“Of course not. A year hence he may be a capitalist, or a lawyer again. Meanwhile he is saving money.”
“He is a sensible man, after all; but, you see, Carter, it takes time to adjust my ideas to things here. The first surprise was your rough appearance.”
“There is one advantage my rough life has brought me,” said Carter. “It has improved my health. I was given to dyspepsia when I lived in New York. Now I really believe I could digest a tenpenny nail, or—an eating-house mince pie, which is more difficult.”
“You have steep hills in San Francisco.”
“Yes, it is something of a climb to the top of Clay Street Hill. When you get to the top you get a fine view, though.”
Now the hill may be ascended in cars drawn up the steeply graded sides by an endless rope running just below the surface. No such arrangement had been thought of then. Folsom gave out when he had completed half the ascent.
“I’ll be satisfied with the prospect from here,” he said.
Meanwhile Joe kept steadily at his task.
“It will take me three hours and a half, possibly four,” he said to himself, after a survey of the pile. “I wonder what pay I shall receive.”
While thus employed many persons passed him.