“Never,” answered the customer. “I’ve been in Missouri, but never in Iowa.”
“I have never been in that State. Are you going to stay here?”
“I don’t know. It depends on whether I can make any money. I suppose you don’t want to hire a clerk?”
“No.”
Ernest said to himself that this man with his shifty looks and suspicious appearance would be about the last man he would think of engaging.
“Perhaps Mr. Ames would give you a chance to work some of his claims,” he suggested.
“I will look about me a little before I apply to him,” replied the customer.
“Did you come here alone?” he asked after a pause.
“No. A friend came with me—Luke Robbins.”
The stranger started a little when Ernest pronounced this name, so that young Ray was led to inquire, “Do you know Luke?”