“We supposed he got killed,” sez he; “but two fellers claimed they saw him goin’ south in the spring with your huntin’ party.”
“What made ya think he got killed?” sez I.
“’Cause he started over here one night, and never showed up again,” sez he.
“I don’t know what become of him,” sez I. “Dinky Bradford said he was goin’ to take him to Africa; but whether he did or not I can’t say. I never felt no call to pry into Dinky’s business. Looks to me as though we were goin’ to have an extra dry summer.”
“I say so too,” sez Dixon. “Who was this Dinky Bradford?”
“That’s bothered me a heap,” sez I. “He claimed to be a Greek hero, though what sort o’ business that is, I can’t say. Finished your round-up yet?”
“Just got through. Where is this Greek hero these days?” sez he.
“Can’t prove it by me,” sez I. “He’s one o’ these fellers no one seems to know anything about. I saw him go without eatin’ for four days once, an’ he came out of it in better shape ’n he went in. Badger-face was your foreman, wasn’t he?”
“Yes,” sez he. “Ol’ Pepper Kendal is foreman now.”
“I should think a foreman would have some load on his shoulders with the boss gone all winter,” sez I.