Scarcely a night but it had been crowded by travellers who stayed overnight for the sake of the good beds and the good table and good bar.

Now there was no bar.

East Westland was a strictly temperance village, and all the liquor to be obtained was exceedingly bad, and some declared diluted by the waters of the village pond.
There was a very small stock of rum, gin, and whiskey, and very young and morbid California wines, kept at the village drug store, and dispensed by Albion Bennet.

Albion required a deal of red-tape before he would sell even these doubtful beverages for strictly medicinal purposes.

He was in mortal terror of being arrested and taken to the county-seat at Newholm for violation of the liquor law.