ce is over,--all but one call, and a
cup of tea is always refreshing."

I showed him inside and set him in my cosiest chair. While I busied
with the table things,--washing some dishes as a usual preliminary,--I
approached the subject.

"Mr. Auld,--I wished to ask your advice, for I am sure you can assist
me. My employer, Mr. Horsfal, has given me a free hand regarding
credit to the settlers. I know none of them and I am afraid that,
without guidance, I may offend some or land the business in trouble
with others. Will you help me, sir?"

"Why--of course, I'll help."

He took a sheet of paper from his pocket and commenced to write,
talking to me as he did so.

"You know, if times are at all good, you can trust the average man who
owns the ranch he lives on to pay his grocery bills sooner or later.
Still, if I were you, I wouldn't let any of them get into debt more
than sixty or seventy dollars, for they do not require to, and, once
they get in arrears, they have difficulty in getting out.

"It is the floating population,--the here-to-day-and-away-to-morrow
people who should not be given credit. And,--Mr. Bremner, if you
desire to act in kindness to the men themselves, do not allow the
loggers, who come in here, to run up bills for themselves personally.
Not that they are more dishonest than other people,--far from it. I
find it generally the other way round,--but they are notoriously
improvident; inclined,--God bless them,--to live for the fleeting
moment.

"In many ways they are like children in their simplicity and their
waywardness,--and their lot is not one of roses and honeysuckle. They
make good money and can afford to pay as they go. If they cannot pay,
they can easily wait for what they want until they can, for they are
well fed and well housed while in the camps."

We sat down at the table together.

"There is a list, George. May I call you George? It is so much more
friendly."

I nodded in hearty approval.

"It is not by any means complete, but it contains the principal people
among your near-hand neighbours. You can trust them to pay their last
cent: Neil Andrews, Semple, Smith, Johannson, Doolan, MacAllister and
Gourlay.

"Any others who may call,--make them pay; and I shall be glad to inform
you about them when I am this way again."

"How often do you come in here, Mr. Auld?"

"I try to make it, at least, once in two weeks, but I am not always
successful. I like to visit Jake M