Part 30 (1/2)
”Oh, I don't know about that, Dave,” was the quick reply. ”My father tells me that folks in the West and Southwest are usually very friendly. We found them so on our way to Star Ranch.”
The boys continued to talk of the prospects ahead, and during the conversation the Mentor Construction Company was mentioned several times. Then Dave noticed that the burly man opposite had dropped his newspaper and was looking at them curiously. Finally the man arose and stepped across the aisle.
”Did I hear you young fellows speaking about the Mentor Construction Company?” he asked, not unpleasantly.
”You did,” answered Dave.
”Are you connected with that concern?” went on the man.
”We are going to work for them,” answered Roger. ”We have just been appointed to the engineering department.”
”You don't say!” cried the man in surprise. ”I'm with that company myself. My name is William Jarvey. What is yours?”
The boys told him, and all shook hands. Then, as Roger crossed over to sit down beside Dave, the man sank down in the seat opposite.
CHAPTER XXII
IN TEXAS AT LAST
”So you are going to join our engineering department, eh?” queried William Jarvey. ”Do you know anybody in that department?”
”We don't know any one down here,” answered Dave. ”We are utter strangers. We obtained our positions through a Mr. Ramsdell, who was our tutor.”
”Oh, I see.” The man had been looking rather sharply at Dave. ”May I ask where you come from?”
”We come from New England. I live in a town called Crumville. My friend here is the son of United States Senator Morr.”
”Oh, indeed!” William Jarvey showed increased interest. ”The son of a United States senator, eh? Well, that ought to help you a great deal.
The Mentor Construction Company often has to ask the government for favors, you know,” and he laughed lightly.
”I'm not going to trade on the fact that my father is a United States senator,” remarked Roger, somewhat shortly. ”I am going to make my own way.”
”And I guess you will. You look like a pretty bright young man,”
returned William Jarvey, hastily.
”Are you a civil engineer?” questioned Dave.
”Oh, no! No such luck for me. I am connected with the bookkeeping and the blue-print department. I wish I were a first-cla.s.s civil engineer.
I might be earning a much larger salary;” and the man drew down his mouth as he spoke. Evidently he was a fellow who was not at all satisfied with his position in life.
”We are to report to a Mr. Perry Watson at San Antonio,” explained Roger. ”He is to tell us where to go and what to do.”
”Perry Watson, eh?” and the man scowled and showed his teeth in an unpleasant manner.
”What's the matter--don't you like Mr. Watson?” asked Dave.
”Not much. Very few of the men do. He's terribly sharp on watching everything a man does.”