantable scale, four dollars a thousand. If, however, he failed to put in the whole job, the contract was void.” “That's how I understand it,” commented Thorpe. “Well?” “Well, he didn't get in the five million. There's a million and a half hung up in the woods.”