Hal had come with love and curiosity. The love was greatly diminished—evidently this was not the force which kept the wheels of industry a-roll. But the curiosity was greater than ever. What was there so carefully hidden inside this coal-camp stockade?
Hal turned and looked at Bill, who had showed signs of humour the day before. “See here,” said he, “you fellows have got my money, and you've blacked my eye and kicked me blue, so you ought to be satisfied. Before I go, tell me about it, won't you?”
“Tell you what?” growled Bill.
“Why did I get this?”
“Because you're too gay, kid. Didn't you know you had no business trying to sneak in here?”
“Yes,” said Hal; “but that's not what I mean. Why didn't you let me in at first?”
“If you wanted a job in a mine,” demanded the man, “why didn't you go at it in the regular way?”
“I didn't know the regular way.”
“That's just it. And we wasn't takin' chances with you. You didn't look straight.”
“But what did you think I was? What are you afraid of?”