Sign of the Stranger

Excerpt: "The shabby stranger seated himself familiarly in a nook beside the wide-open chimney of the tap-room, and stretched out his long thin legs with a sigh. “I want something to eat; a bit of cold meat, or bread and cheese—anything you have handy—and a glass of beer. I’m very tired.” The village publican, scanning the stranger’s features keenly, moved slowly to execute the command and lingere...