"How's business, Boss—maybe I ought to say Bosses?" asked the tramp in a hoarse voice. He leered and smiled.
"What do you mean—business?" asked Tom.
"The lunch-wagon business." The tramp seemed surprised at the question. Very evidently he took the House on Wheels for one of those roadside refreshment places.
"We haven't opened up yet," said Ned, carrying on the delusion.
"Smells like you had," commented the tramp, hungrily sniffing. "If that ain't hash and onions cooking may I never eat another meal!"
He was vehement about it. From his looks he did not appear to have eaten a meal recently.
"Is it hash and onions?" he asked.
"Guessed it first shot," commented Tom.
"But I can't see how you can expect to do much business here," went on the hobo. "This road ain't much traveled."
"We're our own best customers," chuckled Ned, and at the man's look of surprise he added enough information to show the nature of the House on Wheels.