“Not for several miles back. The boy said he was out here for his health and kind of liked to stay by himself. He said he would keep his eyes open for me. But he was a dreamy kind of kid. I don’t believe he would know trouble if he saw it.”
Ralph whistled.
“I don’t believe he would. Seen him lately?”
“This morning early.”
“Think he’ll come back this way?”
The man had refilled his pipe and was smoking.
“How’d I know?” he returned. “I ain’t seen him any time, except one or two mornings.”
The man then got up and stretched himself.
“Well, so long; I can’t waste any more time around here, much as I’d like to stay and talk. I’ve got to get up and down the track a piece. I wish you would keep an eye open on your way back.”
“Certainly,” Ralph answered, “only I’m not going back just yet. I am kind of tired and I thought I’d sit here awhile and rest.”