I don't set any sort o' stock in it, an' I don't encourage him in
sech nonsense."
The big Kentuckian smiled, and filled his corn-cob leisurely as he
turned the talk to other things.
Early the next morning, Hamilton and the oldest of the two boys started
on their fourteen-mile ride to the station, where the lad was to take an
afternoon train for Washington. They had gone about three miles, when
they came upon Bill Wilsh sitting on the stump of a tree by the
roadside.
"I reckoned you-all would come along this way," he said, "an' I've be'n
thinkin' more'n more 'bout Teacheh havin' likely gone to the city, an'
not bein' dead after all. Yo' goin' to the city now?"
[Illustration: BILL WILSH'S HOME IN THE GULLY. (_Courtesy of Doubleday,
Page & Co._)]
[Illustration: BILL WILSH IN THE SCHOOL. (_Courtesy of Doubleday, Page
& Co._)]
"I'm going to Washington, Bill," Hamilton answered.
"Is that the city?"
"It's one of them."
"Do yo' s'pose that'd be the city Teacheh went to?"
"I couldn't say, Bill," the lad replied, "there's no way of knowing, but
it's likely enough."
"I was thinkin'--" the mountain boy began then he broke off suddenly.
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