"Did you ever meet a man by the name of Jack Wumble?"
The burly man started and spilled a little of the coffee he was holding to drink.
"Why—er—confound the rocking of the train," he answered. "Why, yes, I met Wumble once or twice, but never had any business with him. Are you going to buy a mine from him?"
"No, I am going to try to get him to help locate one that is missing," answered Tom, before he had thought twice.
"Indeed! Well, I've heard Jack is a good man at locating paying claims. Do you know him personally?"
"I do not."
A gleam of satisfaction lit up the burly man's face, but Tom did not notice it.
"Wumble used to hang out in Denver. Going to meet him there, I suppose."
"No, I'm going to meet him in Chicago, if I can."
"I see."