rstanding that
their pay would run on."

"The day's wages for five hundred workmen is a big item of loss when
we're delayed," mused Hazelton.

"There's another consideration that's even worse than the loss," Tom
went on in a low voice. "The pay train will be here this afternoon and
the men will have a lot of money by evening. This town of Paloma is
going to be wide open to-night in the effort to get the money away from
our five hundred men."

"We can't stop that," sighed Harry. "We have no control over the way in
which the workmen choose to spend their money."

"Want me to tell you a secret?" whispered Tom mysteriously.

"Yes, if it's an interesting one," smiled Harry.

"Very good, then. I know I can't actually interfere with the way the 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.

From an upper window Fred Ransom looked down upon them, then called Duff
to his side.

"There is your game, Duff," hinted the agent.

"They'll be easy to a man of my experience," laughed the gambler. "I've
a clever scheme for starting trouble with them."

He whispered a few words in his companion's ears, at which Ransom
laughed with apparent enjoyment.

"You're a keen one, Duff