The boy's industry was the marvel of the town.

His limp got him sympathy, and he capitalized the sympathy.
Indeed, he would have capitalized his soul, if it had been necessary.
For his Yankee blood was beginning to come out.

Before he had been in school a year he had swapped, traded, and saved until he had two teams, and was working them with hired drivers on excavation contracts.

In his summer vacations he went to Topeka and worked his two teams, and by some sharp practice got the title to a third.

He was rollicking, noisy, good-natured, but under the boyish veneer was a hard indomitable nature.