"And I hope it will end there; he's too good a pal to lose."
"Do you know much about him then? Has he been here long?"
"Not many months, but he is good company, plenty to talk about, and inclined to be sociable."
"Does he bear a good character?"
"We know nothing about him before he came here, but we have never heard a word against him since he has been amongst us."
Evidently there was nothing to be gained by pursuing this conversation, so shortly after he wished them "Good day," and rode off.
On the whole, he felt satisfied with the result of his inquiries. He had not added much that was new, but what he had heard tended to confirm that which was already known.
He would like to have scraped together a little more knowledge of Barton, but he had been afraid to inquire, there being no good opening given him to do so.
CHAPTER XXI.
JESSIE RUSSELL.