"Yes, dear," Emma smiled abstractedly and Joe saw that her mind was elsewhere. He leaned back in his chair, looking idly at his empty plate. Then he rose to get his coat.
"Are you going out?" Emma asked.
"Yes. I'm getting the wagon back into shape."
Emma asked casually, "Joe, do you know anything about this young man, Hugo Gearey?"
Joe shrugged. "I've seen him around."
"But you don't know where he came from?"
He was a little surprised. "Why should I?"
"Can you find out?"
"Now look, I can't just walk up to Gearey and ask him where he comes from and what he did there."
"You might," she pointed out, "ask Sergeant Dugan or Sergeant Dunbar."