Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/117

SCOUTING SERVICE "I reckon not, Leftenant. Thar ain't many of ther Danielses left round yere now. an' those whut are are most likely hidin' out in ther mountings."

"There would be no use going to Fairview?"

"Hell, no! Ther ol' Jedge, o' course, can't do much, but thet son o' his, Calvert, is in with Donald hand an' glove. an' they all of ’em feel 'bout alike."

"But Miss Denslow is stopping there at present." I ventured doubtfully. "and we might gain some valuable information from her."

He drew up his horse sharply. his peculiar eyes narrowing as he stared at me.

"How long hev ye knowed this yere Miss Denslow?" he drawled.

"l merely met her once for an hour or so."

"I reckoned as much. Wal, pardner, she ain't ther sort thet tells things. Ye might scare somethin' out o' Calvert Dunn if ye got him jist right, but ye'll waste yer time on Jean Denslow."

"Why do you associate those two names?"

Cause they've allers bin tergether; them two families are like peas in a pod, an' it's bin common talk they was goin' ter marry up; but ter my mind ther gal is worth any dozen Dunns."

"You don’t think much of the young fellow then?"

"I reckon not; he's a cowardly brag, an' treats a pore white worse nor a nigger; but Miss Jean, why she's a real mounting gal, fit ter mate with any man. He ain't got nothin' on her people; ye kin bet yer las' dollar on thet."

There were other questions on my lips, yet I held [ 107 ]