“True, but not quite to the point,” Mrs. Nelson interposed.  “We have found remonstrance useless; the time for words has passed.  This fellow has had his warning; we’re waiting for him to comply with it.”

There was an uproar outside from the crowd that was struggling to get in and demanding to be told what was going on; but Beamish made a sign of resignation.

“It looks as if I couldn’t refuse you; and anyway it wouldn’t be polite.”  He turned to his customers.

“Boys, it’s not my fault, but you’ll get no more drinks to-day.  For all that, I must make a point of asking you to treat these ladies with respect.”

“Smart,” Grant remarked to George.  “He has handled the thing right.  This means trouble for Hardie.”

Then Beamish once more addressed the intruders.

“Now that I’ve given in, has it struck you that there isn’t much use in closing my place if you leave the Queen’s open?”

“We’ll shut them both!” Mrs. Nelson declared.

“Then there’s just another point—­I’ve folks who have driven a long way, staying the night with me, and there’s quite a crowd coming in for supper.  How am I to treat them?”

“They can have all they want to eat,” Mrs. Nelson told him graciously; “but no liquor.”

“I can’t refuse to supply them without a reason.  What am I to say?”

“Tell them that the Women’s Reform League has compelled you to close your bar.”

“And I’ve been given the orders by their acknowledged secretary?”

“Yes.  I’m proud of being their leader, and of the duty I’ve discharged.”

Beamish turned to his customers.

“You’ll remember what she has told me, boys!”

Grant drew George away.

“She walked right into the trap; you couldn’t have stopped her.  I’m sorry for Hardie.  But we may as well get out now; there’ll be no trouble.”

The street was blocked when the women left, but a passage was made for them; and, followed by everybody in the settlement, they proceeded to the other hotel, whose proprietor capitulated.  Then Mrs. Nelson made a speech, in which she pointed out that for once the festival would not be marked by the orgies which had on previous occasions disgraced the town.  Her words, by no means conciliatory, and her aggressive air provoked the crowd, which had, for the most part, watched the proceedings with amusement.  There were cries of indignant dissent, angry shouts, and the throng began to close in upon the speaker.  Then there was sudden silence, and the concourse split apart.  Into the gap rode a slim young man in khaki, with a wide hat of the same color, who pulled up and sat looking at the people with his hand on his hip.  George recognized him as the constable who shared the extensive beat with Flett.

“Now,” he said good-humoredly, “what’s all this fuss about?”

Several of them informed him and he listened gravely before he called one of the farmer’s stewards, and spoke a few words to him.