"Curious things, these monkeys," said the old man.
"Ain't they, though!" replied the boy. "Luk at that un, now!--don't he
beat all? ain't he funny?"
"Very!" responded the old man, gazing across the open space to where
Ralph stood chattering with his companions.
"Sonny," said he, "can you tell me who that boy is, over yonder, with
his hand done up in a white cloth?"
"That boy w'ats a-talkin' to Jimmy Dooley, you mean?"
"Yes, the one there by the lion's cage."
"You mean that boy there with the blue patch on his pants?"
"Yes, yes! the one with his hand bandaged; don't you see?"
"Oh, that's Ralph."
"Ralph who?"
"Ralph nobody. He ain't got no other name. He lives with Bachelor
Billy."
"Is--is Bachelor Billy his father?"
"Naw; he ain't got no father."
"Does he work with you in the mines?"
"In the mines? naw; we don't work in the mines; we work in the
screen-room up t' the breaker, a-pickin' slate. He sets nex' to me."
"How long has he been working there?"
"Oh, I donno; couple o' years, I guess. You want to see 'im? I'll go
call 'im."
"No; I don't care to see him. Don't call him; he isn't the boy I'm
looking for, any way."
"There! he's a-turnin' this way now. I'll have 'im here in a minute;
hey, Ralph! Ralph! here he comes."
But the old man was gone. He had disappeared suddenly and
mysteriously. A little later he was trudging slowly along the dusty
road, through the crowds of people, up toward the city. He was
smiling, and muttering to himself.
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