“It will be rather a rough job from what I saw of it,” Jack went on. “We are to run a horizontal shaft into some ore deposits. Mr. MacFarlane and I have been studying the plans for some time; we went over the ground together last month. That's why I didn't come to you last week.”
Peter twisted his head: “What's the name of the nearest town?” MacFarlane had told him but he had forgotten.
“Morfordsburg. I was there once with my father when I was a boy. He had some ore lands near where these are;—those he left me. The Cumberland property we always called it. I told you about it once. It will never amount to anything,—except by expensive boring. That is also what hurts the value of this new property the Maryland Mining Company owns. That's what they want Mr. MacFarlane for. Now, what would you do if you were me?”
“What sort of a town is Morfordsburg?” inquired Peter, ignoring Jack's question, his head still buried between his shoulders.
“Oh, like all other country villages, away from railroad connection.”
“Any good houses,—any to rent?”
“Yes,—I saw two.”
“And you want my advice, do you, Jack?” he burst out, rising erect in his seat.
“Yes.”
“Well, I'd stick to MacFarlane and take Ruth with me.”