"We all know them now," said Delehanty dryly. He considered for a moment. "Come back in half an hour and I'll talk to you," he said brusquely.
Pen supposed that he wanted to consult with Riever. She was in no humor to wait.
"You forget I don't have to have your permission to search my own place," she said. "I offer to work with you. If you don't want me to I'll go ahead alone." She turned to leave.
"Hold on a minute!" said the detective, "you satisfy me that you're on the square with me, and I'll work with you fast enough."
Pen was able to tell him the truth—without telling him the whole truth. "It's very simple," she said. "I don't want him to starve on the place, that's all."
"Humph! You've lost touch with him, eh?" said Delehanty.
Pen was silent. It was of little moment to her what they thought so they did not know anything.
"What's your plan?" asked Delehanty.
"For one thing," said Pen, "the fields have never been searched. I see you send your men up the road every morning. There are hollows in the fields where a man could lie concealed. Some of the fields are growing up with young pine that would afford cover."
Delehanty looked at her with unwilling respect. "Anything else?" he asked.