“Myself.”
“You don’t mean to say this is your own place?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, I’ll be blowed!” ejaculated Hogan, staring stupidly at Joe.
CHAPTER XVIII
MR. HOGAN’S PROPOSAL
Joe enjoyed Hogan’s amazement. He felt rather proud of his rapid progress. It was not four months since, a poor, country boy, he had come up to New York, and fallen a prey to a designing sharper. Now, on the other side of the continent, he was master of a business and owner of real estate.
The day has passed for such rapid progress. California is no longer a new country, and the conditions of living closely approximate those in the East. I am careful to say this because I don’t wish to mislead my young readers. Success is always attainable by pluck and persistency, but the degree is dependent on circumstances.
“How have you made out?” asked Joe of his visitor.
“I’ve had hard luck,” grumbled Hogan, “I went to the mines, but I wasn’t lucky.”
“Was that the case with other miners?” asked Joe, who had a shrewd suspicion that Hogan’s ill-luck was largely the result of his laziness and want of application.