Ben turned and looked at him questioningly, for the man with the yellow smile had vanished from his mind.
“Whom do you mean?” he asked.
“Why,” said the hostler, his mild eyes wide open, “he that was within there a while ago.”
“Oh, yes.” Ben laughed. “I suppose he was as bad as may be. But it all depends upon how you take them. You see it turned out that he’ll do no more harm to-night.”
The other shook his head.
“I am not so sure of that,” said he. “There is more goes on of a night on the road than an honest body generally knows of.”
Ben stood leaning against his nag, looking at the hostler. The dim rays of light fell upon the man with weird effect; his pale skin, light eyes and reddish hair gave him a most peculiar look.
“It takes them as are familiar with the ways of the road after dark to understand it,” said the hostler, with a shake of the head. “No one else can do it. Strange things happen when night shuts everything else out. Deeds are done that would make one shudder in the sunlight.”
“You are one, I take it—from your talk, who is acquainted with the road after nightfall,” said Ben.
The man nodded.