There they were. As Harry rounded the rocky butte she saw smoke coming from the Eldredge's abandoned cabin and a woman, gathering an armful of sagebrush, retreated hastily into the house at sight of the stranger.
"Mrs. Eldredge!" Harry thought instantly. "But why haven't they let us know they were here?" The smile of expectancy was on her face as she got down from her saddle and knocked at the door. The smile stiffened with surprise as the door opened narrowly and Joe Biane looked out at her.
"Why, Joe! How—I thought—Don't the Eldredges live here?"
"Never heard of 'em." Joe was older, heavier, as lounging and covertly impertinent as ever.
"Why, they are the people who filed on this land, built this house."
"Never been here, anyhow."
"How long have you been here, if I may ask? Is Isita here?" involuntarily, she glanced behind him into the house.
"She ain't in now," Joe slowly began to close the door. "Her'n the old lady's went off hunting greens."
"I see." Harry thought of the woman gathering wood. "Well, I wish you'd tell Isita to come over and see me."
"Sure." There was an odd gleam in Joe's eye as he closed the door.