the friendly road-第26章

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ll　settle　this　strike：　we'll　settle　this　strike：　we'll　settle　this　strike。〃　After　some　searching　I　found　my　friend　Bill　in　the　little　room　over　a　saloon　that　served　as　strike　headquarters。　A　dozen　or　more　of　the　leaders　were　there；　faintly　distinguishable　through　clouds　of　tobacco　smoke。　Among　them　sat　the　great　R…　D…；　his　burly　figure　looming　up　at　one　end　of　the　table；　and　his　strong；　rough；　iron…jawed　face　turning　first　toward　this　speaker　and　then　toward　that。　The　discussion；　which　had　evidently　been　lively；　died　down　soon　after　I　appeared　at　the　door；　and　Bill　Hahn　came　out　to　me　and　we　sat　down　together　in　the　adjoining　room。　Here　I　broke　eagerly　into　an　account　of　the　happenings　of　the　day；　described　my　chance　meeting　with　Mr。　Vedderwho　was　well　known　to　Bill　by　reputationand　finally　asked　him　squarely　whether　he　would　meet　him。　I　think　my　enthusiasm　quite　carried　him　away。

〃Sure；　I　will；〃　said　Bill　Hahn　heartily。

〃When　and　where？〃　I　asked；　〃and　will　any　of　the　other　men　join　you？〃

Bill　was　all　enthusiasm　at　once；　for　that　was　the　essence　of　his　temperament；　but　he　said　that　he　must　first　refer　it　to　the　committee。　I　waited；　in　a　tense　state　of　impatience；　for　what　seemed　to　me　a　very　long　time；　but　finally　the　door　opened　and　Bill　Hahn　came　out　bringing　R…　D　himself　with　him。　We　all　sat　down　together；　and　R…　D…　began　to　ask　questions　（he　was　evidently　suspicious　as　to　who　and　what　I　was）；　but　I　think；　after　I　talked　with　them　for　some　time　that　I　made　them　see　the　possibilities　and　the　importance　of　such　a　meeting。　I　was　greatly　impressed　with　R…　D…；　the　calmness　and　steadiness　of　the　man；　his　evident　shrewdness。　〃A　real　general；〃　I　said　to　myself。　〃I　should　like　to　know　him　better。〃

After　a　long　talk　they　returned　to　the　other　room；　closing　the　door　behind　them；　and　I　waited　again；　still　more　impatiently。

It　seems　rather　absurd　now；　but　at　that　moment　I　felt　firmly　convinced　that　I　was　on　the　way　to　the　permanent　settlement　of　a　struggle　which　had　occupied　the　best　brains　of　Kilburn　for　many　weeks。

While　I　was　waiting　in　that　dingy　ante…room；　the　other　door　slowly　opened　and　a　boy　stuck　his　head　in。

〃Is　David　Grayson　here？〃　he　asked。

〃Here　he　is；〃　said　I；　greatly　astonished　that　any　one　in　Kilburn　should　be　inquiring　for　me；　or　should　know　where　I　was。

The　boy　came　in；　looked　at　me　with　jolly　round　eyes　for　a　moment；　and　dug　a　letter　out　of　his　pocket。　I　opened　it　at　once；　and　glancing　at　the　signature　discovered　that　it　was　from　Mr。　Vedder。

〃He　said　I'd　probably　find　you　at　strike　headquarters；〃　remarked　the　boy。

This　was　the　letter：　marked　〃Confidential。〃

My　Dear　Grayson：　I　think　you　must　be　something　of　a　hypnotist。　After　you　left　me　I　began　to　think　of　the　project　you　mentioned；　and　I　have　talked　it　over　with　one　or　two　of　my　associates。　I　would　gladly　hold　this　conference；　but　it　does　not　now　seem　wise　for　us　to　do　so。　The　interests　we　represent　are　too　important　to　be　jeopardized。　In　theory　you　are　undoubtedly　right；　but　in　this　case　I　think　you　will　agree　with　me　（when　you　think　it　over）；　we　must　not　show　any　weakness。　Come　and　stop　with　us　to…night：　Mrs。　Vedder　will　be　overjoyed　to　see　you　and　we'll　have　another　fine　talk。

I　confess　I　was　a　good　deal　cast　down　as　I　read　this　letter。

〃What　interests　are　so　important？〃　I　asked　myself；　〃that　they　should　keep　friends　apart？〃

But　I　was　given　only　a　moment　for　reflection　for　the　door　opened　and　my　friend　Bill；　together　with　R…　D…and　several　other　members　of　the　committee；　came　out。　I　put　the　letter　in　my　pocket；　and　for　a　moment　my　brain　never　worked　under　higher　pressure。　What　should　I　say　to　them　now？　How　could　I　explain　myself　？

Bill　Hahn　was　evidently　labouring　under　considerable　excitement；　but　R…　D…　was　as　calm　as　a　judge。　He　sat　down　in　the　chair　opposite　and　said　to　me：

〃We've　been　figuring　out　this　proposition　of　Mr。　Vedder's。　Your　idea　is　all　right；　and　it　would　be　a　fine　thing　if　we　could　really　get　together　as　you　suggest　upon　terms　of　common　understanding　and　friendship。〃

〃Just　what　Mr。　Vedder　said；〃　I　exclaimed。

〃Yes；〃　he　continued；　〃it's　all　right　in　theory；　but　in　this　case　it　simply　won't　work。　Don't　you　see　it's　got　to　be　war？　Your　friend　and　I　could　probably　understand　each　otherbut　this　is　a　class　war。　It's　all　or　nothing　with　us；　and　your　friend　Vedder　knows　it　as　well　as　we　do。〃

After　some　further　argument　and　explanation；　I　said：

〃I　see：　and　this　is　Socialism。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　great　R…　D…；　〃this　is　Socialism。〃

〃And　it's　force　you　would　use；〃　I　said。

〃It's　force　THEY　use；〃　he　replied。

After　I　left　the　strike　headquarters　that　eveningfor　it　was　almost　dark　before　I　parted　with　the　committeeI　walked　straight　out　through　the　crowded　streets；　so　absorbed　in　my　thoughts　that　I　did　not　know　in　the　least　where　I　was　going。　The　street　lights　came　out；　the　crowds　began　to　thin　away；　I　heard　a　strident　song　from　a　phonograph　at　the　entrance　to　a　picture　show；　and　as　I　passed　again　in　front　of　the　great；　dark；　many…windowed　mill　which　had　made　my　friend　Vedder　a　rich　man　I　saw　a　sentinel　turn　slowly　at　the　corner。　The　light　glinted　on　the　steel　of　his　bayonet。　He　had　a　fresh；　fine；　boyish　face。

〃We　have　some　distance　yet　to　go　in　this　world；〃　I　said　to　myself；　〃no　man　need　repine　for　lack　of　good　work　ahead。〃

It　was　only　a　little　way　beyond　this　mill　that　an　incident　occurred　which　occupied　probably　not　ten　minutes　of　time；　and　yet　I　have　thought　about　it　since　I　came　home　as　much　as　I　have　thought　about　any　other　incident　of　my　pilgrimage。　I　have　thought　how　I　might　have　acted　differently　under　the　circumstances；　how　I　could　have　said　this　or　how　I　ought　to　have　done　thatall；　of　course；　now　to　no　purpose　whatever。　But　I　shall　not　attempt　to　tell　what　I　ought　to　have　done　or　said；　but　what　I　actually　did　do　and　say　on　the　spur　of　the　moment。

It　was　in　a　narrow；　dark　street　which　opened　off　the　brightly　lighted　main　thoroughfare　of　that　mill　neighbourhood。　A　girl　standing　in　the　shadows　between　two　buildings　said　to　me　as　I　passed：

〃Good　evening。〃

I　stopped　instantly；　it　was　such　a　pleasant；　friendly　voice。

〃Good　evening；〃　I　said；　lifting　my　hat　and　wondering　that　there　should　be　any　one　here　in　this　back　street　who　knew　me。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　she　asked。

I　stepped　over　quickly　toward　her；　hat　in　hand。　She　was　a　mere　slip　of　a　girl；　rather　comely；　I　thought；　with　small　childish　features　and　a　half…timid；　half…bold　look　in　her　eyes。　I　could　not　remember　having　seen　her　before。

She　smiled　at　meand　then　I　knew！

Well；　if　some　one　had　struck　me　a　brutal　blow　in　the　face　I　could　not　have　been　more　astonished。

We　know　of　things！and　yet　how　little　we　know　until　they　are　presented　to　us　in　concrete　form。　Just　such　a　little　school　girl　as　I　have　seen　a　thousand　times　in　the　country；　the　pathetic　childish　curve　of　the　chin；　a　small　rebellious　curl　hanging　low　on　her　temple。

I　could　not　say　a　word。　The　girl　evidently　saw　in　my　face　that　something　was　the　matter；　for　she　turned　and　began　to　move　quickly　away。　Such　a　wave　of　compassion　（and　anger；　too）　swept　over　me　as　I　cannot　well　describe。　I　stepped　after　her　and　asked　in　a　low　voice：

〃Do　you　work　in　the　mills？〃

〃Yes；　when　there's　work。〃

〃What　is　your　name？〃

〃Maggie〃

〃Well；　Maggie；〃　I　said；　〃let's　be　friends。〃

She　looked　around　at　me　curiously；　questioningly。

〃And　friends；〃　I　said；　〃should　know　something　about　each　other。　You　see　I　am　a　farmer　from　the　country。　I　used　to　live　in　a　city　myself；　a　good　many　years　ago；　but　I　got　tired　and　sick　and　hopeless。　There　was　so　much　that　was　wrong　about　it。　I　tried　to　keep　the　pace　and　could　not。　I　wish　I　could　tell　you　what　the　country　has　done　for　me。〃

We　were　walking　along　slowly；　side　by　side；　the　girl　perfectly　passive　but　glancing　around　at　me　from　time　to　time　with　a　wondering　look。　I　don't　know　in　the　least　now　what　prompted　me　to　do　it；　but　I　began　telling　in　a　quiet；　low　voicefor；　after　all；　she　was　only　a　childI　began　telling　her　about　our　chickens　at　the　farm　and　how　Harriet　had　named　them　all；　and　one　was　Frances　E。　Willard；　and　one；　a　speckled　one；　was　Martha　Washington；　and　I　told　her　of　the　curious　antics　of　Martha　Washington　and　of　the　number　of　eggs　she　laid；　and　of　the　sweet　new　milk　we　had　to　drink；　and　the　honey　right　out　of　our　own　hives；　and　of　the　things　growing　in　the　garden。

Once　she　smiled　a　little；　and　once　she　looked　around　at　me　with　a　curious；　timid；　half…wistful　expression　in　her　eyes。

〃Maggie；〃　I　said；　〃I　wish　you　could　go　to　the　country。〃

〃I　wish　to　God　I　could；〃　she　replied。

We　walked　for　a　moment　in　silence。　My　head　was　whirling　with　thoughts：　again　I　had　that　feeling　of　helplessness；　of　inadequacy；　which　I　had　felt　so　sharply　on　the　previous　evening。　What　could　I　do？

When　we　reached　the　corner；　I　said：

〃Maggie；　I　will　see　you　safely　home。〃

She　laugheda　hard；　bitter　laugh。

〃Oh；　I　don't　need　any　one　to　show　me　around　these　streets！〃

〃I　will　see　you　home；〃　I　said。

So　we　walked　quickly　along　the　street　together。

〃Here　it　is；〃　she　said　finally；　pointing　to　a　dark；　mean…looking；　one…story　house；　set　in　a　dingy；　barren　areaway。

〃Well；　good　night；　Maggie；〃　I　said；　〃and　good　luck　to　you。〃

〃Good　night；〃　she　said　faintly。

When　I　had　walked　to　the　corner；　I　stopped　and　looked　back。　She　was　standing　stock…still　just　where　I　had　left　hera　figure　I　shall　never　forget。


I　have　hesitated　about　telling　of　a　further　strange　thing　that　happened　to　me　that　nightbut　have　decided　at　last　to　put　it　in。　I　did　not　accept　Mr。　Vedder's　invitation：　I　could　not；　but　I　returned　to　the　room　in　the　tenement　where　I　had　spent　the　previous　night　with　Bill　Hahn　the　Socialist。　It　was　a　small；　dark；　noisy　room；　but　I　was　so　weary　that　I　fell　almost　immediately　into　a　heavy　sleep。　An　hour　or　more　later　I　don't　know　how　long　indeedI　was　suddenly　awakened　and　found　myself　sitting　bolt　upright　in　bed。　It　was　close　and　dark　and　warm　there　in　the　room；　and　from　without　came　the　muffled　sounds　of　the　city。　For　an　instant　I　waited；　rigid　with　expectancy。　And　then　I　heard　as　clearly　and　plainly　as　ever　I　heard　anything：

〃David！　David！〃　in　my　sister　Harriet's　voice。

It　was　exactly　the　voice　in　which　she　has　called　me　a　thousand　times。　Without　an　instant's　hesitation；　I　stepped　out　of　bed　and　called　out：

〃I'm　coming；　Harriet！　I'm　coming！〃

〃What's　the　matter？〃　inquired　Bill　Hahn　sleepily。

〃Nothing；〃　I　replied；　and　crept　back　into　bed。

It　may　have　been　the　result　of　the　strain　and　excitement　of　the　previous　two　days。　I　don't　explain　itI　can　only　tell　what　happened。

Before　I　went　to　sleep　again　I　determined　to　start　straight　for　home　in　the　morning：　and　having　decided；　I　turned　over；　drew　a　long；　comfortable　breath　and　did　not　stir　again；　I　think；　until　long　after　the　morning　sun　shone　in　at　the　window。


CHAPTER　XII。　　THE　RETURN

〃Everything　divine　runs　with　light　feet。〃

Surely　the　chief　delight　of　going　away　from　home　is　the　joy　of　getting　back　again。　I　shall　never　forget　that　spring　morning　when　I　walked　from　the　city　of　Kilburn　into　the　open　country；　my　bag　on　my　back；　a　song　in　my　throat；　and　the　gray　road　stretching　straight　before　me。　I　remember　how　eagerly；　I　looked　out　across　the　fields　and　mea