tad, Sidney,
deprived of her education. He began to blame himself that he had not
long before determined definitely what the railroad would charge for
moving his hops. He told himself he was not much of a business man; that
he managed carelessly.

"Two cents," suddenly announced the clerk with a certain surly
indifference.

"Two cents a pound?"

"Yes, two cents a pound--that's in car-load lots, of course. I won't
give you that rate on smaller consignments."

"Yes, car-load lots, of course... two cents. Well, all right."

He turned away with a great sigh of relief.

"He sure did have me scared for a minute," he said to Annixter, as the
two went down to the street, "fiddling and fussing so long. Two cents
is all right, though. Seems fair to me. That fiddling of his was all
put on. I know 'em, these railroad heelers. He knew I was a discharged
employee first off, and he played the game just to make me seem small
because I had to ask favours of him. I don't suppose the General Office
tips its slavees off to act like swine, but there's the feeling through
the whole herd of them. 'Ye got to come to us. We let ye live only so
long as we choose, and what are ye going to do about it? If ye don't
like it, git out.'"

Annixter and the engineer descended to the street and had a drink at the
Yosemite bar, and Annixter went into the General Store while Dyke
bought a little pair of red slippers for Sidney. Before the salesman had
wrapped them up, Dyke slipped a dime into the toe of each with a wink at
Annixter.

"Let the little tad find 'em there," he said behind his hand in a hoarse
whisper. "That'll be one on Sid."

"Where to now?" demanded Annixter as they regained the street. "I'm
going down to the Post Office and then pull out for the ranch. Going my
way?"

Dyke hesitated in some confusion, tugging at the ends of his fine blonde
beard.

"No, no. I guess I'll leave you here. I've got--got other things to do
up the street. So long."

The two separated, and Annixter hurried through the crowd to the Post
Office, but the mail that had come in on that morning's train was
unusually heavy. It was nearly half an hour before it was distributed.
Naturally enough, Annixter placed all the blame of the delay upon the
railroad, and delivered himself of some pointed remarks in the midst of
the waiting crowd. He was irritated to the last degree when he finally
emerged upon the sidewalk again, cramming his mail into his pockets. O