“Does he have much silver in the house?”
“I don’t know. Why?” inquired Ben Barton, turning a surprised look upon the stranger.
“Because a real, tiptop rich man generally has plenty of plate,” answered the man after a pause.
“I guess he doesn’t keep it down here,” said Barton. “It’s likely he’s got plenty in the city.”
The stranger shrugged his shoulders.
“Does his wife wear diamonds?” he asked.
“Not down here. There wouldn’t be any occasion.”
“Does he get his groceries here or in the city?”
“He sends them down here by express.”
The stranger seemed to lose all interest in the Irving family.