“Which way did he go, Ma’am?”
“East,” she said, pointing.
“Towards Ridgeton? Wal, he’ll have a fine walk.”
“But we have not seen any gasoline sign for ever so far back on the road.”
“That’s right. Ain’t no reg’lar place. But I guess I might be able to scare up enough gas to help you folks out. Ye see, we got a saw mill right up this gully and we got a gasoline engine to run her. I’m a-watchin’ the place till the gang come in to work next month. That there Whosis got me out in the rain——”
“Oh! Where do you suppose the poor thing has gone?” interrupted Ruth. “We should do something for her.”
“Wal, if she don’t belong to you folks——”
“She doesn’t. But she should not be allowed to wander about in this awful way. Is she a woman grown, or a child?”
“I couldn’t tell ye. I ain’t been close enough to her. By the way, my name is Peterby Paul, and I’m well and fav’rably knowed about this mounting. I did have my thoughts about you, same as that Whosis, I must say. But you ’pear to be all right. Wait, and I’ll bring ye down a couple of cans of gasoline, and you can go on and pick up the feller that’s started to walk to Ridgeton.”
“But that poor creature I followed up here, Mr. Paul? We must find her.”