“Sort of lookin’ around—goin’ to buy up a piece of timber, hey?”
“No. Avery offered me a job and I took it.”
“Huh!” Curious Jim carefully flicked a fly from the horse’s back. “You’re from Boston?”
“Yes.”
Curious Jim was silent for some time. Suddenly he turned as though about to offer an original suggestion.
“Railroads is funny things, ain’t they?”
“Sometimes they are.”
Jim was a bit discouraged. The new man didn’t seem to be much of a talker.
“Hoss Avery’s a mighty pecooliar man,” he ventured.
“Is he?” David’s tone conveyed innocent surprise.