"I heard them cheering," he said. "Couldn't find you at your homestead. You should have sent the five hundred dollars. They would have saved you this."
The defective utterance would alone have attracted attention, and, with the man's attitude, was very significant, but it was equally evident to most of those who watched him that he was also struggling with some infirmity. Western hospitality has, however, no limit, and one of the younger men drew out a chair.
"Hadn't you better sit down, and if you want anything to eat we'll get it you," he said. "Then you can tell us what your errand is."
The man made a gesture of negation, and pointed to Winston.
"I came to find a friend of mine. They told me at his homestead that he was here," he said.
There was an impressive silence, until Colonel Barrington glanced at Winston, who still stood quietly impassive at the foot of the table.
"You know our visitor?" he said. "The Grange is large enough to give a stranger shelter."
The man laughed. "Of course he does; it's my place he's living in."
Barrington turned again to Winston, and his face seemed to have grown a trifle stern.
"Who is this man?" he said.