have to buy
some land from Parker, but I told Clarm & Ging that I was going to stop
for a day in Kentucky. I didn't want them to know that I intended to buy
more land. It's none of their business, anyway. So I must be in Purdy
one day ahead of Ging. I've got money with me and we'll all start this
evening."

The old man sadly shook his head. "I can't do it, Bill; can't go back
yet. If he comes clear, without a scratch on him, I'll go back, but if
he don't I'll never see that state again. So we'll wait right here till
after the next trial. Won't settle on anything until then. You go ahead
and attend to everything and let me know how it all comes out. I've been
scared ever since I left there, afraid that I'd hear something by some
chance or other; and I wouldn't let Guinea write to you. Every day I'd
tell her 'not yet.' She wanted to, but I wouldn't let her."

"You shall have your own way, for I know that everything will come out
right. Conkwright says so, and he knows. How did you happen to find this
place?"

The old man laughed. "Well, sir, we got on the train, and when the man
asked where we wanted to go I told him we'd go just as far as he did, it
made no difference how far that might happen to be; and every time we'd
change cars I'd tell the other man the same thing. But finally they got
so stuck up that they wouldn't let us get on without tickets, and at
Louisville I bought tickets for Chicago. I didn't know what to do when I
got to Chicago--didn't know what to do when I got to any place, for that
matter; but we poked around, gettin' a bite to eat every once in a
while, and slept in the slambangin'est place I ever saw. The lake caught
me, and I found out how soon the first boat went out, and we got on her
and here we are. When I told these here folks where I was from I braced
myself, expectin' to have a fight right there, but I want to tell you
that I was never better treated in my life. All the good folks ain't
huddled together in one community, I tell you; and this knockin' round
has opened my eyes mightily. Why, I rickollect when they sorter looked
down on Conkwright because his father wa'n't born in the South. Yes,
sir, and they gave me work right off--that is, they call it work, but I
call it play--gatherin' fruit. Why, with us, when a feller wanted to
rest he'd go out and gather fruit, if he could find any. Yes, sir, and
I'm goin' to stay right here till the cat makes her final jump one way
or another."

H