After the fatigue of his journey, Ben enjoyed a good supper and a comfortable bed.

The evening, however, he spent in the public room of the inn, where he had a chance to listen to the conversation of a motley crowd, some of them native and residents, others strangers who had been drawn to Centerville by the oil discoveries.
"I tell you," said a long, lank individual, "Centerville's goin' to be one of the smartest places in the United States.

It's got a big future before it." "That's so," said a small, wiry man; "but I'm not so much interested in that as I am in the question whether or not I've got a big future before me." "You're one of the owners of the Hoffman farm, ain't you ?" "Yes.

I wish I owned the whole of it.

Still, I've made nigh on to a thousand dollars durin' the last month for my share of the profits.
Pretty fair, eh ?" "I should say so.