In the "Excerpt from Stranger from the Tonto," Jenester plays an influential role in shaping the decisions made by the men in the story. Two instances where Jenester displays her ability to intellectually persuade the men include when she convinces them to hire her as their cook and when she encourages them to continue with their gold search.
Firstly, the men initially doubted Jenester's ability to cook due to her gender and the demanding nature of outdoor work. Nevertheless, Jenester convinced the men of her skills by giving them a taste of her cooking. The narrator reports that the savory smell of her Dutch oven cooking and frying pans washed away their initial objections.
Furthermore, Jenester uses her persuasive skills to convince Mather to continue searching for gold despite his concerns about safety. She flatters him while making a logical argument that they must not give up the search for gold. Her words demonstrate how Jenester can influence the decision-making process of the men.
Therefore, the story shows that Jenester uses persuasive techniques such as emotional appeals, logical arguments, and flattery to steer the actions of the men in the story.