"Nobody that I know of."
"Then why do you ask me such questions?"
The old man surveyed Tony with a look of doubt, as if he thought the boy were laying a trap for him.
"Don't answer anything you don't want to," said our hero. "I only asked for the sake of saying something."
"I don't mind telling," said old Ben, more calmly. "It was because I was so poor. I thought I could do better in America."
"And didn't you?"
"When I was able to work. Now I'm weak and poor, and can't always get enough to eat."
"Do you own this place?"
"Yes, but it's a very poor place. It isn't worth much."