"It is a small one, and heavily in debt.

I presume you know rancher Alton by the interest you show in him ?" "Yes," said Hallam, "and I don't like him." Deringham scarcely glanced at his daughter, but she realized that her presence was not especially desired, and when she rose and went back into the building her father glanced steadily at Hallam.
"I wonder why you told me that," he said.
Hallam laughed.

"Well, I generally talk straight, and I feel like that," he said.

"Now, they don't keep anything that doesn't burn a hole in you here, and I've a bottle of English whisky.

Don't see any reason why you shouldn't take a drink with me ?" "No," said Deringham indifferently.