men spend their money. But I'm going to give them some earnest advice
about avoiding fellows who would fleece them out of their wages."

"Go slowly, Tom!" warned Hazelton, opening his eyes rather wide. "Don't
put yourself in bad with the men, or they may quit you in a body."

"Let them," retorted Tom, with one of his easy smiles. "If these men
throw up their work General Manager Ellsworth will know where to find
others for us. Few of our men are skilled workers. We can find
substitutes for most of them anywhere that laborers can be found."

"But you've no right--"

"Of one thing you may be very sure, Harry. I'll take pains not to step
over the line of my own rights, and not to step on the rights of the men
who are working for us. What I mean to do is to offer them some very
straight talk. I shall also warn them that we are quite ready to
discharge any foolish fellows who may happen to go on sprees and unfit
themselves for our work. I've one surprise to show you, Harry. Wait
until Johnson, the paymaster, gets in. Then you'll see who else is with
him."

"Are you gentlemen ready for your horses?" asked a stable boy, coming
around to the front of the hotel.

"Yes," nodded Tom.

Two tough, lean, wiry desert ponies were brought around. Tom and Harry
mounted, riding away at a slow trot at first.