A little disconcerted by the unusual sounds, the lad, instead of obeying the invitation, knocked again. Then there was a heavy step across the floor, the door swung open with a jerk, and a tall, raw-boned man, shaggy-bearded and shock-haired, stood on the threshold.
Eying the lad for a moment in surprise, he asked, somewhat surlily:
"What do you want, youngster?"
"Are you Mr. Benton?" the lad asked.
"Yes; what of it?" the man answered, sharply.
"I was told you wanted help, and I have called to see about it," explained the boy.
"Come in, then," said the man, and his tones were wonderfully modified.
The lad now obeyed, and found himself in a large room, evidently the kitchen and living-room all in one. There was no carpet on the floor, and a stove, a table and a half-dozen chairs constituted its furniture.
Two large dogs lay before the fire, growling sullenly. A woman and four small children were seated at the table. An empty chair and an unemptied plate showed that Mr. Benton had been eating when he was called to the door.
There was food enough upon the table, but its disorderly arrangement, and the hap-hazard way in which each child was helping itself, caused the lad to give an involuntary shudder as his host invited him to sit down "an' take a bite while they talked over business together."