"Doesn't he ever talk ?" "Oh, yes, he'll talk all right, when Nick isn't around, or when there are not too many present.

Get off somewhere alone with him, after he gets acquainted a little, and he's not half such bad company as he looks.

I reckon that's the main reason why Nick keeps him.

You see, no decent cow-puncher would dare work at Tailholt Mountain, and a man gets mighty lonesome living so much alone.

But Joe never talks about where he came from, or who he is; shuts up like a clam if you so much as mention anything that looks like you were trying to find out about him.