"About a year and a half. He used to have a claim up the river of his own, but he joined forces with Wilbur, and they formed the Wilbur-Balasco Company, and Balasco settled here and runs things to suit himself."
"Doesn't Mr. Wilbur come out at all?"
"Not much. But if I was him I'd come."
"Why?"
"Oh!" Philip Rice drew a long breath. "I'd want to see just what was doing, that's all."
While talking they were walking around the yard, and now came to a halt in the shadow of a shed. As they did this, Owen happened to glance at one of the men who were shifting boards from one pile to another.
"Hullo, where did he come from?" he cried, in astonishment.
"He?—who?" questioned Mr. Rice.
"That fellow over there," and Owen pointed with his finger.
"Do you mean Derande?"