The young lumbermen had not gone far, however, before it began to rain. To get in out of the wet, they entered a restaurant, attached to a small hotel, where they ordered a glass of milk and a piece of pie.
Next to the dining room was the smoking room, and looking into this they were surprised to see John Hoover, sitting there in company with several individuals who looked like lumbermen.
"I'll wager he is after those men," whispered Owen. "Let us listen to what he has to say."
They took another table which was close to a large doorway. As John Hoover's back was toward them, the lumberman did not notice them.
"You'll be perfectly satisfied at my place," Hoover was saying. "All of my men like it very much."
"Oh, listen to that!" said Dale, in a low voice. "How can he be so barefaced?"
"I heard a little about poor eating up there," said one of the lumbermen. "Now, I allow as how I like good feed."
"You won't be disappointed, Martin. Just you sign a contract with me and you'll be perfectly satisfied, and you can go up to the camp in the morning."
"I never signed a contract before," said another of the lumbermen cautiously.
"Oh, that don't amount to much, Bond," answered John Hoover lightly. "But our company requires it, that's all."