Most of the stores were open and well filled with men, but to Kurt's sharp eyes there appeared to be much more gossip going on than business. The town was not as slow and quiet as was usual with Bend towns. He listened for war talk, and heard none. Two out of every three men who spoke in his hearing did not use the English language. Kurt went into the office of the first hotel he found. There was no one present. He glanced at an old register lying on the desk. No guests had registered for several days.
Then Kurt went out and accosted a man leaning against a hitching-rail.
"What's going on in this town?"
The man stood rather indistinctly in the uncertain light. Kurt, however, made out his eyes and they were regarding him suspiciously.
"Nothin' onusual," was the reply.
"Has harvesting begun in these parts?"
"Some barley cut, but no wheat. Next week, I reckon."
"How's the wheat?"
"Some bad an' some good."
"Is this town a headquarters for the I.W.W.?"