"That's tough on Ben, then," remarked Wilbur. "Does he work all the time for nothing?"
"Not at all. They always see that he gits a fair return. Every once in a while the man he's workin' for will drive up to the shack with some bacon an' a barrel o' flour an' trimmin's. Often as not, he'll bring the wife along, an' she'll go over the lad's things to find what he needs."
"That's mighty nice," commented Wilbur.
"Some of 'em are as good to Ben as if he was their own," said the Ranger. "They'll go over everything he's got, fix up whatever needs mendin', an' make a list o' things to be bought next time any one goes into town. You see, he gits his wages that way. He works well, an' so it ain't like charity, an' at the same time it gives the man he works for a chance to do the right thing."
"I suppose if he didn't, you'd get after him," suggested the boy.
"Never had to yet, an' never expect to," was the prompt reply. "Mostly folks is all right, an' a lot o' the supposed selfishness is jest because they ain't been reminded. And then Ben never makes trouble."
"He seems quiet enough," said Wilbur, with a gesture towards the doorway where the lad was approaching. He came in and stood looking vacantly at the two sitting together.
"What were you doin' yesterday, Ben?" asked the Ranger sharply to rouse him.
The lad flung out both arms with a wild gesture.
"I was away, away, far away," he answered; "away, away over the hills."