"Come to the iron city: it needs iron men." Appraising admiration spoke in his glance. "I think you'd fit. Why, man, Jackson hasn't added a thousand people in forty years; Adamsville has fifty thousand now, to your five."
The idea startled Paul. Leave Jackson! It was one thing for Dr. Ryland to go away, or the Lamar boys, or even Judge Roscoe Little and Borden Crenshaw. They were comparative newcomers; the earliest Crenshaw dated back only sixty years. But the Judsons were a Jackson fixture: his place was here. His black eyes clouded uncertainly; at that, he might invest a little....
The other's words continued; "... chance of a lifetime. It's big!"
"When can we look it over?" A spurt of eagerness spoke in the tone.
"Come up next week.... Bring Mrs. Judson?"
"I doubt if she could make it."
"You'll come?"
"Ye-es. I may bring the eldest boy."
After dinner he told Mary of the conversation. "We couldn't pull up stakes, I'm afraid. Anyway, Pelham will enjoy the trip. How about it, son?"
"Oh, father!" The bright-eyed face was expressive enough.