"Ouaie," said Tom, taking up his parable--"wanted me to join him in
getting a loan on farm, he did."
"Aw, now!"
"Ouaie--a loan on farm, and me to join him, 'cause he couldn' do it
without. 'And why?' I asked him."
"Ah!"
"An' he told me he was goin' to make a fortune out them silver mines."
"Aw!"
"Ouaie! He'd put in every pound he had and every shilling he earned. An'
the more he could put in the more he would get out."
"Aw!"
"'But,' I said, 'suppos'n it all goes into them big holes and never
comes out--'"
"Aw!"
"But he's just crazy 'bout them mines. Says there's silver an' lead, and
guyabble-knows-what-all in 'em, and when they get it out he'll be a rich
man."
"Aw!" said Peter, nodding his head portentously, as one who had gauged
the futility of earthly riches.
He was a young man of large possessions but very few words. When he did
allow his thoughts out they came slowly and in jerks, with lapses at
times which the hearer had to fill in as best he could.
His father had been an enterprising free-trader, and had made money
before the family farm came to him on the death of his father.
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