Given the following context:

Freckles Winslow is on his way home from college. On the bus he encounters a crook, "Muggsy" Dolan who calls himself Jack Leach. Jack is on the run from the law, and is looking for a safe place to hide. The two men come to talking and Freckles mentions his serene home town to Jack, having only good things to say about it. Jack decides to tag along and take his refuge in Freckles home town. With Freckles help he gets to stay at the local hotel, owned by Danny Doyle, who is Freckles' friend. Danny is about to rerun the road through town, so that it runs over a number of worthless lots of land he has bought. Danny bought the real estate because he thought he could find gold on them, using a new expensive device he has bought. Danny needs Freckles to help him get a favorable decision by Freckles' father, who is one of the two road commissioners.

answer the following question:

Where did Danny initially think he could find gold? 

a number of worthless lots of land