She had not wept for her husband, but for him a constant stream of grief flowed through her being, a river of soul-tears, no sound of its current rising to the surface.
She was almost entirely alone now. No one came to see her except Gret Reed and Mrs. Hornberger. Even Blind Benner and Hunch seemed to have deserted her, for they were missing from the town.
CHAPTER XIV.
HUNCH AND BLIND BENNER VISIT BILL KELLAR.
"I know somethin' I won't tell," was Hunch's greeting to his blind friend on the Monday following the secret meeting of the McAnays in the school-house.
"Yer allers knowin' somethin', and it ain't nothin' when a feller finds it out."
"But it's somethin'; no little niggers in a peanut-shell this here time."
Hunch lowered his voice to a whisper, as he led Benner to the rear of the store. There he continued:
"Levi, Cassi, and Matthi's gone ter find Gill."
Benner gave a start, and would have uttered an exclamation, had not Hunch prevented him by laying a hand over his mouth and saying: