Emily McPhail comes to Virginia City and causes trouble for Little Joe. Prior to her move to Virginia City, Emily Anderson used to live in Monterey five years ago and it was here that she met Little Joe who was passing through. Joe who was very much in love and after much courting proposed to her but she disappeared the same night, he attempted to contact her through letters but they all came back unread. Joe finds out from Emily that her father moved them to San Francisco to get away from him. Her father feared Joe was too impulsive and wild and didn't want them married, she attempted to write to Joe but her father found out and burnt the letter.