“You have a mother and father living?”
“Yes, sir, and a sister. She’s thirteen.”
“What’s your father’s business, Dan?”
“He’s a little of everything, sir. He owns the flouring mills at Graystone and he’s president of the First National Bank and owns a lot of buildings and things all around. His name’s John W. Vinton, sir.” And Dan watched eagerly to see if Mr. Pennimore showed acquaintance with the name.
“Doubtless I’ve heard of your father,” said Mr. Pennimore, politely. “Is he like you, my boy? Has he got everything that he wants?”
Dan had to consider a moment. He had never thought about that.
“I don’t know, sir,” he answered finally. “But I guess he has. He doesn’t go in for much outside of his business. And when he wants anything he usually gets it,” added Dan with a trace of pride. “I guess the only thing he ever wanted that he hasn’t got is the new railroad.”
“What railroad is that?” asked Mr. Pennimore.
“The Sedalia, Dayton and Western. Father has been trying to get them to come through Graystone. He says the town needs a competing line, sir. But when I left home they’d finished the survey and father said the road was going past Graystone on the north.”
“Is your father interested in the road? Does he own stock in it?”