"Nearly two years."

"Mean to still lug 'em around?"

"Of course I'm going to keep 'em."

"Well, I don't deny THAT'S pretty favorable. Now look here, son,
I've been half-crazy from lonesomeness, and I don't believe I've
got the heart to send you away. That gal of ours--she's just a kid,
you understand.... Now you wouldn't be taking up no idea that she
was what you'd classify as a young lady, or anything like that, eh?"

"Of course not--she's fifteen or sixteen, I should think. Upon my
honor, Willock, any thought of sentiment or romance is a thousand
miles from my mind."

"Yes, just so. But such thoughts travels powerful fast; don't take
'em long to lap over a thousand mile."

"But it's because she IS a young girl, fresh and unartificial as
the mountain breezes, that I want to be with her for a little
while--yes, get to know her, if I may."

Willock turned to the taciturn old man standing a little behind him.
"Bill Atkins, what do you say?"

"I say, fire him and do it quick!" was the instant rejoinder,
accompanied by threatening twitchings of the huge white mustache.

Willock was not convinced. "Son, if you sets here till we have had