to him that hath-第34章

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He　is　a　dear　and　those　men　are　just〃

〃Hush；　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Templeton　gently。　　〃And　did　they　agree　to
anything？〃

〃Alas；　not　they；　for　at　that　moment　some　old　Johnny　began　asking
questions　and　then　that　old　fire…eater；　McGinnis；　horned　in　again。
No　Arbitration　Committee　for　himno　one　could　come　into　his
foundry　and　tell　him　how　to　run　his　businesssame　old　stuff；　you
know。　　Well；　then；　the　Methodist　Johnny　took　a　hand。　　What's　his
name？　　Haynes；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes；　Haynes；〃　said　Hugh　Maynard。

〃Well；　Brother　Haynes　took　up　the　tale。　　He　is　an　eloquent　chap；
all　right。　　He　took　the　line　'As　you　are　strong；　be　pitiful；'　but
the　psychological　moment　had　gone　and　the　line　still　held　strong。
Campbell　of　the　woollen　mills　invited　him　up　to　view　his　25；000。00
stock　'all　dressed　up　and　nowhere　to　go。'　　'Tell　me　how　I　can　pay
increased　wages　with　this　stock　on　my　hands。'　　And　echo　answered
'How？'　　Haynes　could　not。　　Then　my　old　chief　took　a　handthe
Reverend　Murdo　Matheson。　　He　is　a　good　old　scout；　a　Padre；　you
knowregular　fire…eatera　rasping　voice　and　grey　matter　oozing
from　his　pores。　　My　governor　says　he　abandoned　the　frontal　attack
and　took　them　on　the　flank。　　Opened　up　with　a　dose　of　economics
that　made　them　sit　up。　　And　when　he　got　through　on　this　line；　he
made　every　man　feel　that　it　was　entirely　due　to　the　courtesy　and
forbearance　of　the　union　that　he　was　allowed　to　carry　on　business
at　all。　　He　spiked　Brother　McGinnis's　guns　by　informing　him　that　if
he　was　harbouring　the　idea　that　he　owned　a　foundry　all　on　his　own；
he　was　labouring　under　a　hallucination。　　All　he　owned　was　a　heap　of
brick　and　mortar　and　some　iron　and　steel　junk　arranged　in　some
peculiar　way。　　In　fact；　there　was　no　foundry　there　till　the　workmen
came　in　and　started　the　wheels　going　round。　　Old　McGinnis　sat
gasping　like　a　chicken　with　the　pip。　　Then　the　Padre　turned　on　the
'Liberty　of　the　subject'　stop　as　follows：　　'Mr。　McGinnis　insists
upon　liberty　to　run　his　foundry　as　he　likes；　insists　upon　perfect
freedom　of　action。　　There　is　no　such　thing　as　perfect　freedom　of
action　in　modern　civilisation。　　For　instance；　Mr。　McGinnis　rushing
to　catch　a　train；　hurls　his　Hudson　Six　gaily　down　Main　Street
thirty　miles　an　hour；　on　the　left…hand　side　of　the　street。　　A　speed
cop　sidles　up；　whispers　a　sweet　something　in　his　ear；　hails　him
ignominiously　into　court　and　invites　him　to　contribute　to　the
support　of　the　democracy　fifty　little　iron　men　as　an　evidence　of
his　devotion　to　the　sacred　principle　of　personal　liberty。　　In
short；　there　is　no　such　thing　as　personal　liberty　in　this　burg；
unless　it　is　too　late　for　the　cop　to　see。'　　The　governor　says
McGinnis's　face　afforded　a　perfect　study　in　emotions。　　I　should
have　liked　to　have　seen　it。　　The　Padre　never　took　his　foot　off
the　accelerator。　　He　took　them　all　for　an　excursion　along
the　'Responsibility'　line：　personal　responsibility；　mutual
responsibility；　community　responsibility　and　every　responsibility
known　to　the　modern　mind。　　And　then　when　he　had　them　eating　out
of　his　hand；　he　offered　them　two　alternatives：　an　Arbitration
Committee　as　formerly　proposed；　or　a　Conciliation　Board　under　the
Lemieux　Act。　　My　governor　says　it　was　a　great　speech。　　He　had　'em
all　jumping　through　the　hoops。〃

〃What　DO　you　mean；　Vic？〃　lamented　Mrs。　Templeton。　　〃I　have　only　the
very　vaguest　idea　of　what　you　have　been　saying　all　this　time。〃

〃So　sorry；　Mrs。　Templeton。　　What　I　mean　is　the　Padre　delivered　a
most　effective　speech。〃

〃And　did　they　settle　anything？〃　inquired　Patricia。

〃I　regret　to　say；　Patricia；　that　your　friend　Rupert〃

〃My　friend；　indeed！〃　cried　Patricia。

〃Who　comforts　you　with　bonbons；〃　continued　Vic；　ignoring　her　words；
〃and　stays　you　with　joy　rides；　interposed　at　this　second
psychological　crisis。　　He　very　cleverly　moves　a　vote　of　thanks；
bows　out　the　deputation；　thanking　them　for　their　touching
addresses；　and　promising　consideration。　　Thereupon；　as　the　door
closed；　he　proceeded　to　sound　the　alarm　once　more；　collected　the
scattered　forces；　flung　the　gage　of　battle　in　the　teeth　of　the
enemy；　dared　them　to　do　their　worst；　and　there　you　are。〃

〃And　nothing　done？〃　cried　Adrien。　　〃What　a　shame。〃

〃What　I　cannot　understand　is；〃　said　Hugh；　〃why　the　unions　do　not
invoke　the　Lemieux　Act？〃

〃Aha！〃　said　Vic。　　〃Why？　　The　same　question　rose　to　my　lips。〃

〃The　Lemieux　Act？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Templeton。

〃Yes。　　You　know；　Mrs。　Templeton；　either　party　in　dispute　can　ask
for　a　Board　of　Conciliation；　not　Arbitration；　you　understand。　　This
Board　has　power　to　investigatebring　out　all　the　factsand
failing　to　effect　conciliation；　makes　public　its　decision　in　the
case；　leaving　both　parties　at　the　bar　of　public　opinion。〃

〃But　I　cannot　understand　why　the　unions　do　not　ask　for　this
Conciliation　Board。〃

〃I　fear；　Hugh；〃　said　Victor　in　an　awed　and　solemn　voice；　〃that
there　is　an　Ethiopian　in　the　coal　bin。〃

〃What　DOES　he　mean；　Patricia？〃

〃He　means　that　there　is　something　very　dark　and　mysterious；　Mamma。〃

〃So　there　is；〃　said　Hugh。　　〃The　unions　will　take　an　Arbitration
Committee；　which　the　employers　decline　to　give；　but　they　will　not
ask　for　a　Conciliation　Board。〃

〃My　governor　says　it's　a　bluff；〃　said　Vic。　　〃The　unions　know　quite
well　that　McGinnis　et　hoc　genus　omne　will　have　nothing　to　do　with
an　Arbitration　Committee。　　Hence　they　are　all　for　an　Arbitration
Committee。　　On　the　other　hand；　neither　the　unions　nor　McGinnis　are
greatly　in　love　with　the　prying　methods　of　the　Conciliation　Board；
and　hence　reject　the　aid　of　the　Lemieux　Act。〃

〃But　why　should　they　all　be　dominated　by　a　man　like　McGinnis？〃
demanded　Adrien。　　〃Why　doesn't　some　employer　demand　a　Conciliation
Board？　　He　can　get　it；　you　know。〃

〃They　naturally　stand　together；〃　said　Hugh。

〃But　they　won't　long。　　Maitland　declares　that　he　will　take　either
board；　and　that　if　the　committee　cannot　agree　which　to　choose；　he
will　withdraw　and　make　terms　on　his　own。　　He　furthermore　gave　them
warning　that　if　any　strike…breakers　were　employed；　of　which　he　had
heard　rumours；　he　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　bunch。〃

〃Strike…breakers？〃　said　Adrien。　　〃That　would　certainly　mean　serious
trouble。〃

〃Indeed；　you　are　jolly　well　right；〃　said　Vic。　　〃We　will　all　be　in
it　then。　　Civic　guard！　　Special　police！　　'Shun！　　Fix　bayonets！
Prepare　for　cavalry！　　Eh？〃

〃Oh；　how　terrible　it　all　is；〃　said　Mrs。　Templeton。

〃Nonsense；　Vic；〃　said　Hugh。　　〃Don't　listen　to　him；　Mrs。　Templeton。
We　will　have　nothing　of　that　sort。〃

〃Well；　it　is　all　very　sad；〃　said　Mrs。　Templeton。　　〃But　here　is
Rupert。　　He　will　give　us　the　latest。〃

But　Rupert　appeared　unwilling　to　talk　about　the　meeting　of　the
morning。　　He　was　quite　certain；　however；　that　the　strike　was　about
to　break。　　He　had　inside　information　that　the　resources　of　the
unions　were　almost　exhausted。　　The　employers　were　tightening　up
all　along　the　line；　credits　were　being　refused　at　the　stores；　the
unions　were　torn　with　dissension；　the　end　was　at　hand。

〃It　would　be　a　great　mercy　if　it　would　end　soon；〃　said　Mrs。
Templeton。　　〃It　is　a　sad　pity　that　these　poor　people　are　so
misguided。〃

〃It　is　a　cruel　shame；　Mrs。　Templeton；〃　said　Rupert　indignantly。　　〃I
have　it　from　scores　of　them　that　they　didn't　want　to　strike　at　all。
They　were　getting　good　wagesthe　wage　scale　has　gone　up　steadily
during　the　war　to　the　present　extravagant　height。〃

〃The　cost　of　living　has　gone　up　much　more　rapidly；　I　believe；〃　said
Adrien。　　〃The　men　are　working　ten　hours　a　day；　the　conditions　under
which　they　labour　are　in　some　cases　deplorable；　that　McGinnis
foundry　is　a　ghastly　place；　terribly　unhealthy；　the　girls　in　many
of　the　factories　are　paid　wages　so　shamefully　low　that　they　can
hardly　maintain　themselves　in　decency；　and　they　are　continually
being　told　that　they　are　about　to　be　dismissed。　　The　wrong's　not
all　on　one　side；　by　any　means。　　To　my　mind；　men　like　McGinnis　who
are　unwilling　to　negotiate　are　a　menace　to　the　country。〃

〃You　are　quite　right；　Adrien；〃　replied　Hugh。　　〃I　consider　him　a
most　dangerous　man。　　That　sort　of　pig…headed；　bull…headed　employer
of　labour　does　more　to　promote　strife　than　a　dozen　'walking
delegates。'　　I　am　not　terribly　strong　for　the　unions；　but　the　point
of　vantage　is　always　with　the　employers。　　And　they　have　a　lot　to
learn。　　Oh；　you　may　look　at　me；　Adrien！　　I　am　no　bolshevist；　but　I
see　a　lot　of　these　men　in　our　office。〃



CHAPTER　XV

THE　STORM


Slowly　the　evening　was　deepening　into　night；　but　still　the　glow
from　the　setting　sun　lingered　in　the　western　sky。　　The　brave　little
songster　had　gone　from　the　top　of　the　elm　tree；　but　from　the
shrubbery　behind　the　church　a　whippoorwill　was　beginning　to　tune
his　pipe。

〃Oh；　listen　to　the　darling！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃I　haven't　heard　one
for　a　long；　long　time。〃

〃There　used　to　be　a　great　many　in　the　shrubbery　here；　and　in　the
old　days　the　woods　nearby　were　full　of　them　in　the　evenings；〃　said
Mrs。　Templeton。

As　they　sat　listening　for　the　whippoorwill's　voice；　they　became
aware　of　other　sounds　floating　up　to　their　ears　from　the　town。
The　hum　of　passing　motors；　the　high；　shrill　laughter　of　children
playing　in　the　streets；　the　clang　of　the　locomotive　bell　from　the
railroad　station；　all　softened　by　distance。　　But　as　they　listened
there　came　another　sound　like　nothing　they　had　ever　heard　in　that
place　before。　　A　strange；　confused　rumbling；　with　cries　jutting　out
through　the　dull；　rolling　noise。　　A　little　later　came　the　faint
clash　of　rhythmic；　tumultuous　cheering。　　Patricia's　quick　ears　were
the　first　to　catch　the　sound。

〃Hush！〃　she　cried。　　〃What　is　that　noise？〃

Again　came　the　rumbling　sound；　punctuated　with　quick　volleys　of
cheering。　　The　men　glanced　at　each　other。　　They　knew　well　that
sound；　a　sound　they　had　often　heard　during　the　stirring　days　of　the
war；　in　the　streets　of　the　great　cities　across　the　seas；　and　in
other　places；　too；　where　men　were　wont　to　crowd。　　As　they　listened
in　tense　silence；　there　came　the　throbbing　of　a　drum。

〃My　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Templeton　faintly　to　her　eldest　daughter；　〃I
think　I　shall　go　in。〃

At　once　Hugh　offered　her　his　arm；　while　Adrien　took　the　other；　and
together　they　led　her　slowly　into　the　house。

Meanwhile　the　others　tumbled　into　Rupert's　car　and　motored　down
to　the　gate；　and　there　waited　the　approach　of　what　seemed　to　be　a
procession　of　some　sort　or　other。

At　the　gate　Dr。　Templeton；　returning　from　his　pastor　visitations；
found　them　standing。

〃Come　here；　Papa！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃Let　us　wait　here。　　There　is
something　coming　up　the　street。〃

〃But　what　is　it？〃　asked　Dr。　Templeton。　　〃Does　anybody　know？〃

〃I　guess　it　is　a　strikers'　parade；　sir。　　I　heard　that　they　were　to
organise　a　march…out　to…night。　　It　is　rather　a　ridiculous　thing。〃

Through　the　deepening　twilight　they　could　see　at　the　head　of　the
column　and　immediately　before　the　band；　a　double　platoon　of　young
girls　dressed　in　white；　under　the　command　of　an　officer
distinguished　from　the　others　by　her　red　sash；　all　marching　with　a
beautiful　precision　to　the　tap　of　the　drum。　　As　the　head　of　the
column　drew　opposite；　Patricia　touched　Vic's　arm。

〃Vic！〃　she　cried。　　〃Look！　　Look　at　that　girl！　　It　is　Annette！〃

〃My　aunt！　　So　it　is！〃　cried　Vic。　　〃Jove！　　What　a　pic