"And I want to tell you that the dinner was a particularly good one--well cooked and well served. We had soup and fish and an Italian ragout, macaroni, peppers and two bottles of red wine. Before the soup was over I was glad I'd come; glad, not only because the dinner was all right, but because the people were human kind of people--no foolishness about them--no pretension. They were not our kind of people, of course--couldn't find them in New York if you looked everywhere--not born and brought up here. The Woman was gentle and kindly, saying very little, but the Large Man was a hearty, breezy sort of fellow--even if his language at times was rough and uncouth--at least I thought so. Big bones and a well-fed body; quick in his movements, yet slow in his talk, showing force and determination in everything he said. The Small Man was as tough physically and as alert mentally, but there wasn't so much of him. He talked, however, twice as fast as the Large Man, and said less. "He talked of the city--how smart the people were, how stuck up some of them, thinking they knew it all, and how, if they but thought about it, they must see after all that the West was the only thing that kept the country alive. That kind of talk--not in an offensive way--just as all of us talk when we believe in our section of the country. "All this time the solitary guest sat against the wall listening. Near as I could make out he only had one dish and a small bottle of wine. Presently he made a remark--not to us--not to the room--more as if to himself. "'West is the only thing, is it? And every man Jack of them from New England stock!' "This, too, didn't come in any offensive spirit--just as an aside, as if to keep himself company, being lonely, of course. "But the Large Man caught it before all the words were out of his mouth. "'Dead right, pard,' he said--I only quote his words, gentlemen. 'My father came from Boston, left there in '58. Where're you from?' "'Boston,' answered the man looking at him over the prongs of his fork. "'That so? Well, why ain't you eatin' your turkey with your folks? Got any?' "'Yes, got a lot of them, but I was short of a ticket.' "Here the Large Man got up and went over to the Man from Boston. "'Shake for Boston,' he said, holding out his big hand. 'And now bring that bottle over here and chip in with us.' Then he opened his pocketbook and took out a square slip of paper. "'Here, tuck that in your clothes.' Again I must remark, gentlemen, that I am only quoting their language so that you can get a better idea of what sort of people I was with. 'That's a pass to your 'burg. I'm going South and I won't use it.' "There were five of us at the table now, the Bostonian bringing over his plate without a word except 'Thank you,' and taking his share of the different dishes.