"Oh--and you still miss him so much, Hannibal?"
"I bet I do--I reckon anybody who knew Uncle Bob would never get
over missing him; they just couldn't, Miss Betty! The judge is
mighty kind, and so is Mr. Mahaffy--they're awful kind, Miss
Betty, and it seems like they get kinder all the time--but with
Uncle Bob, when he liked you, he just laid himself out to let you
know it!"
"That does make a great difference, doesn't it?" agreed Betty
sadly, and two piteous tearful eyes were bent upon him.
"Don't you reckon if Uncle Bob is alive, like the judge says, and
he's ever going to find me, he had ought to be here by now?"
continued Hannibal anxiously.
"But it hasn't been such a great while, Hannibal; it's only that
so much has happened to you. If he was very badly hurt it may
have been weeks before he could travel; and then when he could,
perhaps he went back to that tavern to try to learn what had
become of you. But we may be quite certain he will never abandon
his search until he has made every possible effort to find you,
dear! That means he will sooner or later come to west Tennessee,
for there will always be the hope that you have found your way
here."
"Sometimes I get mighty tired waiting, Miss Betty," confessed the
boy. "Seems like I just couldn't wait no longer" He sighed
gently, and then his face cleared. "You reckon he'll come most
any time, don't you, Miss Betty ?"
"Yes, Hannibal; any day or hour!"
"Whoop!" muttered Hannibal softly under his breath.
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