“I don’t know. Probably you can get a chance to work on one of Mr. Ames’s claims.”

“Is it Mr. Ames who owns the store?”

“Yes.”

“I called there to buy some tobacco. Is the boy there his son?”

“No; he is a recent arrival in Oreville. He is a very smart boy.”

“Is he? Mr. Ames trusts him, I suppose?”

“Yes. Why shouldn’t he?”

“I—I would rather not answer that question.”

“Have you ever met the boy before?”

“Yes; I met him in the East,” answered Burns.