"Looks as if the Cactus House might be rebuilt," remarked Ashby, burning
with curiosity.
"No," said Tom briefly.
"Carter is going to change the name?" inquired Ashby.
"No. Carter doesn't own this land any more."
"He doesn't own the land?" Ashby asked. "What's going to be put up
here, then? A business block?"
For a moment Ashby thrilled with joy. Of late the Cactus House had
seriously cut in on the profits of the Mansion House. Ashby had, in
fact, been running behind. Now, if the Mansion House were to be
henceforth the only hotel in town, Ashby saw a chance to prosper on a
more than comfortable scale.
"Ashby," Tom went on, rather frigidly, "I won't waste many words, for
I'm afraid I don't like you well enough to talk very much to you. The
A., G. & N. M. has bought this land from Mr. Carter. The railroad is
going to erect here one of the finest hotels in this part of Arizona.
It will have every modern convenience, and will make your hotel look
like a mill boarding house by contrast.
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