The moment of his resolution brought a flash, a revelation of what he owed himself.  The work and the thought and the feeling of his last few weeks there at home must be intensified.  He must do much and live greatly in little time.  This was the moment of his renunciation, and he imagined that many a young man who had decided to go to war had experienced a strange spiritual division of self.  He wondered also if that moment was not for many of them a let-down, a throwing up of ideals, a helpless retrograding and surrender to the brutalizing spirit of war.  But it could never be so for him.  It might have been had not that girl come into his life.

The bell for the midday meal roused Kurt from his profound reverie, and he plodded back to the house.  Down through the barnyard gate he saw the hired men coming, and a second glance discovered to him that two unknown men were with them.  Watching for a moment, Kurt recognized the two strangers that had been talking to Mr. Anderson’s driver.  They seemed to be talking earnestly now.  Kurt saw Jerry, a trusty and long-tried employee, rather unceremoniously break away from these strangers.  But they followed him, headed him off, and with vehement nods and gesticulations appeared to be arguing with him.  The other hired men pushed closer, evidently listening.  Finally Jerry impatiently broke away and tramped toward the house.  These strangers sent sharp words after him—­words that Kurt could not distinguish, though he caught the tone of scorn.  Then the two individuals addressed themselves to the other men; and in close contact the whole party passed out of sight behind the barn.

Thoughtfully Kurt went into the house.  He meant to speak to Jerry about the strangers, but he wanted to consider the matter first.  He had misgivings.  His father was not in the sitting-room, nor in the kitchen.  Dinner was ready on the table, and the one servant, an old woman who had served the Dorns for years, appeared impatient at the lack of promptness in the men.  Both father and son, except on Sundays, always ate with the hired help.  Kurt stepped outside to find Jerry washing at the bench.

“Jerry, what’s keeping the men?” queried Kurt.

“Wal, they’re palaverin’ out there with two I.W.W. fellers,” replied Jerry.

Kurt reached for the rope of the farm-bell, and rang it rather sharply.  Then he went in to take his place at the table, and Jerry soon followed.  Old man Dorn did not appear, which fact was not unusual.  The other hired men did not enter until Jerry and Kurt were half done with the meal.  They seemed excited and somewhat boisterous, Kurt thought, but once they settled down to eating, after the manner of hungry laborers, they had little to say.  Kurt, soon finishing his dinner, went outdoors to wait for Jerry.  That individual appeared to be long in coming, and loud voices in the kitchen attested to further argument.  At last, however, he lounged out and began to fill a pipe.