"Ralph who?"
"Ralph nobody. He ain't got no other name. He lives with Bachelor
Billy."
"Is—is Bachelor Billy his father?"
"Naw; he ain't got no father."
"Does he work with you in the mines?"
"In the mines? naw; we don't work in the mines; we work in the screen-room up t' the breaker, a-pickin' slate. He sets nex' to me."
"How long has he been working there?"
"Oh, I donno; couple o' years, I guess. You want to see 'im? I'll go call 'im."
"No; I don't care to see him. Don't call him; he isn't the boy I'm looking for, any way."
"There! he's a-turnin' this way now. I'll have 'im here in a minute; hey, Ralph! Ralph! here he comes."