"Sam's wife said his wife said he was thinkin' some of goin' into a bank here—"
"A bank!"
"What in thunder—"
Vance turned, with a comical look on his long, placid face, one hand stroking his beard.
"Well, now, gents, I'll tell you what's the matter with this town. It needs a bank. Yes, sir! I need a bank."
"You?"
"Yes, me. I didn't know just what did ail me, but I do now. It's the need of a bank that keeps me down."
"Well, you fellers can talk an' laugh, but I tell yeh they's a boom goin' to strike this town. It's got to come. W'y, just look at Lumberville!"
"Their boom is our bu'st," was McPhail's comment.
"I don't think so," said Sanford, who had entered in time to hear these last two speeches. They all looked at him with deep interest. He was a smallish man. He wore a derby hat and a neat suit. "I've looked things over pretty close—a man don't like to invest his capital" (here the rest looked at one another) "till he does; and I believe there's an opening for a bank."