dealings. In fact, he was more inclined to take their point of view
than to hold his own. For that reason, the subtler disputes were
likely to go against him. His desire to avoid coming into direct
collision of opinion with the other man, veiled whatever of justice
might reside in his own contention. Consequently it was difficult
for him to combat sophistry or a plausible appearance of right. Daly
was perfectly aware of Radway's peculiarities, and so proceeded to
drive a sharp bargain with him.

Customarily a jobber is paid a certain proportion of the agreed
price as each stage of the work is completed--so much when the
timber is cut; so much when it is skidded, or piled; so much when
it is stacked at the river, or banked; so much when the "drive"
down the waters of the river is finished. Daly objected to this
method of procedure.

"You see, Radway," he explained, "it is our last season in the
country. When this lot is in, we want to pull up stakes, so we
can't take any chances on not getting that timber in. If you don't
finish your Job, it keeps us here another season. There can be
no doubt, therefore, that you finish your job. In other words,
we can't take any chances. If you start the thing, you've got to
carry it 'way through."

"I think I can, Mr. Daly," the jobber assured him.

"For that reason," went on Daly, "we object to paying you as the
work progresses. We've got to have a guarantee that you don't quit
on us, and that those logs will be driven down the branch as far as
the river in time to catch our drive. Therefore I'm going to make