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diff --git a/old/ththt10.txt b/old/ththt10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..be134f1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ththt10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10700 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of To Him That Hath, by Ralph Connor +#4 in our series by Ralph Connor + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.12.12.00*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by Donald Lainson, charlie@idirect.com. + + + + + +TO HIM THAT HATH + +A NOVEL OF THE WEST OF TODAY + + +by RALPH CONNOR + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + +I THE GAME + +II THE COST OF SACRIFICE + +III THE HEATHEN QUEST + +IV ANNETTE + +V THE RECTORY + +VI THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE + +VII THE FOREMAN + +VIII FREE SPEECH + +IX THE DAY BEFORE + +X THE NIGHT OF VICTORY + +XI THE NEW MANAGER + +XII LIGHT THAT IS DARKNESS + +XIII THE STRIKE + +XIV GATHERING CLOUDS + +XV THE STORM + +XVI A GALLANT FIGHT + +XVII SHALL BE GIVEN + + + + +TO HIM THAT HATH + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE GAME + + +"Forty-Love." + +"Game! and Set. Six to two." + +A ripple of cheers ran round the court, followed by a buzz of +excited conversation. + +The young men smiled at each other and at their friends on the side +lines and proceeded to change courts for the next set, pausing for +refreshments on the way. + +"Much too lazy, Captain Jack. I am quite out of patience with +you," cried a young girl whose brown eyes were dancing with mock +indignation. + +Captain Jack turned with a slightly bored look on his thin dark +face. + +"Too lazy, Frances?" drawled he. "I believe you. But think of the +temperature." + +"You have humiliated me dreadfully," she said severely. + +"Humiliated you? You shock me. But how, pray?" Captain Jack's +eyes opened wide. + +"You, a Canadian, and our best player--at least, you used to be--to +allow yourself to be beaten by a--a--" she glanced at his opponent +with a defiant smile--"a foreigner." + +"Oh! I say, Miss Frances," exclaimed that young man. + +"A foreigner?" exclaimed Captain Jack. "Better not let Adrien hear +you." He turned toward a tall fair girl standing near. + +"What's that?" said the girl. "Did I hear aright?" + +"Well, he's not a Canadian, I mean," said Frances, sticking to her +guns. "Besides, I can't stand Adrien crowing over me. She is +already far too English, don-che-know. You have given her one more +occasion for triumph over us Colonials." + +"Ah, this is serious," said Captain Jack. "But really it is too +hot you know for--what shall I say?--International complications." + +"Jack, you are plain lazy," said Frances. "You know you are. You +don't deserve to win, but if you really would put your back into +it--" + +"Oh, come, Frances. Why! You don't know that my cousin played for +his College at Oxford. And that is saying something," said Adrien. + +"There you are, Jack! That's the sort of thing I have to live +with," said Frances. "She thinks that settles everything." + +"Well, doesn't it rather?" smiled Adrien. + +"Oh, Jack, if you have any regard for your country, not to say my +unworthy self, won't you humble her?" implored Frances. "If you +would only buck up!" + +"He will need to, eh, Adrien?" said a young fellow standing near, +slowly sipping his drink. + +"I think so. Indeed, I am quite sure of it," coolly replied the +girl addressed. "But I really think it is quite useless." + +"Ha! Ha! Cheer up, Jack," laughed the young man, Stillwell by +name. + +"Really, old chap, I feel I must beat you this set," said Captain +Jack to the young Englishman. "My country's credit as well as my +own is at stake, you see." + +"Both are fairly assured, I should say," said the Englishman. + +"Not to-day," said Stillwell, with a suspicion of a polite sneer in +his voice. "My money says so." + +"Canada vs. the Old Country!" cried a voice from the company. + +"Now, Jack, Jack, remember," implored Frances. + +"You have no mercy, Miss Frances, I see," said the Englishman, +looking straight into her eyes. + +"Absolutely none," she replied, smiling saucily at him. + +"Vae victis, eh, old chap?" said Sidney, as they sauntered off +together to their respective courts. "By the way, who is that +Stillwell chap?" he asked in a low voice of Captain Jack as they +moved away from the others. "Of any particular importance?" + +"I think you've got him all right," replied Jack carelessly. The +Englishman nodded. + +"He somehow gets my goat," said Jack. The Englishman looked +mystified. + +"Rubs me the wrong way, you know." + +"Oh, very good, very good. I must remember that." + +"He rather fancies his own game, too," said Jack, "and he has come +on the last year or two. In more ways than one," he added as an +afterthought. + +As they faced each other on the court it was Stillwell's voice that +rang out: + +"Now then, England!" + +"Canada!" cried a girl's voice that was easily recognised as that +of Frances Amory. + +"Thumbs down, eh, Maitland?" said the Englishman, waving a hand +toward his charming enemy. + +Whatever the cause, whether from the spur supplied by the young +lady who had constituted herself his champion or from the sting +from the man for whom for reasons sufficient for himself he had +only feelings of hostility and dislike, the game put up by Captain +Jack was of quite a different brand from that he had previously +furnished. From the first service he took the offensive and +throughout played brilliant, aggressive, even smashing tennis, so +much so that his opponent appeared to be almost outclassed and at +the close the figures of the first set were exactly reversed, +standing six to two in Captain Jack's favour. + +The warmth of the cheers that followed attested the popularity of +the win. + +"My word, old chap, that is top-hole tennis," said the Englishman, +warmly congratulating him. + +"Luck, old boy, brilliant luck!" said Captain Jack. "Couldn't do +it again for a bet." + +"You must do it just once more," said Frances, coming to meet the +players. "Oh, you dear old thing. Come and be refreshed. Here is +the longest, coolest thing in drinks this Club affords. And one +for you, too," she added, turning to the Englishman. "You played a +great game." + +"Did I not? I was at the top of my form," said the Englishman +gallantly. "But all in vain, as you see." + +"Now for the final," cried Frances eagerly. + +"Dear lady," said Captain Jack, affecting supreme exhaustion, "as +you are mighty, be merciful! Let it suffice that we appear to have +given you an exposition of fairly respectable tennis. I am quite +done." + +"A great win, Jack," said Adrien, offering her hand in +congratulation. + +"All flukes count, eh, Maitland?" laughed Stillwell, unable in +spite of his laugh to keep the bite out of his voice. + +"Fluke?" exclaimed the Englishman in a slow drawling voice. "I +call it ripping good tennis, if I am a judge." + +A murmur of approval ran through the company, crowding about with +congratulations to both players. + +"Oh, of course, of course," said Stillwell, noting the criticism of +his unsportsmanlike remark. "What I mean is, Maitland is clearly +out of condition. If he were not I wouldn't mind taking him on +myself," he added with another laugh. + +"Now, do you mean?" said Captain Jack lazily. + +"We will wait till the match is played out," said Stillwell with +easy confidence. "Some other day, when you are in shape, eh?" he +added, smiling at Maitland. + +"Now if you like, or after the match, or any old time," said +Captain Jack, looking at Stillwell with hard grey, unsmiling eyes. +"I understand you have come up on your game during the war." + +Stillwell's face burned a furious red at the little laugh that went +round among Captain Jack's friends. + +"Frankly, I have had enough for to-day," said the Englishman to +Jack. + +"All right, old chap, if you don't really mind. Though I feel you +would certainly take the odd set." + +"Not a bit of it, by Jove. I am quite satisfied to let it go at +that. We will have another go some time." + +"Any time that suits you--to-morrow, eh?" + +"To-morrow be it," said the Englishman. + +"Now, then, Stillwell," said Captain Jack, with a curt nod at him. +"Whenever you are ready." + +"Oh, come, Maitland. I was only joshing, you know. You don't want +to play with me to-day," said Stillwell, not relishing the look on +Maitland's face. "We can have a set any time." + +"No!" said Maitland shortly. "It's now or never." + +"Oh, all right," said Stillwell, with an uneasy laugh, going into +the Club house for his racquet. + +The proposed match had brought a new atmosphere into the Club +house, an atmosphere of contest with all the fun left out. + +"I don't like this at all," said a man with iron grey hair and +deeply tanned face. + +"One can't well object, Russell," said a younger man, evidently a +friend of Stillwell's. "Maitland brought it on, and I hope he gets +mighty well trimmed. He is altogether too high and mighty these +days." + +"Oh, I don't agree with you at all," broke in Frances, in a voice +coldly proper. "You heard what Mr. Stillwell said?" + +"Well, not exactly." + +"Ah, I might have guessed you had not," answered the young lady, +turning away. + +Edwards looked foolishly round upon the circle of men who stood +grinning at him. + +"Now will you be good?" said a youngster who had led the laugh at +Edwards' expense. + +"What the devil are you laughing at, Menzies?" he asked hotly. + +"Why, don't you see the joke?" enquired Menzies innocently. "Well, +carry on! You will to-morrow." + +Edwards growled out an oath and took himself off. + +Meantime the match was making furious progress, with the fury, it +must be confessed, confined to one side only of the net. Captain +Jack was playing a driving, ruthless game, snatching and employing +without mercy every advantage that he could legitimately claim. He +delivered his service with deadly precision, following up at the +net with a smashing return, which left his opponent helpless. His +aggressive tactics gave his opponent almost no opportunity to +score, and he kept the pace going at the height of his speed. The +onlookers were divided in their sentiments. Stillwell had a strong +following of his own who expressed their feelings by their silence +at Jack's brilliant strokes and their loud approval of Stillwell's +good work when he gave them opportunity, while many of Maitland's +friends deprecated his tactics and more especially his spirit. + +At whirlwind pace Captain Jack made the first three games a "love" +score, leaving his opponent dazed, bewildered with his smashing +play and blind with rage at his contemptuous bearing. + +"I think I must go home, Frances," said Adrien to her friend, her +face pale, her head carried high. + +Frances seized her by the arm and drew her to one side. + +"Adrien, you must not go! You simply must not!" she said in a low +tense voice. "It will be misunderstood, and--" + +"I am going, Frances," said her friend in a cold, clear voice. "I +have had enough tennis for this afternoon. Where is Sidney? Ah, +there he is across the court. No! Let me go, Frances!" + +"You simply must not go like that in the middle of a game, Adrien. +Wait at least till this game is over," said her friend, clutching +hard at her arm. + +"Very well. Let us go to Sidney," said Adrien. + +Together they made their way round the court almost wholly +unobserved, so intent was the crowd upon the struggle going on +before them. As the game finished Adrien laid her hand upon her +cousin's arm. + +"Haven't you had enough of this?" she said. Her voice carried +clear across the court. + +"What d'ye say? By Jove, no!" said her cousin in a joyous voice. +"This is the most cheering thing I've seen for many moons, Adrien. +Eh, what? Oh, I beg pardon, are you seedy?" he added glancing at +her. "Oh, certainly, I'll come at once." + +"Not at all. Don't think of it. I have a call to make on my way +home. Please don't come." + +"But, Adrien, I say, this will be over now in a few minutes. Can't +you really wait?" + +"No, I am not in the least interested in this--this kind of +tennis," she said in a bored voice. + +Her tone, pitched rather higher than usual, carried to the ears of +the players who were changing ends at the moment. Both of the men +glanced at her. Stillwell's face showed swift gratitude. On +Jack's face the shadow darkened but except for a slight +straightening of the line of his lips he gave no sign. + +"You are quite sure you don't care?" said Sidney. "You don't want +me? This really is great, you know." + +"Not for worlds would I drag you away," said Adrien in a cool, +clear voice. "Frances will keep you company." She turned to her +friend. "Look after him, Frances," she said. "Good-bye. Dinner +at seven to-night, you know." + +"Right-o!" said Sidney, raising his hat in farewell. "By Jove, I +wouldn't miss this for millions," he continued, making room for +Frances beside him. "Your young friend is really somewhat violent +in his style, eh, what?" + +"There are times when violence is the only possible thing," replied +Frances grimly. + +"By the way, who is the victim? I mean, what is he exactly?" + +"Mr. Stillwell? Oh, he is the son of his father, the biggest +merchant in Blackwater. Oh, lovely! Beautiful return! Jack is +simply away above his form! And something of a merchant and +financier on his own account, to be quite fair. Making money fast +and using it wisely. But I'm not going to talk about him. You see +a lot of him about the Rectory, don't you?" + +"Well, something," replied Sidney. "I can't quite understand the +situation, I confess. To be quite frank, I don't cotton much to +him. A bit sweetish, eh, what?" + +"Yes, at the Rectory doubtless. I would hardly attribute to him a +sweet disposition. Oh, quit talking about him. He had flat feet +in the war, I think it was. Jack's twin brother was killed, you +know--and mine--well, you know how mine is." + +A swift vision of a bright-faced, cheery-voiced soldier, feeling +his way around a darkened room in the Amory home, leaped to +Sidney's mind and overwhelmed him with pity and self-reproach. + +"Dear Miss Frances, will you forgive me? I hadn't quite got on to +the thing. I understand the game better now." + +"Now, I don't want to poison your mind. I shouldn't have said +that--about the flat feet, I mean. He goes to the Rectory, you +know. I want to be fair--" + +"Please don't worry. We know all about that sort at home," said +Sidney, touching her hand for a moment. "My word, that was a hot +one! The flat-footed Johnnie is obviously bewildered. The last +game was sheer massacre, eh, what?" + +If Maitland was not in form there was no sign of it in his work on +the court. There was little of courtesy, less of fun and nothing +at all of mercy in his play. From first to last and without +reprieve he drove his game ruthlessly to a finish. So terrific, so +resistless were his attacks, so coldly relentless the spirit he +showed, ignoring utterly all attempts at friendly exchange of +courtesy, that the unhappy and enraged Stillwell, becoming utterly +demoralized, lost his nerve, lost his control and hopelessly lost +every chance he ever possessed of winning a single game of the set +which closed with the score six to nothing. + +At the conclusion of the set Stillwell, with no pretense of +explanation or apology, left the courts to his enemy who stood +waiting his appearance in a silence so oppressive that it seemed +to rest like a pall upon the side lines. So overwhelming was +Stillwell's defeat, so humiliating his exhibition of total collapse +of morale that the company received the result with but slight +manifestation of feeling. Without any show of sympathy even his +friends slipped away, as if unwilling to add to his humiliation by +their commiseration. On the other side, the congratulations +offered Maitland were for the most part lacking in the spontaneity +that is supposed to be proper to such a smashing victory. Some of +his friends seemed to feel as if they had been called upon to +witness an unworthy thing. Not so, however, with either Frances +Amory or Sidney Templeton. Both greeted Captain Jack with +enthusiasm and warmth, openly and freely rejoicing in his victory. + +"By Jove, Maitland, that was tremendous, appalling, eh, what?" + +"I meant it to be so," said Maitland grimly, "else I should not +have played with him." + +"It was coming to him," said Frances. "I am simply completely +delighted." + +"Can I give you a lift home, Frances?" said Maitland. "Let us get +away. You, too, Templeton," he added to Sidney, who was lingering +near the young lady in obvious unwillingness to leave her side. + +"Oh, thanks! Sure you have room?" he said. "All right. You know +my cousin left me in your care." + +"Oh, indeed! Well, come along then, since our hero is so good. +Really, I am uplifted to quite an unusual height of glorious +exultation." + +"Don't rub it in, Frank," said Jack gloomily. "I made an ass of +myself, I know quite well." + +"What rot, Jack. Every one of your friends was tickled to death." + +"Adrien, for instance, eh?" said Jack with a bitter little laugh, +taking his place at the wheel. + +"Oh, Adrien!" replied Frances. "Well, you know Adrien! She is-- +just Adrien." + +As he turned into the street there was a sound of rushing feet. + +"Hello, Captain Jack! Oh, Captain Jack! Wait for me! You have +room, haven't you?" + +A whirlwind of flashing legs and windblown masses of gold-red hair, +which realised itself into a young girl of about sixteen, bore down +on the car. It was Adrien's younger sister, Patricia, and at once +her pride and her terror. + +"Why, Patsy, where on earth did you come from? Of course! Get in! +Glad to have you, old chap." + +"Oh, Captain Jack, what a game! What a wonderful game! And Rupert +has been playing all summer and awfully well! And you have hardly +played a game! I was awfully pleased--" + +"Were you? I'm not sure that I was," replied Captain Jack. + +"Well, you WERE savage, you know. You looked as if you were in a +fight." + +"Did I? That was very rotten of me, wasn't it?" + +"Oh, I don't know exactly. But it was a wonderful game. Of +course, one doesn't play tennis like a fight, I suppose." + +"No! You are quite right, Pat," replied Captain Jack. "You see, +I'm afraid I lost my temper a bit, which is horribly bad form I +know, and--well, I wanted to fight rather than play, and of course +one couldn't fight on the tennis court in the presence of a lot of +ladies, you see." + +"Well, I'm glad you didn't fight, Captain Jack. You have had +enough of fighting, haven't you? And Rupert is really very nice, +you know. He has a wonderful car and he lets me drive it, and he +always brings a box of chocolates every time he comes." + +"He must be perfectly lovely," said Captain Jack, with a grin at +her. + +The girl laughed a laugh of such infectious jollity that Captain +Jack was forced to join with her. + +"That's one for you, Captain Jack," she cried. "I know I am a pig +where chocs are concerned, and I do love to drive a car. But, +really, Rupert is quite nice. He is so funny. He makes Mamma +laugh. Though he does tease me a lot." + +Captain Jack drove on in silence for some moments. + +"I was glad to see you playing though to-day, Captain Jack." + +"Where were you? I didn't see you anywhere." + +"Not likely!" She glanced behind her at the others in the back +seat. She need not have given them a thought, they were too deeply +engrossed to heed her. "Do you know where I was? In the crutch of +the big elm--you know!" + +"Don't I!" said Captain Jack. "A splendid seat, but--" + +"Wouldn't Adrien be shocked?" said the girl, with a deliciously +mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Or, at least, she would pretend +to be. Adrien thinks she must train me down a bit, you know. She +says I have most awful manners. She wants Mamma to send me over to +England to her school. But I don't want to go, you bet. Besides, +I don't think Dad can afford it so they can't send me. Anyway, I +could have good manners if I wanted to. I could act just like +Adrien if I wanted to--I mean, for a while. But that was a real +game. I felt sorry for Rupert, a little. You see, he didn't seem +to know what to do or how to begin. And you looked so terrible! +Now in the game with Cousin Sidney you were so different, and you +played so awfully well, too, but differently. Somehow, it was just +like gentlemen playing, you know--" + +"You have hit it, Patsy,--a regular bull!" said Captain Jack. + +"Oh, I don't mean--" began the girl in confusion, rare with her. + +"Yes, you do, Pat. Stick to your guns." + +"Well, I will. The first game everybody loved to watch. The +second game--somehow it made me wish Rupert had been a Hun. I'd +have loved it then." + +"By Jove, Patsy, you're right on the target. You've scored again." + +"Oh, I'm not saying just what I want--but I hope you know what I +mean." + +"Your meaning hits me right in the eye. And you are quite right. +The tennis court is no place for a fight, eh? And, after all, +Rupert Stillwell is no Hun." + +"But you haven't been playing this summer at all, Captain Jack," +said the girl, changing the subject. "Why not?" The girl's tone +was quite severe. "And you don't do a lot of things you used to +do, and you don't go to places, and you are different." The blue +eyes earnestly searched his face. + +"Am I different?" he asked slowly. "Well, everybody is different. +And then, you know, I am busy. A business man has his hours and he +must stick to them." + +"Oh, I don't believe you a bit. You don't need to be down at the +mills all the time. Look at Rupert. He doesn't need to be at his +father's office." + +"Apparently not." + +"He gets off whenever he wants to." + +"Looks like it." + +"And why can't you?" + +"Well, you see, I am not Rupert," said Captain Jack, grinning at +her. + +"Now you are horrible. Why don't you do as you used to do? You +know you could if you wanted to." + +"Yes, I suppose, if I wanted to," said Captain Jack, suddenly +grave. + +"You don't want to," said the girl, quick to catch his mood. + +"Well, you know, Patsy dear, things are different, and I suppose I +am too. I don't care much for a lot of things." + +"You just look as if you didn't care for anything or anybody +sometimes, Captain Jack," said Patricia quietly. Then after a few +moments she burst forth: "Oh, don't you remember your hockey team? +Oh! oh! oh! I used to sit and just hold my heart from jumping. It +nearly used to choke me when you would tear down the ice with the +puck." + +"That was long ago, Pat dear. I guess I was--ah--very young then, +eh?" + +"Yes, I know," nodded the girl. "I feel the same way--I was just a +kid then." + +"Ah, yes," said Captain Jack, with never a smile. "You were just-- +let's see--twelve, was it?" + +"Yes, twelve. And I felt just a kid." + +"And now?" Captain Jack's voice was quite grave. + +"Now? Well, I am not exactly a kid. At least, not the same kind +of kid. And, as you say, a lot of things are different. I think I +know how you feel. I was like that, too--after--after--Herbert--" +The girl paused, with her lips quivering. "It was all different-- +so different. Everything we used to do, I didn't feel like doing. +And I suppose that's the way with you, Captain Jack, with Andy--and +then your Mother, too." She leaned close to him and put her hand +timidly on his arm. + +Captain Jack, sitting up very straight and looking very grave, felt +the thrill of the timid touch run through his very heart. A rush +of warm, tender emotion such as he had not allowed himself for many +months suddenly surprised him, filling his eyes and choking his +throat. Since his return from the war he had without knowledge +been yearning for just such an understanding touch as this child +with her womanly instinct had given him. He withdrew one hand from +the wheel and took the warm clinging fingers tight in his and +waited in silence till he was sure of himself. He drove some +blocks before he was quite master of his voice. Then, releasing +the fingers, he turned his face toward the girl. + +"You are a real pal, aren't you, Patsy old girl?" he said with a +very bright smile at her. + +"I want to be! Oh, I would love to be!" she said, with a swift +intake of breath. "And after a while you will be just as you were +before you went away." + +"Hardly, I fear, Patsy." + +"Well, not the same, but different from what you are now. No, I +don't mean that a bit, Captain Jack. But perhaps you know--I do +want to see you on the ice again. Oh, it would be wonderful! Of +course, the old team wouldn't be there--Herbert and Phil and Andy. +Why! You are the only one left! And Rupert." She added the name +doubtfully. "It WOULD be different! oh, so different! Oh! I don't +wonder you don't care, Captain Jack. I won't wonder--" There was +a little choke in the young voice. "I see it now--" + +"I think you understand, Patsy, and you are a little brick," said +Captain Jack in a low, hurried tone. "And I am going to try. +Anyway, whatever happens, we will be pals." + +The girl caught his arm tight in her clasped hands and in a low +voice she said, "Always and always, Captain Jack, and evermore." +And till they drew up at the Rectory door no more was said. + +Maitland drove homeward through the mellow autumn evening with a +warmer, kindlier glow in his heart than he had known through all +the dreary weeks that had followed his return from the war. For +the war had wrought desolation for him in a home once rich in the +things that make life worth while, by taking from it his mother, +whose rare soul qualities had won and held through her life the +love, the passionate, adoring love of her sons, and his twin +brother, the comrade, chum, friend of all his days, with whose life +his own had grown into a complete and ideal unity, deprived of whom +his life was left like a body from whose raw and quivering flesh +one-half had been torn away. + +The war had left his life otherwise bruised and maimed in ways +known only to himself. + +Returning thus from his soul-devastating experience of war to find +his life desolate and maimed in all that gave it value, he made the +appalling discovery that he was left almost alone of all whom he +had known and loved in past days. For of his close friends none +were left as before. For the most part they were lying on one or +other of the five battle fronts of the war. Others had found +service in other spheres. Only one was still in his home town, +poor old Phil Amory, Frances' brother, half-blind in his darkened +room, but to bring anything of his own heart burden to that brave +soul seemed sacrilege or worse. True enough, he was passing +through the new and thrilling experience of making acquaintance +with his father. But old Grant Maitland was a hard man to know, +and they were too much alike in their reserve and in their poverty +of self-expression to make mutual acquaintance anything but a slow +and in some ways a painful process. + +Hence in Maitland's heart there was an almost extravagant gratitude +toward this young generous-hearted girl whose touch had thrilled +his heart and whose voice with its passionate note of loyal and +understanding comradeship still sang like music in his soul, +"Always and always, Captain Jack, and evermore." + +"By Jove, I have got to find some way of playing up to that," he +said aloud, as he turned from the gravelled driveway into the +street. And in the months that followed he was to find that the +search to which he then committed himself was to call for the +utmost of the powers of soul which were his. + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE COST OF SACRIFICE + + +Perrotte was by all odds the best all-round man in the planing +mill, and for the simple reason that for fifteen years he had +followed the lumber from the raw wood through the various machines +till he knew woods and machines and their ways as no other in the +mill unless it was old Grant Maitland himself. Fifteen years ago +Perrotte had drifted down from the woods, beating his way on a +lumber train, having left his winter's pay behind him at the verge +of civilisation, with old Joe Barbeau and Joe's "chucker out." It +was the "chucker out" that dragged him out of the "snake room" and, +all unwitting, had given him a flying start toward a better life. +Perrotte came to Maitland when the season's work was at its height +and every saw and planer were roaring night and day. + +"Want a job?" Maitland had shouted over the tearing saw at him. +"What can you do?" + +"(H)axe-man me," growled Perrotte, looking up at him, half wistful, +half sullen. + +"See that slab? Grab it, pile it yonder. The boards, slide over +the shoot." For these were still primitive days for labor-saving +devices, and men were still the cheapest thing about a mill. + +Perrotte grabbed the slab, heaved it down to its pile of waste, the +next board he slid into the shoot, and so continued till noon found +him pale and staggering. + +"What's the matter with you?" said Maitland. + +"Notting--me bon," said Perrotte, and, clutching at the door jamb, +hung there gasping. + +Maitland's keen blue eyes searched his face. "Huh! When did you +last eat? Come! No lying!" + +"Two day," said Perrotte, fighting for breath and nerve. + +"Here, boy," shouted Maitland to a chore lad slouching by, "jump +for that cook house and fetch a cup of coffee, and be quick." + +The boss' tone injected energy into the gawky lad. In three +minutes Perrotte was seated on a pile of slabs, drinking a cup of +coffee; in five minutes more he stood up, ready for "(h)anny man, +(h)anny ting." But Maitland took him to the cook. + +"Fill this man up," he said, "and then show him where to sleep. +And, Perrotte, to-morrow morning at seven you be at the tail of the +saw." + +"Oui, by gar! Perrotte be dere. And you got one good man TOO-day, +for sure." + +That was fifteen years ago, and, barring certain "jubilations," +Perrotte made good his prophecy. He brought up from the Ottawa his +Irish wife, a clever woman with her tongue but a housekeeper that +scandalised her thrifty, tidy, French-Canadian mother-in-law, and +his two children, a boy and a girl. Under the supervision of his +boss he made for his family a home and for himself an assured place +in the Blackwater Mills. His children fell into the hands of a +teacher with a true vocation for his great work and a passion for +young life. Under his hand the youth of the rapidly growing mill +village were saved from the sordid and soul-debasing influences of +their environment, were led out of the muddy streets and can-strewn +back yards to those far heights where dwell the high gods of poesy +and romance. From the master, too, they learned to know their own +wonderful woods out of which the near-by farms had been hewn. Many +a home, too, owed its bookshelf to Alex Day's unobtrusive +suggestions. + +The Perrotte children were prepared for High School by the master's +quiet but determined persistence. To the father he held up the +utilitarian advantages of an education. + +"Your boy is quick--why should not Tony be a master of men some +day? Give him a chance to climb." + +"Oui, by gar! Antoine he's smart lee'le feller. I mak him steeck +on his book, you mak him one big boss on some mill." + +To the mother the master spoke of social advantages. The empty- +headed Irish woman who had all the quick wit and cleverness of +tongue characteristic of her race was determined that her girl +Annette should learn to be as stylish as "them that tho't +themselves her betters." So the children were kept at school by +their fondly ambitious parents, and the master did the rest. + +At the Public School, that greatest of all democratic institutions, +the Perrotte children met the town youth of their own age, giving +and taking on equal terms, sharing common privileges and advantages +and growing into a community solidarity all their own, which in +later years brought its own harvest of mingling joy and bitterness, +but which on the whole made for sound manhood and womanhood. + +With the girl Annette one effect of the Public School and its +influences, educational and social, was to reveal to her the depth +of the educational and social pit from which she had been taken. +Her High School training might have fitted her for the teaching +profession and completed her social emancipation but for her vain +and thriftless mother, who, socially ambitious for herself but more +for her handsome, clever children, found herself increasingly +embarrassed for funds. She lacked the means with which to suitably +adorn herself and her children for the station in life to which she +aspired and for which good clothes were the prime equipment and to +"eddicate" Tony as he deserved. Hence when Annette had completed +her second year at the High School her mother withdrew her from the +school and its associations and found her a place in the new Fancy +Box Factory, where girls could obtain "an illigant and refoined job +with good pay as well." + +This change in Annette's outlook brought wrathful disappointment to +the head master, Alex Day, who had taken a very special pride in +Annette's brilliant school career and who had outlined for her a +University course. To Annette herself the ending of her school +days was a bitter grief, the bitterness of which would have been +greatly intensified had she been able to measure the magnitude of +the change to be wrought in her life by her mother's foolish vanity +and unwise preference of her son's to her daughter's future. + +The determining factor in Annette's submission to her mother's will +was consideration for her brother and his career. For while for +her father she cherished an affectionate pride and for her mother +an amused and protective pity, her great passion was for her +brother--her handsome, vivacious, audacious and mercurial brother, +Tony. With him she counted it only joy to share her all too meagre +wages whenever he found himself in financial straits. And a not +infrequent situation this was with Tony, who, while he seemed to +have inherited from his mother the vivacity, quick wit and general +empty-headedness, from his father got nothing of the thrift and +patient endurance of grinding toil characteristic of the French- +Canadian habitant. But he did get from his father a capacity for +the knowing and handling of machinery, which amounted almost to +genius. Of the father's steadiness under the grind of daily work +which had made him the head mechanic in the Mill, Tony possessed +not a tittle. What he could get easily he got, and getting this +fancied himself richly endowed, knowing not how slight and +superficial is the equipment for life's stern fight that comes +without sweat of brain and body. His cleverness deceived first +himself and then his family, who united in believing him to be +destined for high place and great things. Only two of those who +had to do with him in his boyhood weighed him in the balance of +truth. One was his Public School master, who labored with +incessant and painful care to awaken in him some glimmer of the +need of preparation for that bitter fight to which every man is +appointed. The other was Grant Maitland, whose knowledge of men +and of life, gained at cost of desperate conflict, made the youth's +soul an open book to him. Recognising the boy's aptitude, he had +in holiday seasons set Tony behind the machines in his planing +mill, determined for his father's sake to make of him a mechanical +engineer. To Tony each new machine was a toy to be played with; in +a week or two he had mastered it and grown weary of it. Thenceforth +he slacked at his work and became a demoralizing influence in his +department, a source of anxiety to his steady-going father, a +plague to his employer, till the holiday time was done. + +"Were you my son, my lad, I'd soon settle you," Grant Maitland +would say, when the boy was ready to go back to his school. "You +will make a mess of your life unless you can learn to stick at your +job. The roads are full of clever tramps, remember that, my boy." + +But Tony only smiled his brilliant smile at him, as he took his pay +envelope, which burned a hole in his pocket till he had done with +it. When the next holiday came round Tony would present himself +for a job with Jack Maitland to plead for him. For to Tony Jack +was as king, to whom he gave passionate loyalty without stint or +measure. And thus for his son Jack's sake, Jack's father took Tony +on again, resolved to make another effort to make something out of +him. + +The bond between the two boys was hard to analyse. In games at +Public and High School Jack was always Captain and Tony his right- +hand man, held to his place and his training partly by his admiring +devotion to his Captain but more by a wholesome dread of the +inexorable disciplinary measures which slackness or trifling with +the rules of the game would inevitably bring him. Jack Maitland +was the one being in Tony's world who could put lasting fear into +his soul or steadiness into his practice. But even Jack at times +failed. + +Then when both were eighteen they went to the War, Jack as an +Officer, Tony as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the same Battalion, +Jack hating the bloody business but resolute to play this great +game of duty as he played all games for all that was in him, Tony +aglow at first with the movement and glitter and later mad with the +lust for deadly daring that was native to his Keltic Gallic soul. +They returned with their respective decorations of D. S. O. and +Military Medal and each with the stamp of war cut deep upon him, in +keeping with the quality of his soul. + +The return to peace was to them, as to the thousands of their +comrades to whom it was given to return, a shock almost as great as +had been the adventure of war. In a single day while still amid +the scenes and with all the paraphernalia of war about them an +unreal and bewildering silence had fallen on them. Like men in the +unearthly realities of a dream they moved through their routine +duties, waiting for the orders that would bring that well-known, +sickening, savage tightening of their courage and send them, laden +like beasts of burden, up once more to that hell of blood and mud, +of nerve-shattering shell, of blinding glare and ear-bursting roar +of gun fire, and, worse than all, to the place where, crouching in +the farcical deceptive shelter of the sandbagged trench, their +fingers gripping into the steel of their rifle hands, they would +wait for the zero hour. But as the weeks passed and the orders +failed to come they passed from that bewildering and subconscious +anxious waiting, to an experience of wildly exultant, hysterical +abandonment. They were done with all that long horror and terror; +they were never to go back into it again; they were going back +home; the New Day had dawned; war was no more, nor ever would be +again. Back to home, to waiting hearts, to shining eyes, to +welcoming arms, to peace, they were going. + +Thereafter, when some weeks of peace had passed and the drums of +peace had fallen quiet and the rushing, crowding, hurrahing people +had melted away, and the streets and roads were filled again with +men and women bent on business, with engagements to keep, the +returned men found themselves with dazed, listless mind waiting for +orders from someone, somewhere, or for the next movie show to open. +But they were unwilling to take on the humdrum of making a living, +and were in most cases incapable of initiating a congenial method +of employing their powers, their new-found, splendid, glorious +powers, by means of which they had saved an empire and a world. +They had become common men again, they in whose souls but a few +weeks ago had flamed the glory and splendour of a divine heroism! + +Small wonder that some of these men, tingling with the consciousness +of powers of which these busy, engaged people of the streets and +shops knew nothing, turned with disdain from the petty, paltry, many +of them non-manly tasks that men pursued solely that they might +live. Live! For these last terrible, great and glorious fifty +months they had schooled themselves to the notion that the main +business of life was not to live. There had been for them a thing +to do infinitely more worth while than to live. Indeed, had they +been determined at all costs to live, then they had become to +themselves, to their comrades, and indeed to all the world, the most +despicable of all living things, deserving and winning the infinite +contempt of all true men. + +While the "gratuity money" lasted life went merrily enough, but +when the last cheque had been cashed, and the grim reality that +rations had ceased and Q. M. Stores were not longer available +thrust itself vividly into the face of the demobilised veteran, and +when after experiencing in job hunting varying degrees of +humiliation the same veteran made the startling and painful +discovery that for his wares of heroic self-immolation, of dogged +endurance done up in khaki, there was no demand in the bloodless +but none the less strenuous conflict of living; and that other +discovery, more disconcerting, that he was not the man he had been +in pre-war days and thought himself still to be, but quite another, +then he was ready for one of two alternatives, to surrender to the +inevitable dictum that after all life was really not worth a fight, +more particularly if it could be sustained without one, or, to +fling his hat into the Bolshevist ring, ready for the old thing, +war--war against the enemies of civilisation and his own enemies, +against those who possessed things which he very much desired but +which for some inexplicable cause he was prevented from obtaining. + +The former class, to a greater or less degree, Jack Maitland +represented; the latter, Tony Perrotte. From their war experience +they were now knit together in bonds that ran into life issues. +Together they had faced war's ultimate horror, together they had +emerged with imperishable memories of sheer heroic manhood mutually +revealed in hours of desperate need. + +At Jack's request Tony had been given the position of a Junior +Foreman in one of the planing mill departments, with the promise of +advancement. + +"You can have anything you are fit for, Tony, in any of the mills. +I feel that I owe you, that we both owe you more than we can pay by +any position we can offer," was Grant Maitland's word. + +"Mr. Maitland, neither you nor Jack owes me anything. Jack has +paid, and more than once, all he owed me. But," with a rueful +smile, "don't expect too much from me in this job. I can't see +myself making it go." + +"Give it a big try. Do your best. I ask no more," said Mr. +Maitland. + +"My best? That's a hard thing. Give me a bayonet and set some +Huns before me, and I'll do my best. This is different somehow." + +"Different, yet the same. The same qualities make for success. +You have the brains and with your gift for machinery--Well, try it. +You and Jack here will make this go between you, as you made the +other go." + +The door closed on the young man. + +"Will he make good, Jack?" said the father, anxiously. + +"Will any of us make good?" + +"You will, Jack, I know. You can stick." + +"Yes, I can stick, I suppose, but, after all--well, we'll have a go +at it, anyway. But, like Tony, I feel like saying, 'Don't expect +too much.'" + +"Only your best, Jack, that's all. Take three months, six months, +a year, and get hold of the office end of the business. You have +brains enough. I want a General Manager right now, Wickes is +hardly up to it. He knows the books and he knows the works but he +knows nothing else. He doesn't know men nor markets. He is an +office man pure and simple, and he's old, too old. The fact is, +Jack, I have to be my own Manager inside and outside. My foremen +are good, loyal, reliable fellows, but they only know their orders. +I want someone to stand beside me. The plant has been doubled in +capacity during the war. We did a lot of war work--aeroplane +parts. We got the spruce in the raw and worked it up, good work, +too, if I do say it myself. No better was done." + +"I know something about that, Dad. I had a day with Badgley in +Toronto. I know something about it, and I know where the money +went, too, Dad." + +"The money? Of course, I couldn't take the money--how could I with +my boys at the war, and other men's boys?" + +"Rather not. My God, Dad, if I thought--! But what's the use +talking? They know in London all about the Ambulance Equipment and +the Machine Gun Battery, and the Hospital. Do you know why Caramus +took a job in the Permanent Force in England? It was either that +or blowing out his brains. He could not face his father, a war +millionaire. My God, how could he?" + +The boy was walking about his room with face white and lips +quivering. + +"Caramus was in charge of that Machine Gun Section that held the +line and let us get back. Every man wiped out, and Caramus carried +back smashed to small pieces--and his father making a million out +of munitions! My God! My God!" + +A silence fell in the room for a minute. + +"Poor old Caramus! I saw him in the City a month ago," said the +father. "I pitied the poor wretch. He was alone in the Club, not +a soul would speak to him. He has got his hell." + +"He deserves it--all of it, and all who like him have got fat on +blood money. Do you know, Dad, when I see those men going about in +the open and no one kicking them I get fairly sick. I don't wonder +at some of the boys seeing red. You mark my words, we are going to +have bad times in this country before long." + +"I am afraid of it, boy. Things look ugly. Even in our own works +I feel a bad spirit about. There are some newcomers from the old +country whom I can't say I admire much. They grouch and they won't +work. Our production is lower than ever in our history and our +labor cost is more than twice what it was in 1914." + +"Well, Dad, give them a little time to settle down. I have no more +use for a slacker than I have for a war millionaire." + +"We can't stand much of that thing. Financially we are in fairly +good shape. We broke even with our aeroplane work. But we have a +big stock of spruce on hand--high-priced stuff, too--and a heavy, +very heavy overhead. We shall weather it all right. I don't mind +the wages, but we must have production. And that's why I want you +with me." + +"You must not depend on me for much use for some time at least. +I know a little about handling men but about machinery I know +nothing." + +"Never fear, boy, you've got the machine instinct in you. I +remember your holiday work in the mill, you see. But your place is +in the office. Wickes will show you the ropes, and you will make +good, I know. And I just want to say that you don't know how glad +I am to have you come in with me, Jack. If your brother had come +back he would have taken hold, he was cut out for the job, but--" + +"Poor old Andy! He had your genius for the business. I wish he +had been the one to get back!" + +"We had not the choosing, Jack, and if he had come we should have +felt the same about you. God knows what He is doing, and we can +only do our best." + +"Well, Dad," said Jack, rising and standing near his father's +chair, "as I said before, I'll make a go at it, but don't count too +much on me." + +"I am counting a lot on you. You are all I have now." The +father's voice ended in a husky whisper. The boy swallowed the +rising lump in his throat but could find no more words to go on +with. But in his heart there was the resolve that he would make an +honest try to do for his father's sake what he would not for his +own. + +But before a month had gone he was heartily sick of the office. It +was indoors, and the petty fussing with trivial details irked him. +Accuracy was a sine qua non of successful office work, and accuracy +is either a thing of natural gift or is the result of long and +painful discipline, and neither by nature nor by discipline had +Jack come into the possession of this prime qualification for a +successful office man. His ledger wellnigh brought tears to old +Wickes' eyes and added a heavy load to his day's work. Not that +old Wickes grudged the extra burden, much less made any complaint; +rather did he count it joy to be able to cover from other eyes than +his own the errors that were inevitably to be found in Jack's daily +work. + +Had it seemed worth while, Jack would have disciplined himself to +accuracy. But what was the end of it all? A larger plant with +more machines to buy and more men to work them and to be overseen +and to be paid, a few more figures in a Bank Book--what else? +Jack's tastes were simple. He despised the ostentation of wealth +in the accumulation of mere things. He had only pity for the +plunger and for the loose liver contempt. Why should he tie +himself to a desk, a well appointed desk it is true, but still a +desk, in a four-walled room, a much finer room than his father had +ever known, but a room which became to him a cage. Why? Of +course, there was his father--and Jack wearily turned to his +correspondence basket, sick of the sight of paper and letter heads +and cost forms and production reports. For his father's sake, who +had only him, he would carry on. And carry on he did, doggedly, +wearily, bored to death, but sticking it. The reports from the +works were often ominous. Things were not going well. There was +an undercurrent of unrest among the men. + +"I don't wonder at it," said Jack to old Wickes one day, when the +bookkeeper set before him the week's pay sheet and production +sheet, side by side. "After all, why should the poor devils work +for us?" + +"For us, sir?" said the shocked Wickes. "For themselves, surely. +What would they do for a living if there was no work?" + +"That's just it, Wickes. They get a living--is it worth while?" + +"But, sir," gasped the old man, "they must live, and--" + +"Why must they?" + +"Because they want to! Wait till you see 'em sick, sir. My word! +They do make haste for the Doctor." + +"I fancy they do, Wickes. But all the same, I don't wonder that +they grouch a bit." + +"'Tis not the grumbling, sir, I deplore," said Wickes, "if they +would only work, or let the machines work. That's the trouble, +sir. Why, sir, when I came to your father, sir, we never looked at +the clock, we kept our minds on the work." + +"How long ago, Wickes?" + +"Thirty-one years, sir, come next Michaelmas. And glad I was to +get the job, too. You see, sir, I had just come to the country, +and with the missus and a couple of kids--" + +"Thirty-one years! Great Caesar! And you've worked at this desk +for thirty-one years! And what have you got out of it?" + +"Well, sir, not what you might call a terrible lot. I hadn't the +eddication for much, as you might say--but--well, there's my little +home, and we've lived happy there, the missus and me, and the kids-- +at least, till the war came." The old man paused abruptly. + +"You're right, Wickes, by Jove," exclaimed Jack, starting from his +seat and gripping the old man's hand. "You have made a lot out of +it--and you gave as fine a boy as ever stepped in uniform to your +country. We were all proud of Stephen, every man of us." + +"I know that, sir, and he often wrote the wife about you, sir, +which we don't forget, sir. Of course, it's hard on her and the +boys--just coming up to be somethin' at the school." + +"By the way, Wickes, how are they doing? Two of them, aren't +there? Let's see--there's Steve, he's the eldest--" + +"No, sir, he's the youngest, sir. Robert is the eldest--fourteen, +and quite clever at his books. Pity he's got to quit just now." + +"Quit? Not a bit of it. We must see to that. And little Steve-- +how is the back?" + +"He's twelve. The back hurts a lot, but he is happy enough, if you +give him a pencil. They're all with us now." + +"Ah, well, well. I think you have made something out of it after +all, Wickes. And we must see about Robert." + +Thirty-one years at the desk! And to show for it a home for his +wife and himself, a daughter in a home of her own, a son dead for +his country, leaving behind him a wife and two lads to carry the +name--was it worth while? Yes, by Jove, it was worth it all to be +able to give a man like Stephen Wickes to his country. For Stephen +Wickes was a fine stalwart lad, a good soldier, steady as a rock, +with a patient, cheery courage that nothing could daunt or break. +But for a man's self was it worth while? + +Jack had no thought of wife and family. There was Adrien. She had +been a great pal before the war, but since his return she had +seemed different. Everyone seemed different. The war had left +many gaps, former pals had formed other ties, many had gone from +the town. Even Adrien had drifted away from the old currents of +life. She seemed to have taken up with young Stillwell, whom Jack +couldn't abide. Stillwell had been turned down by the Recruiting +Officer during the war--flat feet, or something. True, he had done +great service in Red Cross, Patriotic Fund, Victory Loan work, and +that sort of thing, and apparently stood high in the Community. +His father had doubled the size of his store and had been a great +force in all public war work. He had spared neither himself nor +his son. The elder Stillwell, high up in the Provincial Political +world, saw to it that his son was on all the big Provincial War +Committees. Rupert had all the shrewd foresight and business +ability of his father, which was saying a good deal. He began to +assume the role of a promising young capitalist. The sources of +his income no one knew--fortunate investments, people said. And +his Hudson Six stood at the Rectory gate every day. Well, not even +for Adrien would Jack have changed places with Rupert Stillwell. +For Jack Maitland held the extreme and, in certain circles, +unpopular creed that the citizen who came richer out of a war which +had left his country submerged in debt, and which had drained away +its best blood and left it poorer in its manhood by well-nigh +seventy thousand of its noblest youth left upon the battlefields of +the various war fronts and by the hundreds of thousands who would +go through life a burden to themselves and to those to whom they +should have been a support--that citizen was accursed. If Adrien +chose to be a friend of such a man, by that choice she classified +herself as impossible of friendship for Jack. It had hurt a bit. +But what was one hurt more or less to one whom the war had left +numb in heart and bereft of ambition? He was not going to pity +himself. He was lucky indeed to have his body and nerve still +sound and whole, but they need not expect him to show any great +keenness in the chase for a few more thousands that would only rank +him among those for whom the war had not done so badly. Meantime, +for his father's sake, who, thank God, had given his best, his +heart's best and the best of his brain and of his splendid business +genius to his country, he would carry on, with no other reward than +that of service rendered. + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE HEATHEN QUEST + + +They stood together by the open fire in the study, Jack and his +father, alike in many ways yet producing effects very different. +The younger man had the physical makeup of the older, though of a +slighter mould. They had the same high, proud look of conscious +strength, of cool fearlessness that nothing could fluster. But the +soul that looked out of the grey eyes of the son was quite another +from that which looked out of the deep blue eyes of the father-- +yet, after all, the difference may not have been in essence but +only that the older man's soul had learned in life's experience to +look out only through a veil. + +The soul of the youth was eager, adventurous, still believing, yet +with a certain questioning and a touch of weariness, a result of +the aftermath of peace following three years of war. There was +still, however, the out-looking for far horizons, the outreaching +imagination, the Heaven given expectation of the Infinite. In the +older man's eye dwelt chiefly reserve. The veil was always there +except when he found it wise and useful to draw it aside. If ever +the inner light flamed forth it was when the man so chose. Self- +mastery, shrewdness, power, knowledge, lay in the dark blue eyes, +and all at the soul's command. + +But to-night as the father's eyes rested upon his son who stood +gazing into and through the blazing fire there were to be seen only +pride and wistful love. But as the son turned his eyes toward his +father the veil fell and the eyes that answered were quiet, shrewd, +keen and chiefly kind. + +The talk had passed beyond the commonplace of the day's doings. +They were among the big things, the fateful thing--Life and Its +Worth, Work and Its Wages, Creative Industry and Its Product, +Capital and Its Price, Man and His Rights. + +They were frank with each other. The war had done that for them. +For ever since the night when his eighteen-year-old boy had walked +into his den and said, "Father, I am eighteen," and stood looking +into his eyes and waiting for the word that came straight and +unhesitating, "I know, boy, you are my son and you must go, for I +cannot," ever since that night, which seemed now to belong to +another age, these two had faced each other as men. Now they were +talking about the young man's life work. + +"Frankly, I don't like it, Dad," said the son. + +"Easy to see that, Jack." + +"I'm really sorry. I'm afraid anyone can see it. But somehow I +can't put much pep into it." + +"Why?" asked the father, with curt abruptness. + +"Why? Well, I hardly know. Somehow it hardly seems worth while. +It is not the grind of the office, though that is considerable. I +could stick that, but, after all, what's the use?" + +"What would you rather do, Jack?" enquired his father patiently, as +if talking to a child. "You tried for the medical profession, you +know, and--" + +"I know, I know, you are quite right about it. You may think it +pure laziness. Maybe it is, but I hardly think so. Perhaps I went +back to lectures too soon after the war. I was hardly fit, I +guess, and the whole thing, the inside life, the infernal grind of +lectures, the idiotic serious mummery of the youngsters, those +blessed kids who should have been spanked by their mothers--the +whole thing sickened me in three months. If I had waited perhaps I +might have done better at the thing. I don't know--hard to tell." +The boy paused, looking into the fire. + +"It was my fault, boy," said the father hastily. "I ought to have +figured the thing out differently. But, you see, I had no +knowledge of what you had gone through and of its effect upon you. +I know better now. I thought that the harder you went into the +work the better it would be for you. I made a mistake." + +"Well, you couldn't tell, Dad. How could you? But everything was +so different when I came back. Mere kids were carrying on where we +had been, and doing it well, too, by Jove, and we didn't seem to be +needed." + +"Needed, boy?" The father's voice was thick. + +"Yes, but I didn't see that then. Selfish, I fear. Then, you +know, home was not the same--" + +The older man choked back a groan and leaned hard against the +mantel. + +"I know, Dad, I can see now I was selfish--" + +"Selfish? Don't say that, my lad. Selfish? After all you had +gone through? No, I shall never apply that word to you, but you-- +you don't seem to realise--" The father hesitated a few moments, +then, as if taking a plunge: + +"You don't realise just how big a thing--how big an investment +there is in that business down there--." His hand swept toward the +window through which could be seen the lights of that part of the +town which clustered about the various mills and factories of which +he was owner. + +"I know there is a lot, Dad, but how much I don't know." + +"There's $250,000 in plant alone, boy, but there's more than money, +a lot more than money--" Then, after a pause, as if to himself, "A +lot more than money--there's brain sweat and heart agony and +prayers and tears--and, yes, life, boy, your mother's life and +mine. We worked and saved and prayed and planned--" + +He stepped quickly toward the window, drew aside the curtain and +pointed to a dark mass of headland beyond the twinkling lights. + +"You see the Bluff there. Fifty years ago I stood with my father +on that Bluff and watched the logs come down the river to the +sawmill--his sawmill, into which he had put his total capital, five +hundred dollars. I remember well his words, 'My son, if you live +out your life you will see on that flat a town where thousands of +men and women will find homes and, please God, happiness.' Your +mother and I watched that town grow for forty years, and we tried +to make people happy--at least, if they were not it was no fault of +hers. Of course, other hands have been at the work since then, but +her hands and mine more than any other, and more than all others +together were in it, and her heart, too, was in it all." + +The boy turned from the window and sat down heavily in a deep +armchair, his hands covering his face. His heart was still sick +with the ache that had smitten it that day in front of Amiens when +the Colonel, his father's friend, had sent for him and read him the +wire which had brought the terrible message of his mother's death. +The long months of days and nights heavy with watching, toiling, +praying, agonising, for her twin sons, and for the many boys who +had gone out from the little town wore out her none too robust +strength. Then, the sniper's bullet that had pierced the heart of +her boy seemed to reach to her heart as well. After that, the home +that once had been to its dwellers the most completely heart- +satisfying spot in all the world became a place of dread, of +haunting ghosts, of acutely poignant memories. They used the house +for sleeping in and for eating in, but there was no living in it +longer. To them it was a tomb, though neither would acknowledge it +and each bore with it for the other's sake. + +"Honestly, Dad, I wish I could make it go, for your sake--" + +"For my sake, boy? Why, I have all of it I care for. Not for my +sake. But what else can we do but stick it?" + +"I suppose so--but for Heaven's sake give me something worth a +man's doing. If I could tackle a job such as you and"--the boy +winced--"you and mother took on I believe I'd try it. But that +office! Any fool could sit in my place and carry on. It is like +the job they used to give to the crocks or the slackers at the base +to do. Give me a man's job." + +The father's keen blue eyes looked his son over. + +"A man's job?" he said, with a grim smile, realising as his son did +not how much of a man's job it was. "Suppose you learn this one as +I did?" + +"What do you mean, Dad, exactly? How did you begin?" + +"I? At the tail of the saw." + +"All right, I'm game." + +"Boy, you are right--I believe in my soul you are right. You did a +man's job 'out there' and you have it in you to do a man's job +again." + +The son shrugged his shoulders. Next morning at seven they were +down at the planing mill where men were doing men's work. He was +at a man's job, at the tail of a saw, and drawing a man's pay, +rubbing shoulders with men on equal terms, as he had in the +trenches. And for the first time since Armistice Day, if not happy +or satisfied, he was content to carry on. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +ANNETTE + + +Sam Wigglesworth had finished with school, which is not quite the +same as saying that he had finished his education. A number of +causes had combined to bring this event to pass. First, Sam was +beyond the age of compulsory attendance at the Public School, the +School Register recording him as sixteen years old. Then, Sam's +educational career had been anything but brilliant. Indeed, it +might fairly be described as dull. All his life he had been behind +his class, the biggest boy in his class, which fact might have been +to Sam a constant cause of humiliation had he not held as of the +slightest moment merely academic achievements. One unpleasant +effect which this fact had upon Sam's moral quality was that it +tended to make him a bully. He was physically the superior of all +in his class, and this superiority he exerted for what he deemed +the discipline of younger and weaker boys, who excelled him in +intellectual attainment. + +Furthermore, Sam, while quite ready to enforce the code of +discipline which he considered suitable to the smaller and weaker +boys in his class, resented and resisted the attempts of constituted +authority to enforce discipline in his own case, with the result +that Sam's educational career was, after much long suffering, +abruptly terminated by the action of the long-suffering head, Alex +Day. + +"With great regret I must report," his letter to the School Board +ran, "that in the case of Samuel Wigglesworth I have somehow failed +to inculcate the elementary principles of obedience to school +regulations and of adherence to truth in speech. I am free to +acknowledge," went on the letter, "that the defect may be in myself +as much as in the boy, but having failed in winning him to +obedience and truth-telling, I feel that while I remain master of +the school I must decline to allow the influence of this youth to +continue in the school. A whole-hearted penitence for his many +offences and an earnest purpose to reform would induce me to give +him a further trial. In the absence of either penitence or purpose +to reform I must regretfully advise expulsion." + +Joyfully the School Board, who had for months urged upon the +reluctant head this action, acquiesced in the course suggested, and +Samuel was forthwith expelled, to his own unmitigated relief but to +his father's red and raging indignation at what he termed the +"(h)ignorant persecution of their betters by these (h)insolent +Colonials," for "'is son 'ad 'ad the advantages of schools of the +'ighest standin' in (H)England." + +Being expelled from school Sam forthwith was brought by his father +to the office of the mills, where he himself was employed. There +he introduced his son to the notice of Mr. Grant Maitland, with +request for employment. + +The old man looked the boy over. + +"What has he been doing?" + +"Nothin'. 'E's just left school." + +"High School?" + +"Naw. Public School." Wigglesworth Sr.'s tone indicated no +exalted opinion of the Public School. + +"Public School! What grade, eh?" + +"Grade? I dinnaw. Wot grade, Samuel? Come, speak (h)up, cawn't +yeh?" + +"Uh?" Sam's mental faculties had been occupied in observing the +activities and guessing the probable fate of a lumber-jack gaily +decked in scarlet sash and blue overalls, who was the central +figure upon a flaming calendar tacked up behind Mr. Maitland's +desk, setting forth the commercial advantages of trading with the +Departmental Stores of Stillwell & Son. + +"Wot grade in school, the boss is (h)askin'," said his father +sharply. + +"Grade?" enquired Sam, returning to the commonplace of the moment. + +"Yes, what grade in the Public School were you in when you left?" +The blue eyes of the boss was "borin' 'oles" through Sam and the +voice pierced like a "bleedin' gimblet," as Wigglesworth, Sr., +reported to his spouse that afternoon. + +Sam hesitated a bare second. "Fourth grade it was," he said with +sullen reluctance. + +"'Adn't no chance, Samuel 'adn't. Been a delicate child ever since +'is mother stopped suckin' 'im," explained the father with a +sympathetic shake of his head. + +The cold blue eye appraised the boy's hulking mass. + +"'E don't look it," continued Mr. Wigglesworth, noting the keen +glance, "but 'e's never been (h)able to bide steady at the school. +(H)It's 'is brain, sir." + +"His--ah--brain?" Again the blue eyes appraised the boy, this time +scanning critically his face for indication of undue brain +activity. + +"'Is brain, sir," earnestly reiterated the sympathetic parent. +"'Watch that (h)infant's brain,' sez the Doctor to the missus when +she put 'im on the bottle. And you know, we 'ave real doctors in +(H)England, sir. 'Watch 'is brain,' sez 'e, and, my word, the care +'is ma 'as took of that boy's brain is wunnerful, is fair +beautiful, sir." Mr. Wigglesworth's voice grew tremulous at the +remembrance of that maternal solicitude. + +"And was that why he left school?" enquired the boss. + +"Well, sir, not (h)exackly," said Mr. Wigglesworth, momentarily +taken aback, "though w'en I comes to think on it that must a been +at the bottom of it. You see, w'en Samuel went at 'is books of a +night 'e'd no more than begin at a sum an' 'e'd say to 'is ma, 'My +brain's a-whirlin', ma', just like that, and 'is ma would 'ave to +pull 'is book away, just drag it away, you might say. Oh, 'e's 'ad +a 'ard time, 'as Samuel." At this point the boss received a +distinct shock, for, as his eyes were resting upon Samuel's face +meditatively while he listened somewhat apathetically, it must be +confessed, to the father's moving tale, the eye of the boy remote +from the father closed in a slow but significant wink. + +The boss sat up, galvanised into alert attention. "Eh? What?" he +exclaimed. + +"Yes, sir, 'e's caused 'is ma many a (h)anxious hour, 'as Samuel." +Again the eye closed in a slow and solemn wink. "And we thought, +'is ma and me, that we would like to get Samuel into some easy +job--" + +"An easy job, eh?" + +"Yes, sir. Something in the office, 'ere." + +"But his brain, you say, would not let him study his books." + +"Oh, it was them sums, sir, an' the Jography and the 'Istory an' +the Composition, an', an'--wot else, Samuel? You see, these 'ere +schools ain't a bit like the schools at 'ome, sir. They're so +confusing with their subjecks. Wot I say is, why not stick to real +(h)eddication, without the fiddle faddles?" + +"So you want an easy job for your son, eh?" enquired Mr. Maitland. + +"Boy," he said sharply to Samuel, whose eyes had again become fixed +upon the gay and daring lumber-jack. Samuel recalled himself with +visible effort. "Why did you leave school? The truth, mind." The +"borin'" eyes were at their work. + +"Fired!" said Sam promptly. + +Mr. Wigglesworth began a sputtering explanation. + +"That will do, Wigglesworth," said Mr. Maitland, holding up his +hand. "Sam, you come and see me tomorrow here at eight. Do you +understand?" + +Sam nodded. After they had departed there came through the closed +office door the sound of Mr. Wigglesworth's voice lifted in violent +declamation, but from Sam no answering sound could be heard. + +The school suffered no noticeable loss in the intellectual quality +of its activities by the removal of the whirling brain and +incidentally its physical integument of Samuel Wigglesworth. To +the smaller boys the absence of Sam brought unbounded joy, more +especially during the hours of recess from study and on their +homeward way from school after dismissal. + +More than any other, little Steve Wickes rejoiced in Sam's +departure from school. Owing to some mysterious arrangement of +Sam's brain cells he seemed to possess an abnormal interest in +observing the sufferings of any animal. The squirming of an +unfortunate fly upon a pin fascinated him, the sight of a wretched +dog driven mad with terror rushing frantically down a street, with +a tin can dangling to its tail, convulsed him with shrieking +delight. The more highly organised the suffering animal, the +keener was Sam's joy. A child, for instance, flying in a paroxysm +of fear from Sam's hideously contorted face furnished acute +satisfaction. It fell naturally enough that little Steve Wickes, +the timid, shrinking, humpbacked son of the dead soldier, Stephen +Wickes, afforded Sam many opportunities of rare pleasure. It was +Sam that coined and, with the aid of his sycophantic following +never wanting to a bully, fastened to the child the nickname of +"Humpy Wicksy," working thereby writhing agony in the lad's highly +sensitive soul. But Sam did not stay his hand at the infliction of +merely mental anguish. It was one of his favorite forms of sport +to seize the child by the collar and breeches and, swinging him +high over head, hold him there in an anguish of suspense, awaiting +the threatened drop. It is to be confessed that Sam was not +entirely without provocation at the hands of little Steve, for the +lad had a truly uncanny cunning hidden in his pencil, by means of +which Sam was held up in caricature to the surreptitious joy of his +schoolmates. Sam's departure from school deprived him of the full +opportunity he formerly enjoyed of indulging himself in his +favourite sport. On this account he took the more eager advantage +of any opportunity that offered still to gratify his taste in this +direction. + +Sauntering sullenly homeward from his interview with the boss and +with his temper rasped to a raw edge by his father's wrathful +comments upon his "dommed waggin' tongue," he welcomed with quite +unusual eagerness the opportunity for indulging himself in his +pastime of baiting Humpy Wicksy whom he overtook on his way home +from school during the noon intermission. + +"Hello, Humpy," he roared at the lad. + +Like a frightened rabbit Steve scurried down a lane, Sam whooping +after him. + +"Come back, you little beast. Do you hear me? I'll learn you to +come when you're called," he shouted, catching the terrified lad +and heaving him aloft in his usual double-handed grip. + +"Let me down, you! Leave me alone now," shrieked the boy, +squirming, scratching, biting like an infuriated cat. + +"Bite, would you?" said Sam, flinging the boy down. "Now then," +catching him by the legs and turning him over on his stomach, +"we'll make a wheelbarrow of you. Gee up, Buck! Want a ride, +boys?" he shouted to his admiring gallery of toadies. "All +aboard!" + +While the unhappy Steve, shrieking prayers and curses, was +struggling vainly to extricate himself from the hands gripping his +ankles, Annette Perrotte, stepping smartly along the street on her +way from the box factory, came past the entrance to the lane. By +her side strode a broad-shouldered, upstanding youth. Arrested by +Steve's outcries and curses she paused. + +"What are those boys at, I wonder?" she said. "There's that big +lout of a Wigglesworth boy. He's up to no good, I bet you." + +"Oh, a kids' row of some kind or ither, a doot," said the youth. +"Come along." + +"He's hurting someone," said Annette, starting down the lane. +"What? I believe it's that poor child, Steve Wickes." Like a +wrathful fury she dashed in upon Sam and his company of tormentors +and, knocking the little ones right and left, she sprang upon Sam +with a fierce cry. + +"You great brute!" She seized him by his thatch of thick red hair +and with one mighty swing she hurled him clear of Steve and dashed +him head on against the lane fence. Sheer surprise held Sam silent +for a few seconds, but as he felt the trickle of warm blood run +down his face and saw it red upon his hand, his surprise gave place +to terror. + +"Ouw! Ouw!" he bellowed. "I'm killed, I'm dying. Ouw! Ouw!" + +"I hope so," said Annette, holding Steve in her arms and seeking to +quiet his sobbing. But as she saw the streaming blood her face +paled. + +"For the love of Mike, Mack, see if he's hurt," she said in a low +voice to her companion. + +"Not he! He's makin' too much noise," said the young man. "Here, +you young bull, wait till I see what's wrang wi' ye," he continued, +stooping over Sam. + +"Get away from me, I tell you. Ouw! Ouw! I'm dying, and they'll +hang her. Ouw! Ouw! I'm killed, and I'm just glad I am, for +she'll be hung to death." Here Sam broke into a vigorous stream of +profanity. + +"Ay, he's improvin' A doot," said Mack. "Let us be going." + +"'Ello! Wot's (h)up?" cried a voice. It was Mr. Wigglesworth on +his way home from the mill. "Why, bless my living lights, if it +bean't Samuel. Who's been a beatin' of you, Sammy?" His eye swept +the crowd. "'Ave you been at my lad?" he asked, stepping toward +the young man, whom Annette named Mack. + +"Aw, steady up, man. There's naethin' much wrang wi' the lad--a +wee scratch on the heid frae fa'in' against the fence yonder." + +"Who 'it 'im, I say?" shouted Mr. Wigglesworth. "Was it you?" he +added, squaring up to the young man. + +"No, it wasn't, Mr. Wigglesworth. It was me." Mr. Wigglesworth +turned on Annette who, now that Sam's bellowing had much abated +with the appearance of his father upon the scene, had somewhat +regained her nerve. + +"You?" gasped Mr. Wigglesworth. "You? My Samuel? It's a lie," he +cried. + +"Hey, mon, guairrd y're tongue a bit," said Mack. "Mind ye're +speakin' to a leddy." + +"A lidy! A lidy!" Mr. Wigglesworth's voice was eloquent of scorn. + +"Aye, a leddy!" said Mack. "An' mind what ye say aboot her tae. +Mind y're manners, man." + +"My manners, hey? An' 'oo may you be, to learn me manners, you +bloomin' (h)ignorant Scotch (h)ass. You give me (h)any of your +(h)imperance an' I'll knock y're bloomin' block (h)off, I will." +And Mr. Wigglesworth, throwing himself into the approved pugilistic +attitude, began dancing about the young Scot. + +"Hoot, mon, awa' hame wi' ye. Tak' yon young tyke wi' ye an' gie +him a bit wash, he's needin' it," said Mack, smiling pleasantly at +the excited and belligerent Mr. Wigglesworth. + +At this point Captain Jack, slowly motoring by the lane mouth, +turned his machine to the curb and leaped out. + +"What's the row here?" he asked, making his way through the +considerable crowd that had gathered. "What's the trouble, +Wigglesworth?" + +"They're knockin' my boy abaht, so they be," exclaimed Mr. +Wigglesworth. "But," with growing and righteous wrath, "they'll +find (h)out that, wotsomever they do to a kid, w'en they come (h)up +agin Joe Wigglesworth they've struck somethin' 'ard--'ard, d'ye +'ear? 'Ard!" And Mr. Wigglesworth made a pass at the young Scot. + +"Hold on, Wigglesworth," said Captain Jack quietly, catching his +arm. "Were you beating up this kid?" he asked, turning to the +young man. + +"Nae buddie's beatin' up the lad," said Mack quietly. + +"It was me," said the girl, turning a defiant face to Captain Jack. + +"You? Why! great Scot! Blest if it isn't Annette." + +"Yes, it's me," said the girl, her face a flame of colour. + +"By Jove, you've grown up, haven't you? And it was you that--" + +"Yes, that big brute was abusing Steve here." + +"What? Little Steve Wickes?" + +"He was, and I pitched him into the fence. He hit his head and cut +it, I guess. I didn't mean--" + +"Served him right enough, too, I fancy," said Captain Jack. + +"I'll 'ave the law on the lot o' ye, I will. I'm a poor workin' +man, but I've got my rights, an' if there's a justice in this Gawd +forsaken country I'll 'ave protection for my family." And Mr. +Wigglesworth, working up a fury, backed off down the lane. + +"Don't fear, Wigglesworth, you'll get all the justice you want. +Perhaps Sam will tell us--Hello! Where is Sam?" + +But Sam had vanished. He had no mind for an investigation in the +presence of Captain Jack. + +"Well, well, he can't be much injured, I guess. Meantime, can I +give you a lift, Annette?" + +"No, thank you," said the girl, the colour in her cheeks matching +the crimson ribbon at her throat. "I'm just going home. It's only +a little way. I don't--" + +"The young leddy is with me, sir," said the young Scotchman +quietly. + +"Oh, she is, eh?" said Captain Jack, looking him over. "Ah, well, +then--Good-bye, Annette, for the present." He held out his hand. +"We must renew our old acquaintance, eh?" + +"Thank you, sir," said the girl. + +"'Sir?' Rot! You aren't going to 'sir' me, Annette, after all the +fun and the fights we had in the old days. Not much. We're going +to be good chums again, eh? What do you say?" + +"I don't know," said Annette, flashing a swift glance into Captain +Jack's admiring eyes. "It depends on--" + +"On me?" + +"I didn't say so." Her head went up a bit. + +"On you?" + +"I didn't say so." + +"Well, let it go. But we will be pals again, Annette, I vow. +Good-bye." Captain Jack lifted his hat and moved away. + +As he reached his car he ran up against young Rupert Stillwell. + +"Deucedly pretty Annette has grown, eh?" said Stillwell. + +"Annette's all right," said Jack, rather brusquely, entering his +car. + +"Working in your box factory, I understand, eh?" + +"Don't really know," said Jack carelessly. "Probably." + +The crowd had meantime faded away with Captain Jack's going. + +"Did na know the Captain was a friend of yours, Annette," said +Mack, falling into step beside her. + +"No--yes--I don't know. We went to Public School together before +the war. I was a kid then." Her manner was abstracted and her +eyes were far away. Mack walked gloomily by her on one side, +little Steve on the other. + +"Huh! He's no your sort, A doot," he said sullenly. + +"What do you say?" cried Annette, returning from her abstraction. +"What do you mean, 'my sort'?" Her head went high and her eyes +flashed. + +"He would na look at ye, for ony guid." + +"He did look at me though," replied Annette, tossing her head. + +"No for ony guid!" repeated Mack, stubbornly. + +Annette stopped in her tracks, a burning red on her cheeks and a +dangerous light in her black eyes. + +"Mr. McNish, that's your road," she said, pointing over his +shoulder. + +"A'll tak it tae," said McNish, wheeling on his heel, "an' ye can +hae your Captain for me." + +With never a look at him Annette took her way home. + +"Good-bye, Steve," she said, stooping and kissing the boy. "This +is your corner." + +"Annette," he said, with a quick, shy look up into her face, "I +like Captain Jack, don't you?" + +"No," she said hurriedly. "I mean yes, of course." + +"And I like you too," said the boy, with an adoring look in his +deep eyes, "better'n anyone in the world." + +"Do you, Steve? I'm glad." Again she stooped swiftly and kissed +him. "Now run home." + +She hurried home, passed into her room without a word to anyone. +Slowly she removed her hat, then turning to her glass she gazed at +her flushed face for a few moments. A little smile curved her +lips. "He did look at me anyway," she whispered to the face that +looked out at her, "he did, he did," she repeated. Then swiftly +she covered her eyes. When she looked again she saw a face white +and drawn. "He would na look at ye." The words smote her with a +chill. Drearily she turned away and went out. + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE RECTORY + + +The Rectory was one of the very oldest of the more substantial of +Blackwater's dwellings. Built of grey limestone from the local +quarries, its solid square mass relieved by its quaint dormer +windows was softened from its primal ugliness by the Boston ivy +that had clambered to the eaves and lay draped about the windows +like a soft green mantle. Built in the early days, it stood with +the little church, a gem of Gothic architecture, within spacious +grounds bought when land was cheap. Behind the house stood the +stable, built also of grey limestone, and at one side a cherry and +apple orchard formed a charming background to the grey buildings +with their crowding shrubbery and gardens. A gravelled winding +drive led from the street through towering elms, a picturesque +remnant from the original forest, to the front door and round the +house to the stable yard behind. From the driveway a gravelled +footpath led through the shrubbery and flower garden by a wicket +gate to the Church. When first built the Rectory stood in dignified +seclusion on the edge of the village, but the prosperity of the +growing town demanding space for its inhabitants had driven its +streets far beyond the Rectory demesne on every side, till now it +stood, a green oasis of sheltered loveliness, amid a crowding mass +of modern brick dwellings, comfortable enough but arid of beauty and +suggestive only of the utilitarian demands of a busy manufacturing +town. + +For nearly a quarter of a century the Rev. Herbert Aveling +Templeton, D.D., LL.D., for whom the Rectory had been built, had +ministered in holy things to the Parish of St. Alban's and had +exercised a guiding and paternal care over the social and religious +well-being of the community. The younger son of one of England's +noble families, educated in an English Public School and University, +he represented, in the life of this new, thriving, bustling town, +the traditions and manners of an English gentleman of the Old +School. Still in his early sixties, he carried his years with all +the vigour of a man twenty years his junior. As he daily took his +morning walk for his mail, stepping with the brisk pace of one whose +poise the years had not been able to disturb, yet with the stately +bearing consistent with the dignity attaching to his position and +office, men's eyes followed the tall, handsome, white-haired, well +set up gentleman always with admiration and, where knowledge was +intimate, with reverence and affection. Before the recent rapid +growth of the town consequent upon the establishment of various +manufacturing industries attracted thither by the unique railroad +facilities, the Rector's walk was something in the nature of public +perambulatory reception. For he knew them all, and for all had a +word of greeting, of enquiry, of cheer, of admonition, so that by +the time he had returned to his home he might have been said to have +conducted a pastoral visitation of a considerable proportion of his +flock. Even yet, with the changes that had taken place, his walk to +the Post Office was punctuated with greetings and salutations from +his fellow-citizens in whose hearts his twenty-five years of +devotion to their well-being, spiritual and physical, had made for +him an enduring place. + +The lady of the Rectory, though some twenty years his junior, yet, +by reason of delicate health due largely to the double burden of +household cares and parish duties, appeared to be quite of equal +age. Gentle in spirit, frail in body, there seemed to be in her +soul something of the quality of tempered steel, yet withal a +strain of worldly wisdom mingled with a strange ignorance of the +affairs of modern life. Her life revolved around one centre, her +adored husband, a centre enlarged as time went on to include her +only son and her two daughters. All others and all else in her +world were of interest solely as they might be more or less closely +related to these, the members of her family. The town and the town +folk she knew solely as her husband's parish. There were other +people and other communions, no doubt, but being beyond the pale +they could hardly be supposed to matter, or, at any rate, she could +not be supposed to regard them with more than the interest and +spasmodic concern which she felt it her duty to bestow upon those +unfortunate dwellers in partibus infidelium. + +Regarding the Public School of the town with aversion because of +its woefully democratic character, she was weaned from her +hostility to that institution when her son's name was entered upon +its roll. Her eldest daughter, indeed, she sent as a girl of +fourteen to an exclusive English school, the expense of which was +borne by her husband's eldest brother, Sir Arthur Templeton, for +she held the opinion that while for a boy the Public School was an +excellent institution with a girl it was quite different. Hence, +while her eldest daughter went "Home" for her education, her boy +went to the Blackwater Public and High Schools, which institutions +became henceforth invested with the highest qualifications as +centres of education. Her boy's friends were her friends, and to +them her house was open at all hours of day or night. Indeed, it +became the governing idea in her domestic policy that her house +should be the rallying centre for everything that was related in +any degree to her children's life. Hence, she quietly but +effectively limited the circle of the children's friends to those +who were able and were willing to make the Rectory their social +centre. She saw to it that for Herbert's intimate boy friends the +big play room at the top of the house, once a bare and empty room +and later the large and comfortable family living room, became the +place of meeting for all their social and athletic club activities. +With unsleeping vigilance she stood on guard against anything that +might break that circle of her heart's devotion. The circle might +be, indeed must be enlarged, as for instance to take in the +Maitland boys, Herbert's closest chums. She was wise enough to see +the wisdom of that, but nothing on earth would she allow to filch +from her a single unit of the priceless treasures of her heart. + +To this law of her life she made one glorious, one splendid +exception. When her country called, she, after weeks of silent, +fierce, lonely, agonised struggle gave up her boy and sent him with +voiceless, tearless pride to the War. + +But, when the boy's Colonel wrote in terms of affectionate pride of +her boy's glorious passing, with new and strange adaptability her +heart circle was extended to include her boy's comrades in war and +those who like herself had sent them forth. Thenceforth every +khaki covered lad was to her a son, and every soldier's mother a +friend. + +As her own immediate home circle grew smaller, the intensity of +her devotion increased. Her two daughters became her absorbing +concern. With the modern notion that a girl might make for herself +a career in life she had no sympathy whatever. To see them happily +married and in homes of their own became the absorbing ambition of +her life. To this end she administered her social activities, with +this purpose in view she encouraged or discouraged her daughters' +friendships with men. With the worldly wisdom of which she had her +own share she came to the conclusion that ineligible men friends, +that is, men friends unable to give her daughters a proper setting +in the social world, were to be effectively eliminated. That the +men of her daughters' choosing should be gentlemen in breeding went +without saying, but that they should be sufficiently endowed with +wealth to support a proper social position was equally essential. + +That Jack Maitland had somehow dropped out of the intimate circle +of friends who had in pre-war days made the Rectory their +headquarters was to her a more bitter disappointment than she cared +to acknowledge even to herself. Her son and the two Maitland boys +had been inseparable in their school and college days, and with the +two young men her daughters had been associated in the very closest +terms of comradeship. But somehow Captain Jack Maitland after the +first months succeeding his return from the war had drawn apart. +Disappointed, perplexed, hurt, she vainly had striven to restore +the old footing between the young man and her daughters. Young +Maitland had taken up his medical studies for a few months at his +old University in Toronto and so had been out of touch with the +social life of his home town. Then after he had "chucked" his +course as impossible he had at his father's earnest wish taken up +work at the mills, at first in the office, later in the manufacturing +department. There was something queer in Jack's attitude toward his +old life and its associations, and after her first failures in +attempting to restore the old relationship her eldest daughter's +pride and then her own forbade further efforts. + +Adrien, her eldest daughter, had always been a difficult child, and +her stay in England and later her experience in war work in France +where for three years she had given rare service in hospital work +had somehow made her even more inaccessible to her mother. And +now the situation had been rendered more distressing by her +determination "to find something to do." She was firm in her +resolve that she had no intention of patiently waiting in her home, +ostensibly busying herself with social duties but in reality +"waiting if not actually angling for a man." She bluntly informed +her scandalised parent that "when she wanted a man more than a +career it would be far less humiliating to frankly go out and get +him than to practise alluring poses in the hopes that he might deign +to bestow upon her his lordly regard." Her mother wisely forebore +to argue. Indeed, she had long since learned that in argumentive +powers she was hopelessly outclassed by her intellectual daughter. +She could only express her shocked disappointment at such intentions +and quietly plan to circumvent them. + +As to Patricia, her younger daughter, she dismissed all concern. +She was only a child as yet, wise beyond her years, but too +thoroughly immature to cause any anxiety for some years to come. +Meantime she had at first tolerated and then gently encouraged the +eager and obvious anxiety of Rupert Stillwell to make a footing for +himself in the Rectory family. At the outbreak of the war her +antipathy to young Stillwell as a slacker had been violent. He had +not joined up with the first band of ardent young souls who had so +eagerly pointed the path to duty and to glory. But, when it had +been made clear to the public mind that young Stillwell had been +pronounced physically unfit for service and was therefore prevented +from taking his place in that Canadian line which though it might +wear thin at times had never broken, Mrs. Templeton relieved him in +her mind of the damning count of being a slacker. Later, becoming +impressed with the enthusiasm of the young man's devotion to +various forms of patriotic war service at home, she finally, though +it must be confessed with something of an effort, had granted him a +place within the circle of her home. Furthermore, Rupert Stillwell +had done extremely well in all his business enterprises and had come +to be recognised as one of the coming young men of the district, +indeed of the Province, with sure prospects of advancement in public +estimation. Hence, the frequency with which Stillwell's big Hudson +Six could be seen parked on the gravelled drive before the Rectory +front door. In addition to this, Rupert and his Hudson Six were +found to be most useful. He had abundance of free time and he was +charmingly ready with his offers of service. Any hour of the day +the car, driven by himself or his chauffeur, was at the disposal of +any member of the Rectory family, a courtesy of which Mrs. Templeton +was not unwilling to avail herself though never with any loss of +dignity but always with appearance of bestowing rather than of +receiving a favour. As to the young ladies, Adrien rarely allowed +herself the delight of a motor ride in Rupert Stillwell's luxurious +car. On the other hand, had her mother not intervened, Patricia +would have indulged without scruple her passion for joy-riding. The +car she adored, Rupert Stillwell she regarded simply as a means to +the indulgence of her adoration. He was a jolly companion, a +cleverly humourous talker, and an unfailing purveyor of bon-bons. +Hence he was to Patricia an ever welcome guest at the Rectory, and +the warmth of Patricia's welcome went a long way to establish his +position of intimacy in the family. + +It was not to be supposed, however, that that young lady's gracious +and indeed eager acceptance of the manifold courtesies of the young +gentleman in question burdened her in the very slightest with any +sense of obligation to anything but the most cavalier treatment of +him, should occasion demand. She was unhesitatingly frank and +ready with criticism and challenge of his opinions, indeed he +appeared to possess a fatal facility for championing her special +aversions and antagonising her enthusiasms. Of the latter her most +avowed example was Captain Jack, as she loved to call him. A word +of criticism of Captain Jack, her hero, her knight, sans peur et +sans reproche and her loyal soul was aflame with passionate +resentment. + +It so fell on an occasion when young Stillwell was a dinner guest +at the Rectory. + +"Do you know, Patricia," and Rupert Stillwell looked across the +dinner table teasingly into Patricia's face, "your Captain Jack was +rather mixed up in a nice little row to-day?" + +"I heard all about it, Rupert, and Captain Jack did just what I +would have expected him to do." Patricia's unsmiling eyes looked +steadily into the young man's smiling face. + +"Rescued a charming young damsel, eh? By the way, that Perrotte +girl has turned out uncommonly good looking," continued Rupert, +addressing the elder sister. + +"Rescuing a poor little ill-treated boy from the hands of a brutal +bully and the bully's brutal father--" Patricia's voice was coolly +belligerent. + +"My dear Patricia!" The mother's voice was deprecatingly pacific. + +"It is simply true, Mother, and Rupert knows it quite well too, or--" + +"Patricia!" Her father's quiet voice arrested his daughter's flow +of speech. + +"But, Father, everyone--" + +"Patricia!" The voice was just as quiet but with a slightly +increased distinctness in enunciation, and glancing swiftly at her +father's face Patricia recognised that the limits of her speech had +been reached, unless she preferred to change the subject. + +"Yes, Annette has grown very pretty, indeed," said Adrien, taking +up the conversation, "and is really a very nice girl, indeed. She +sings beautifully. She is the leading soprano in her church choir, +I believe." + +"Captain Jack Maitland appeared to think her quite charming," said +Rupert, making eyes at Patricia. Patricia's lips tightened and her +eyes gleamed a bit. + +"They were in school together, I think, were they not, Mamma?" said +Adrien, flushing slightly. + +"Of course they were, and so was Rupert, too--" said Patricia with +impatient scorn, "and so would you if you hadn't been sent to +England," she added to her sister. + +"No doubt of it," said Rupert with a smile, "but you see she was +fortunate enough to be sent to England." + +"Blackwater is good enough for me," said Patricia, a certain +stubborn hostility in her tone. + +"I have always thought the Blackwater High School an excellent +institution," said her mother quickly, "especially for boys." + +"Yes, indeed, for boys," replied Stillwell, "but for young ladies-- +well, there is something in an English school, you know, that you +can't get in any High School here in Canada." + +"Rot!" ejaculated Patricia. + +"My dear Patricia!" The mother was quite shocked. + +"Pardon me, Mother, but you know we have a perfectly splendid High +School here. Father has often said so." + +Her mother sighed. "Yes, for boys. But for girls, I feel with +Rupert that you get something in English schools that--" She +hesitated, looking uncertainly at her elder daughter. + +"Yes, and perhaps lose something, Mamma," said Adrien quietly. "I +mean," she added hastily, "you lose touch with a lot of things and +people, friends. Now, for instance, you remember when we were all +children, boys and girls together, at the Public School, Annette +was one of the cleverest and best of the lot of us, I used to be +fond of her--and the others. Now--" + +"But you can't help growing up," said Rupert, "and--well, democracy +is all right and that sort of thing, but you must drift into your +class you know. There's Annette, for instance. She is a factory +hand, a fine girl of course, and all that, but--" + +"Oh, I suppose we must recognise facts. Rupert, you are quite +right," said Mrs. Templeton, "there must be social distinctions and +there are classes. I mean," she added, as if to forestall the +outburst she saw gathering behind her younger daughter's closed +lips, "we must inevitably draw to our own set by our natural or +acquired tastes and by our traditions and breeding." + +"All very well in England, Mamma. I suppose dear Uncle Arthur and +our dear cousins would hardly feel called upon to recognise Annette +as a friend." + +"Why should they?" challenged Rupert. + +"My dear Patricia," said her father, mildly patient, "you are quite +wrong. Our people at home, your uncle Arthur, I mean, and your +cousins, and all well-bred folk, do not allow class distinctions to +limit friendship. Friends are chosen on purely personal grounds of +real worth and--well, congeniality." + +"Would Uncle Arthur, or rather, Aunt Alicia have Annette to dinner, +for instance?" demanded Patricia. + +"Certainly not," said her mother promptly. + +"She would not do anything to embarrass Annette," said her father. + +"Oh, Dad, what a funk. That is quite unworthy of you." + +"Would she be asked here now to dinner?" said Rupert. "I mean," he +added in some confusion, "would it be, ah, suitable? You know what +I mean." + +"She has been here. Don't you remember, Mamma? She was often +here. And every time she came she was the cleverest thing, she was +the brightest, the most attractive girl in the bunch." Her +mother's eyebrows went up. "In the party, I mean. And the most +popular. Why, I remember quite well that Rupert was quite devoted +to her." + +"A mere child, she was then, you know," said Rupert. + +"She is just as bright, just as attractive, as clever now, more so +indeed, as fine a girl in every way. But of course she was not a +factory girl then. That's what you mean," replied Patricia +scornfully. + +"She has found her class," persisted Rupert. "She is all you say, +but surely--" + +"Yes, she is working in the new box factory. Her mother, lazy, +selfish thing, took her from the High School." + +"My dear Patricia, you are quite violent," protested her mother. + +"It's true, Mamma," continued the girl, her eyes agleam, "and now +she works in the box factory while Captain Jack works in the +planing mill. She is in the same class." + +"And good friends apparently," said Rupert with a malicious little +grin. + +"Why not? We would have Captain Jack to dinner, but not Annette." + +Her father smiled at her. "Well done, little girl. Annette is a +fine girl and is fortunate in her champion. You can have her to +dinner any evening, I am quite sure." + +"Can we, Mamma?" + +"My dear, we will not discuss the matter any further," said her +mother. "It is a very old question and very perplexing, I confess, +but--" + +"We don't see Captain Jack very much since his return," said her +father, turning the conversation. "You might begin with him, eh, +Patsy?" + +"No," said the girl, a shade falling on her face. "He is always +busy. He has such long hours. He works his day's work with the +men and then he always goes up to the office to his father--and-- +and--Oh, I don't know, I wish he would come. He's not--" Patricia +fell suddenly silent. + +"Jack is very much engaged," said her mother quietly. + +"Naturally he is tied up, learning the business, I mean," said the +elder sister quietly. "He has little time for mere social +frivolities and that sort of thing." + +"It's not that, Adrien," said Patricia. "He is different since he +came back. I wish--" She paused abruptly. + +"He is changed," said her mother with a sigh. "They--the boys are +all changed." + +"The war has left its mark upon them, and what else can we expect?" +said Dr. Templeton. "One wonders how they can settle down at all +to work." + +"Oh, Jack has settled down all right," said Patricia, as if +analysing a subject interesting to herself alone. "Jack's not like +a lot of them. He's too much settled down. What is it, I wonder? +He seems to have quit everything, dancing, tennis, golf. He +doesn't care--" + +"Doesn't care? What for? That sounds either as if he were an +egotist or a slacker." Her sister's words rasped Patricia's most +sensitive heart string. She visibly squirmed, eagerly waiting a +chance to reply. "Jack is neither," continued Adrien slowly. "I +understand the thing perfectly. He has been up against big things, +so big that everything else seems trivial. Fancy a tennis +tournament for a man that has stared into hell's mouth." + +"My dear, you are right," said her father. "Patricia is really +talking too much. Young people should--" + +"I know, Daddy--'be seen,'" said the younger daughter, and grinning +affectionately at him she blew him a kiss. "But, all the same, I +wish Captain Jack were not so awfully busy or were a little more +keen about things. He wants something to stir him up." + +"He may get that sooner than he thinks," said Stillwell, "or +wishes. I hear there's likely to be trouble in the mills." + +"Trouble? Financial? I should be very sorry," said Dr. Templeton. + +"No. Labour. The whole labour world is in a ferment. The +Maitlands can hardly expect to escape. As a matter of fact, the +row has made a little start, I happen to know." + +"These labour troubles are really very distressing. There is no +end to them," said Mrs. Templeton, with the resignation one shows +in discussing the inscrutable ways of Providence. "It does seem as +if the working classes to-day have got quite beyond all bounds. +One wonders what they will demand next. What is the trouble now, +Rupert? Of course--wages." + +"Oh, the eternal old trouble is there, with some new ones added +that make even wages seem small." + +"And what are these?" enquired Dr. Templeton. + +"Oh, division of profits, share in administration and control." + +"Division of profits in addition to wages?" enquired Mrs. Templeton, +aghast. "But, how dreadful. One would think they actually owned +the factory." + +"That is the modern doctrine, I believe," said Rupert. + +"Surely that is an extreme statement," said Dr. Templeton, in a +shocked voice, "or you are talking of the very radical element +only." + +"The Rads lead, of course, but you would be surprised at the +demands made to-day. Why, I heard a young chap last week, a soap- +box artist, denouncing all capitalists as parasites. 'Why should +we work for anyone but ourselves?' he was saying. 'Why don't we +take charge of the factories and run them for the general good?' +I assure you, sir, those were his very words." + +"Really, Rupert, you amaze me. In Blackwater here?" exclaimed Dr. +Templeton. + +"But, my dear papa, that sort of thing is the commonplace of Hyde +Park, you know," said Adrien, "and--" + +"Ah, Hyde Park, yes. I should expect that sort of thing from the +Hyde Park orators. You get every sort of mad doctrine in Hyde +Park, as I remember it, but--" + +"And I was going to say that that sort of thing has got away beyond +Hyde Park. Why, papa dear, you have been so engrossed in your +Higher Mathematics that you have failed to keep up with the times." +His eldest daughter smiled at him and, reaching across the corner +of the table, patted his hand affectionately. "We are away beyond +being shocked at profit sharing, and even sharing in control of +administration and that sort of thing." + +"But there remains justice, I hope," said her father, "and the +right of ownership." + +"Ah, that's just it--what is ownership?" + +"Oh, come, Adrien," said Rupert, "you are not saying that Mr. +Maitland doesn't own his factory and mill." + +"It depends on what you mean by own," said the girl coolly. "You +must not take too much for granted." + +"Well, what my money pays for I own, I suppose," said Rupert. + +"Well," said Adrien, "that depends." + +"My dear Adrien," said her mother, "you have such strange notions. +I suppose you got them in those Clubs in London and from those +queer people you used to meet." + +"Very dear people," said Adrien, with a far away look in her eyes, +"and people that loved justice and right." + +"All right, Ade," said her younger sister, with a saucy grin, "I +agree entirely with your sentiments. I just adore that pale blue +tie of yours. I suppose, now that what's yours is mine, I can +preempt that when I like." + +"Let me catch you at it!" + +"Well done, Patricia. You see the theories are all right till we +come to have them applied all round," said Rupert. + +"We were talking of joint ownership, Pat," said her sister, "the +joint ownership of things to the making of which we have each +contributed a part." + +"Exactly," said Rupert. "I guess Grant Maitland paid his own good +money for his plant." + +"Yes," said Adrien. + +"Yes, and all he paid for he owns." + +"Yes." + +"Well, that's all there is to it." + +"Oh, pardon me--there is a good deal more--" + +"Well, well, children, we shall not discuss the subject any +further. Shall we all go up for coffee?" + +"These are very radical views you are advancing, Adrien," said her +father, rising from his chair. "You must be careful not to say +things like that in circles where you might be taken seriously." + +"Seriously, Daddy? I was never more serious in my life." She put +her arm through her father's. "I must give you some books, some +reports to read, I see," she said, laughing up into his face. + +"Evidently," said her father, "if I am to live with you." + +"I wonder what Captain Jack would think of these views," said +Rupert, dropping into step with Patricia as they left the dining +room together. + +"He will think as Adrien does," said Patricia stoutly. + +"Ah, I wouldn't be too sure about that," said Rupert. "You see, it +makes a difference whose ox is being gored." + +"What do you mean?" cried Patricia hotly. + +"Never mind, Pat," said her sister over her shoulder. "I don't +think he knows Captain Jack as we do." + +"Perhaps better," said Rupert in a significant tone. + +Patricia drew away from him. + +"I think you are just horrid," she said. "Captain Jack is--" + +"Never mind, dear. Don't let him pull your leg like that," said +her sister, with a little colour in her cheek. "We know Captain +Jack, don't we?" + +"We do!" said Patricia with enthusiasm. + +"We do!" echoed Rupert, with a smile that drove Pat into a fury. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE + + +There was trouble at the Maitland Mills. For the first time in his +history Grant Maitland found his men look askance at him. For the +first time in his life he found himself viewing with suspicion the +workers whom he had always taken a pride in designating "my men." +The situation was at once galling to his pride and shocking to his +sense of fair play. His men were his comrades in work. He knew +them--at least, until these war days he had known them--personally, +as friends. They trusted him and were loyal to him, and he had +taken the greatest care to deal justly and more than justly by +them. No labour troubles had ever disturbed the relations which +existed between him and his men. It was thus no small shock when +Wickes announced one day that a Grievance Committee wished to +interview him. That he should have to meet a Grievance Committee, +whose boast it had been that the first man in the works to know of +a grievance was himself, and that the men with whom he had toiled +and shared both good fortune and ill, but more especially the good, +that had befallen through the last quarter century should have a +grievance against him--this was indeed an experience that cut him +to the heart and roused in him a fury of perplexed indignation. + +"A what? A Grievance Committee!" he exclaimed to Wickes, when the +old bookkeeper came announcing such a deputation. + +"That's what they call themselves, sir," said Wickes, his tone of +disgust disclaiming all association with any such organization. + +"A Grievance Committee?" said Mr. Maitland again. "Well, I'll be! +What do they want? Who are they? Bring them in," he roared in a +voice whose ascending tone indicated his growing amazement and +wrath. + +"Come in you," growled Wickes in the voice he generally used for +his collie dog, which bore a thoroughly unenviable reputation, +"come on in, can't ye?" + +There was some shuffling for place in the group at the door, but +finally Mr. Wigglesworth found himself pushed to the front of a +committee of five. With a swift glance which touched "the boss" +in its passage and then rested upon the wall, the ceiling, the +landscape visible through the window, anywhere indeed rather than +upon the face of the man against whom they had a grievance, they +filed in and stood ill at ease. + +"Well, Wigglesworth, what is it?" said Grant Maitland curtly. + +Mr. Wigglesworth cleared his throat. He was new at the business +and was obviously torn between conflicting emotions of pride in his +present important position and a wholesome fear of his "boss." +However, having cleared his throat, Mr. Wigglesworth pulled himself +together and with a wave of the hand began. + +"These 'ere--er--gentlemen an' myself 'ave been (h)appinted a +Committee to lay before you certain grievances w'ich we feel to be +very (h)oppressive, sir, so to speak, w'ich, an' meanin' no +offence, sir, as men, fellow-men, as we might say--" + +"What do you want, Wigglesworth? What's your trouble? You have +some trouble, what is it? Spit it out, man," said the boss +sharply. + +"Well, sir, as I was a-sayin', this 'ere's a Committee (h)appinted +to wait on you, sir, to lay before you certain facts w'ich we wish +you to consider an' w'ich, as British subjecks, we feel--" + +"Come, come, Wigglesworth, cut out the speech, and get at the +things. What do you want? Do you know? If so, tell me plainly +and get done with it." + +"We want our rights as men," said Mr. Wigglesworth in a loud voice, +"our rights as free men, and we demand to be treated as British--" + +"Is there anyone of this Committee that can tell me what you want +of me?" said Maitland. "You, Gilby, you have some sense--what is +the trouble? You want more wages, I suppose?" + +"I guess so," said Gilby, a long, lean man, Canadian born, of about +thirty, "but it ain't the wages that's eatin' me so much." + +"What then?" + +"It's that blank foreman." + +"Foreman?" + +"That's right, sir." "Too blanked smart!" "Buttin' in like a +blank billy goat!" The growls came in various undertones from the +Committee. + +"What foreman? Hoddle?" The boss was ready to fight for his +subalterns. + +"No! Old Hoddle's all right," said Gilby. "It's that young smart +aleck, Tony Perrotte." + +"Tony Perrotte!" Mr. Maitland's voice was troubled and uncertain. +"Tony Perrotte! Why, you don't mean to tell me that Perrotte is +not a good man. He knows his job from the ground up." + +"Knows too much," said Gilby. "Wants to run everything and +everybody. You can't tell him anything. And you'd think he was +a Brigadier-General to hear him giving us orders." + +"You were at the front, Gilby?" + +"I was, for three years." + +"You know what discipline is?" + +"I do that, and I know too the difference between a Corporal and a +Company Commander. I know an officer when I see him. But a brass +hat don't make a General." + +"I won't stand for insubordination in my mills, Gilby. You must +take orders from my foreman. You know me, Gilby. You've been long +enough with me for that." + +"You treat a man fair, Mr. Maitland, and I never kicked at your +orders. Ain't that so?" + +Maitland nodded. + +"But this young dude--" + +"'Dude'? What do you mean, 'dude'? He's no dude!" + +"Oh, he's so stuck on himself that he gives me the wearisome +willies. Look here, other folks has been to the war. He needn't +carry his chest like a blanked bay window." + +"Look here, Gilby, just quit swearing in this room." The cold blue +eyes bored into Gilby's hot face. + +"I beg pardon, sir. It's a bad habit I've got, but that--that Tony +Perrotte has got my goat and I'm through with him." + +"All right, Gilby. If you don't like your job you know what you +can do," said Maitland coldly. + +"You mean I can quit?" enquired Gilby hotly. + +"I mean there's only one boss in these works, and that's me. And +my foreman takes my orders and passes them along. Those that don't +like them needn't take them." + +"We demand our rights as--" began Mr. Wigglesworth heatedly. + +"Excuse me, sir. 'A should like to enquir-r-e if it is your-r +or-rder-rs that your-r for-r-man should use blasphemious language +to your-r men?" + +The cool, firm, rasping voice cut through Mr. Wigglesworth's +sputtering noise like a circular saw through a pine log. + +Mr. Maitland turned sharply upon the speaker. + +"What is your name, my man?" he enquired. + +"Ma name is Malcolm McNish. 'A doot ye have na har-r-d it. But +the name maitters little. It's the question 'A'm speerin'--asking +at ye." + +Here was no amateur in the business of Grievance Committees. His +manner was that of a self-respecting man dealing with a fellow-man +on terms of perfect equality. There was a complete absence of +Wigglesworth's noisy bluster, as also of Gilby's violent profanity. +He obviously knew his ground and was ready to hold it. He had a +case and was prepared to discuss it. There was no occasion for +heat or bluster or profanity. He was prepared to discuss the +matter, man to man. + +Mr. Maitland regarded him for a moment or two with keen steady +gaze. + +"Where do you work, McNish?" he enquired of the Scot. + +"A'm workin' the noo in the sawmill. A'm a joiner to trade." + +"Then Perrotte is not your foreman?" + +"That is true," said McNish quietly. + +"Then personally you have no grievance against him?" Mr. Maitland +had the air of a man who has scored a bull at the first shot. + +"Ay, A have an' the men tae--the men I represent have--" + +"And you assume to speak for them?" + +"They appoint me to speak for them." + +"And their complaint is--?" + +"Their complaint is that he is no fit to be a foreman." + +"Ah, indeed! And you are here solely on their word--" + +"No, not solely, but pairtly. A know by experience and A hae +har-r-d the man, and he's no fit for his job, A'm tellin' you." + +"I suppose you know the qualifications of a foreman, McNish?" +enquired Mr. Maitland with the suspicion of sarcasm in his voice. + +"Ay, A do that." + +"And how, may I ask, have you come to the knowledge?" + +"A dinna see--I do not see the bearing of the question." + +"Only this, that you and those you represent place your judgment +as superior to mine in the choice of a foreman. It would be +interesting to know upon what grounds." + +"I have been a foreman myself. But there are two points of view in +this question--the point of view of the management and that of the +worker. We have the one point of view, you have the other. And +each has its value. Ours is the more important." + +"Indeed! And why, pray?" + +"Yours has chiefly to do with profits, ours with human life." + +"Very interesting indeed," said Mr. Maitland, "but it happens that +profits and human life are somewhat closely allied--" + +"Aye, but wi' you profits are the primary consideration and +humanity the secondary. Wi' us humanity is the primary." + +"Very interesting, indeed. But I must decline your premise. You +are a new man here and so I will excuse you the impudence of +charging me with indifference to the well-being of my men." + +"You put wur-r-ds in my mouth, Mr. Maitland. A said nae sic +thing," said McNish. "But your foreman disna' know his place, and +he must be changed." + +"'Must,' eh?" The word had never been used to Mr. Maitland since +his own father fifty years before had used it. It was an +unfortunate word for the success of the interview. "'Must,' eh?" +repeated Mr. Maitland with rising wrath. "I'd have you know, +McNish, that the man doesn't live that says 'must' to me in regard +to the men I choose to manage my business." + +"Then you refuse to remove yere foreman?" + +"Most emphatically, I do," said Mr. Maitland with glints of fire in +his blue eyes. + +"Verra weel, so as we know yere answer. There is anither matter." + +"Yes? Well, be quick about it." + +"A wull that. Ye dinna pay yere men enough wages." + +"How do you know I don't?" said Mr. Maitland rising from his chair. + +"A have examined certain feegures which I shall be glad to submit +tae ye, in regard tae the cost o' leevin' since last ye fixed the +wage. If yere wage was right then, it's wrang the noo." Under the +strain Mr. Maitland's boring eyes and increasing impatience the +Doric flavour of McNish's speech grew richer and more guttural, +varying with the intensity of his emotion. + +"And what may these figures be?" enquired Mr. Maitland with a voice +of contempt. + +"These are the figures prepared by the Labour Department of your +Federal Government. I suppose they may be relied upon. They show +the increased cost of living during the last five years. You know +yeresel' the increase in wages. Mr. Maitland, I am told ye are a +just man, an' we ask ye tae dae the r-r-right. That's all, sir." + +"Thank you for your good opinion, my man. Whether I am a just man +or not is for my own conscience alone. As to the wage question, +Mr. Wickes will tell you, the matter had already been taken up. +The result will be announced in a week or so." + +"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir," said Mr. Wigglesworth. "We felt +sure it would only be necessary to point (h)out the right course to +you. I may say I took the same (h)identical (h)attitude with my +fellow workmen. I sez to them, sez I, 'Mr. Maitland--' + +"That will do, Wigglesworth," said Mr. Maitland, cutting him short. +"Have you anything more to say?" he continued, turning to McNish. + +"Nothing, sir, except to express the hope that you will reconsider +yere attitude as regards the foreman." + +"You may take my word for it, I will not," said Mr. Maitland, +snapping his words off with his teeth. + +"At least, as a fair-minded man, you will look into the matter," +said McNish temperately. + +"I shall do as I think best," said Mr. Maitland. + +"It would be wiser." + +"Do you threaten me, sir?" Mr. Maitland leaned over his desk +toward the calm and rugged Scot, his eyes flashing indignation. + +"Threaten ye? Na, na, threats are for bairns. Yere no a bairn, +but a man an' a wise man an' a just, A doot. A'm gie'in' ye +advice. That's all. Guid day." + +He turned away from the indignant Mr. Maitland, put his hat on his +head and walked from the room, followed by the other members of the +Committee, with the exception of Mr. Wigglesworth who lingered with +evidently pacific intentions. + +"This, sir, is a most (h)auspicious (h)era, sir. The (h)age of +reason and justice 'as dawned, an'--" + +"Oh, get out, Wigglesworth. Haven't you made all your speeches +yet? The time for the speeches is past. Good day." + +He turned to his bookkeeper. + +"Wickes, bring me the reports turned in by Perrotte, at once." + +Mr. Maitland's manner was frankly, almost brutally, imperious. It +was not his usual manner with his subordinates, from which it may +be gathered that Mr. Maitland was seriously disturbed. And with +good reason. In the first place, never in his career had one of +his men addressed him in the cool terms of equality which McNish +had used with him in the recent interview. Then, never had he been +approached by a Grievance Committee. The whole situation was new, +irritating, humiliating. + +As to the wages question, he would settle that without difficulty. +He had never skimped the pay envelope. It annoyed him, however, +that he had been forstalled in the matter by this Committee. But +very especially he was annoyed by the recollection of the +deliberative, rasping tones of that cool-headed Scot, who had so +calmly set before him his duty. But the sting of the interview lay +in the consciousness that the criticism of his foreman was probably +just. And then, he was tied to Tony Perrotte by bonds that reached +his heart. Had it not been so, he would have made short work of +the business. As it was, Tony would have to stay at all costs. +Mr. Maitland sat back in his chair, his eyes fixed upon the Big +Bluff visible through the window, but his mind lingering over a +picture that had often gripped hard at his heart during the last +two years, a picture drawn for him in a letter from his remaining +son, Jack. The letter lay in the desk at his hand. He saw in the +black night that shell-torn strip of land between the lines, black +as a ploughed field, lurid for a swift moment under the red glare +of a bursting shell or ghastly in the sickly illumination of a +Verry light, and over this black pitted earth a man painfully +staggering with a wounded man on his back. The words leaped to his +eyes. "He brought me out of that hell, Dad." He closed his eyes +to shut out that picture, his hands clenched on the arms of his +chair. + +"No," he said, raising his hand in solemn affirmation, "as the Lord +God liveth, while I stay he stays." + +"Come in," he said, in answer to a timid tap at the office door. +Mr. Wickes laid a file before him. It needed only a rapid survey +of the sheets to give him the whole story. Incompetence and worse, +sheer carelessness looked up at him from every sheet. The planing +mill was in a state of chaotic disorganization. + +"What does this mean, Mr. Wickes?" he burst forth, putting his +finger upon an item that cried out mismanagement and blundering. +"Here is an order that takes a month to clear which should be done +within ten days at the longest." + +Wickes stood silent, overwhelmed in dismayed self-condemnation. + +"It seems difficult somehow to get orders through, sir, these +days," he said after a pause. + +"Difficult? What is the difficulty? The men are there, the +machines are there, the material is in the yard. Why the delay? +And look at this. Here is a lot of material gone to the scrap +heap, the finest spruce ever grown in Canada too. What does this +mean, Wickes?" he seemed to welcome the opportunity of finding a +scapegoat for economic crimes, for which he could find no pardon. + +Sheet after sheet passed in swift review under his eye. Suddenly +he flung himself back in his chair. + +"Wickes, this is simply damnable!" + +"Yes, sir," said Wickes, his face pale and his fingers trembling. +"I don't--I don't seem to be able to--to--get things through." + +"Get things through? I should say not," shouted Maitland, glaring +at him. + +"I have tried, I mean I'm afraid I'm--that I am not quite up to it, +as I used to be. I get confused--and--" The old bookkeeper's lips +were white and quivering. He could not get on with his story. + +"Here, take these away," roared Maitland. + +Gathering up the sheets with fingers that trembled helplessly, +Wickes crept hurriedly out through the door, leaving a man behind +him furiously, helplessly struggling in the relentless grip of his +conscience, lashed with a sense of his own injustice. His anger +which had found vent upon his old bookkeeper he knew was due +another man, a man with whom at any cost he could never allow +himself to be angry. The next two hours were bad hours for Grant +Maitland. + +As the quitting whistle blew a tap came again to the office door. +It was Wickes, with a paper in his hand. Without a word he laid +the paper upon his chief's desk and turned away. Maitland glanced +over it rapidly. + +"Wickes, what does this nonsense mean?" His chief's voice arrested +him. He turned again to the desk. + +"I don't think--I have come to feel, sir, that I am not able for my +job. I do not see as how I can go on." Maitland's brows frowned +upon the sheet. Slowly he picked up the paper, tore it across and +tossed it into the waste basket. + +"Wickes, you are an old fool--and," he added in a voice that grew +husky, "I am another and worse." + +"But, sir--" began Wickes, in hurried tones. + +"Oh, cut it all out, Wickes," said Maitland impatiently. "You know +I won't stand for that. But what can we do? He saved my boy's +life--" + +"Yes, sir, and he was with my Stephen at the last, and--" The old +man's voice suddenly broke. + +"I remember, Wickes, I remember. And that's another reason-- We +must find another way out." + +"I have been thinking, sir," said the bookkeeper timidly, "if you +had a younger man in my place--" + +"You would go out, eh? I believe on my soul you would. You--you-- +old fool. But," said Maitland, reaching his hand across the desk, +"I don't go back on old friends that way." + +The two men stood facing each other for a few minutes, with hands +clasped, Maitland's face stern and set, Wickes' working in a +pitiful effort to stay the tears that ran down his cheeks, to choke +back the sobs that shook his old body as if in the grip of some +unseen powerful hand. + +"We must find a way," said Maitland, when he felt sure of his +voice. "Some way, but not that way. Sit down. We must go through +this together." + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE FOREMAN + + +Grant Maitland’s business instincts and training were such as to +forbid any trifling with loose management in any department of his +plant. He was, moreover, too just a man to allow any of his +workmen to suffer for failures not their own. His first step was +to get at the facts. His preliminary move was characteristic of +him. He sent for McNish. + +"McNish," he said, "your figures I have examined. They tell me +nothing I did not know, but they are cleverly set down. The matter +of wages I shall deal with as I have always dealt with it in my +business. The other matter--" Mr. Maitland paused, then proceeded +with grave deliberation, "I must deal with in my own way. It will +take a little time. I shall not delay unnecessarily, but I shall +accept dictation from no man as to my methods." + +McNish stood silently searching his face with steady eyes. + +"You are a new man here, and I find you are a good workman," +continued Mr. Maitland. "I don’t know you nor your aims and +purposes in this Grievance Committee business of yours. If you +want a steady job with a chance to get on, you will get both; if +you want trouble, you can get that too, but not for long, here." + +Still the Scot held him with grave steady gaze, but speaking no +word. + +"You understand me, McNish?" said Maitland, nettled at the man’s +silence. + +"Aye, A’ve got a heid," he said in an impassive voice. + +"Well, then, I hope you will govern yourself accordingly. Good- +day," said Maitland, closing the interview. + +McNish still stood immovable. + +"That’s all I have to say," said Maitland, glancing impatiently at +the man. + +"But it’s no all A have to say, if ye will pairmit me," answered +McNish in a voice quiet and respectful and apparently, except for +its Doric flavour, quite untouched by emotion of any kind soever. + +"Go on," said Maitland shortly, as the Scot stood waiting. + +"Maister Maitland," said McNish, rolling out a deeper Doric, "ye +have made a promise and a threat. Yere threat is naething tae me. +As tae yere job, A want it and A want tae get on, but A’m a free +man the noo an’ a free man A shall ever be. Good-day tae ye." He +bowed respectfully to his employer and strode from the room. + +Mr. Maitland sat looking at the closed door. + +"He is a man, that chap, at any rate," he said to himself, "but +what’s his game, I wonder. He will bear watching." + +The very next day Maitland made a close inspection of his plant, +beginning with the sawmill. He found McNish running one of the +larger circular saws, and none too deftly. He stood observing the +man for some moments in silence. Then stepping to the workman’s +side he said, + +"You will save time, I think, if you do it this way." He seized +the levers and, eliminating an unnecessary movement, ran the log. +McNish stood calmly observing. + +"Aye, yere r-right," he said. "Ye’ll have done yon before." + +"You just bet I have," said Maitland, not a little pleased with +himself. + +"A’m no saw man," said McNish, a little sullenly. "A dinna ken--I +don't know saws of this sort. I'm a joiner. He put me off the +bench." + +"Who?" said Maitland quickly. + +"Yon manny," replied McNish with unmistakable disgust. + +"You were on the bench, eh? What sort of work were you on?" + +"A was daein' a bit counter work. A wasna fast enough for him." + +Mr. Maitland called the head sawyer. + +"Put a man on here for a while, Powell, will you? You come with +me, McNish." + +Together they went into the planing mill. Asking for the foreman +he found that he was nowhere to be seen, that indeed he had not +been in the mill that morning. + +"Show me your work, McNish," he said. + +McNish led him to a corner of the mill where some fine counter work +was in process. + +"That's my work," he said, pointing to a piece of oak railing. + +Maitland, turning the work over in his hands, ran his finger along +a joint somewhat clumsily fitted. + +"Not that," said McNish hastily. "Ma work stops here." + +Again Maitland examined the rail. His experienced eye detected +easily the difference in the workmanship. + +"Is there anything else of yours about here?" he asked. McNish +went to a pile of finished work and from it selected a small swing +door beautifully panelled. Maitland's eye gleamed. + +"Ah, that's better," he said. "Yes, that's better." + +He turned to one of the workmen at the bench near by. + +"What job is this, Gibbon?" he asked. + +"It's the Bank job, I think," said Gibbon. + +"What? The Merchants' Bank job? Surely that can't be. That job +was due two weeks ago." Maitland turned impatiently toward an +older man. "Ellis," he said sharply, "do you know what job this +is?" + +Ellis came and turned over the different parts of the work. + +"That's the Merchants' Bank job, sir," he said. + +"Then what is holding this up?" enquired Maitland wrathfully. + +"It's the turned work, I think, sir. I am not sure, but I think I +heard Mr. Perrotte asking about that two or three days ago." Mr. +Maitland's lips met in a thin straight line. + +"You can go back to your saw, McNish," he said shortly. + +"Ay, sir," said McNish, his tone indicating quiet satisfaction. +At Gibbon's bench he paused. "Ye'll no pit onything past him, a +doot," he said, with a grim smile, and passed out. + +In every part of the shop Mr. Maitland found similar examples of +mismanagement and lack of co-ordination in the various departments +of the work. It needed no more than a cursory inspection to +convince him that a change of foreman was a simple necessity. +Everywhere he found not only evidence of waste of time but also of +waste of material. It cut him to the heart to see beautiful wood +mangled and ruined. All his life he had worked with woods of +different kinds. He knew them standing in all their matchless +grandeur, in the primeval forest and had followed them step by step +all the way to the finished product. Never without a heart pang +did he witness a noble white pine, God's handiwork of centuries, +come crashing to earth through the meaner growth beneath the +chopper's axe. The only thing that redeemed such a deed from +sacrilege, in his mind, was to see the tree fittingly transformed +into articles of beauty and worth suitable for man's use. Hence, +when he saw lying here and there deformed and disfigured fragments +of the exquisitely grained white spruce, which during the war, he +had with such care selected for his aeroplane parts, his very heart +rose in indignant wrath. And filled with this wrath he made his +way to the office and straightway summoned Wickes and his son Jack +to conference. + +"Tony will never make a worker in wood. He cares nothing for it," +he said bitterly. + +"Nor in anything else, Dad," said Jack, with a little laugh. + +"You laugh, but it is no laughing matter," said his father +reproachfully. + +"I am sorry, Father, but you know I always thought it was a mistake +to put Tony in charge of anything. Why, he might have had his +commission if he were not such an irresponsible, downwright lazy +beggar. What he needs, as my Colonel used to profanely say, is 'a +good old-fashioned Sergeant-Major to knock hell out of him'. And, +believe me, Tony was a rattling fine soldier if his officer would +regularly, systematically and effectively expel his own special +devil from his system. He needs that still." + +"What can we do with him? I simply can't and won't dismiss him, as +that infernally efficient and coolheaded Scot demands. You heard +about the Grievance Committee?" + +"Oh, the town has the story with embellishments. Rupert Stillwell +took care to give me a picturesque account. But I would not +hesitate, Dad. Kick Tony a good swift kick once a week or so, or, +if that is beneath your dignity, fire him." + +"But, Jack, lad, we can't do that," said his father, greatly +distressed, "after what--" + +"Why not? He carried me out of that hell all right, and while I +live I shall remember that. But he is a selfish beggar. He hasn't +the instinct for team play. He hasn't the idea of responsibility +for the team. He gets so that he can not make himself do what he +just doesn't feel like doing. He doesn't care a tinker's curse for +the other fellows in the game with him." + +"The man that doesn't care for other fellows will never make a +foreman," said Mr. Maitland decisively. "But can't something be +done with him?" + +"There's only one way to handle Tony," said Jack. "I learned that +long ago in school. He was a prince of half-backs, you know, but I +had regularly to kick him about before every big match. Oh, Tony +is a fine sort but he nearly broke my heart till I nearly broke his +back." + +"That does not help much, Jack." For the first time in his life +Grant Maitland was at a loss as to how he should handle one of his +men. Were it not for the letter in the desk at his hand he would +have made short work of Tony Perrotte. But there the letter lay +and in his heart the inerasible picture it set forth. + +"What is the special form that Tony's devilment has taken, may I +ask?" enquired Jack. + +"Well, I may say to you, what Wickes knows and has known and has +tried for three months to hide from me and from himself, Tony has +made about as complete a mess of the organization under his care in +the planing mill as can be imagined. The mill is strewn with the +wreckage of unfulfilled orders. He has no sense of time value. +To-morrow is as good as to-day, next week as this week. A foreman +without a sense of time value is no good. And he does not value +material. Waste to him is nothing. Another fatal defect. The man +to whom minutes are not potential gold and material potential +product can never hope to be a manufacturer. If only I had not +been away from home! But the thing is, what is to be done?" + +"In the words of a famous statesman much abused indeed, I suggest, +'Wait and see.' Meantime, find some way of kicking him into his +job." + +This proved to be in the present situation a policy of wisdom. It +was Tony himself who furnished the solution. From the men supposed +to be working under his orders he learned the day following +Maitland's visit of inspection something of the details of that +visit. He quickly made up his mind that the day of reckoning could +not long be postponed. None knew better than Tony himself that he +was no foreman; none so well that he loathed the job which had been +thrust upon him by the father of the man whom he had carried out +from the very mouth of hell. It was something to his credit that +he loathed himself for accepting the position. Yet, with +irresponsible procrastination, he put off the day of reckoning. +But, some ten days later, and after a night with some kindred +spirits of his own Battalion, a night prolonged into the early +hours of the working day, Tony presented himself at the office, +gay, reckless, desperate, but quite compos mentis and quite master +of his means of locomotion. + +He appeared in the outer office, still in his evening garb. + +"Mr. Wickes," he said in solemn gravity, "please have your +stenographer take this letter." + +Mr. Wickes, aghast, strove to hush his vibrant tones, indicating in +excited pantomime the presence of the chief in the inner office. +He might as effectively have striven to stay the East wind at that +time sweeping up the valley. + +"Are you ready, my dear?" said Tony, smiling pleasantly at the +girl. "All right, proceed. 'Dear Mr. Maitland:' Got that? +'Conscious of my unfitness for the position of foreman in--'" + +"Hush, hush, Tony," implored Mr. Wickes. + +Tony waved him aside. + +"What have you got, eh?" + +At that point the door opened and Grant Maitland stepped into the +office. Tony rose to his feet and, bowing with elaborate grace and +dignity, he addressed his chief. + +"Good morning, sir. I am glad to see you, in fact, I wanted to +see you but wishing to save your time I was in the very act of +dictating a communication to you." + +"Indeed, Tony?" said Mr. Maitland gravely. + +"Yes, sir, I was on the point of dictating my resignation of my +position of foreman." + +"Step in to the office, Tony," said Mr. Maitland kindly and sadly. + +"I don't wish to take your time, sir," said Tony, sobered and +quieted by Mr. Maitland's manner, "but my mind is quite made up. +I--" + +"Come in," said Mr. Maitland, in a voice of quiet command, throwing +open his office door. "I wish to speak to you." + +"Oh, certainly, sir," answered Tony, pulling himself together with +an all too obvious effort. + +In half an hour Tony came forth, a sober and subdued man. + +"Good-bye, Wickes," he said, "I'm off." + +"Where are you going, Tony?" enquired Wickes, startled at the look +on Tony's face. + +"To hell," he snapped, "where such fools as me belong," and, +jamming his hat hard down on his head, he went forth. + +In another minute Mr. Maitland appeared at the office door. + +"Wickes," he said sharply, "put on your hat and get Jack for me. +Bring him, no matter what he's at. That young fool who has just +gone out must be looked after. The boot-leggers have been taking +him in tow. If I had only known sooner. Did you know, Wickes, how +he has been going on? Why didn't you report to me?" + +"I hesitated to do that, sir," putting his desk in order. "I +always expected as how he would pull up. It's his company, sir. +He is not so much to blame." + +"Well, he would not take anything I had to offer. He is wild to +get away. And unfortunately he has some money with him, too. But +get Jack for me. He can handle him if anybody can." + +Sorely perplexed Mr. Maitland returned to his office. His business +sense pointed the line of action with sunlight clearness. His +sense of justice to the business for which he was responsible as +well as to the men in his employ no less clearly indicated the +action demanded. His sane judgment concurred in the demand of his +men for the dismissal of his foreman. Dismissal had been rendered +unnecessary by Tony's unshakable resolve to resign his position +which he declared he loathed and which he should never have +accepted. His perplexity arose from the confusion within himself. +What should he do with Tony? He had no position in his works or in +the office for which he was fit. None knew this better than Tony +himself. + +"It's a joke, Mr. Maitland," he had declared, "a ghastly joke. +Everybody knows it's a joke, that I should be in command of any man +when I can't command myself. Besides, I can't stick it." In this +resolve he had persisted in spite of Mr. Maitland's entreaties that +he should give the thing another try, promising him all possible +guidance and backing. But entreaties and offers of assistance had +been in vain. Tony was wild to get away from the mill. He hated +the grind. He wanted his freedom. Vainly Mr. Maitland had offered +to find another position for him somewhere, somehow. + +"We'll find a place in the office for you," he had pleaded. "I +want to see you get on, Tony. I want to see you make good." + +But Tony was beyond all persuasion. + +"It isn't in me," he had declared. "Not if you gave me the whole +works could I stick it." + +"Take a few days to think it over," Mr. Maitland had pleaded. + +"I know myself--only too well. Ask Jack, he knows," was Tony's +bitter answer. "And that's final." + +"No, Tony, it is not final," had been Mr. Maitland's last word, as +Tony had left him. + +But after the young man had left him there still remained the +unsolved question, What was he to do with Tony? In Mr. Maitland's +heart was the firm resolve that he would not allow Tony to go his +own way. The letter in the desk at his hand forbade that. + +At his wits' end he had sent for Jack. Jack had made a football +half-back and a hockey forward out of Tony when everyone else had +failed. If anyone could divert him from that desperate downward +course to which he seemed headlong bent, it was Jack. + +In a few minutes Wickes returned with the report that on receiving +an account of what had happened Jack had gone to look up Tony. + +Mr. Maitland drew a breath of relief. + +"Tony is all right for to-day," he said, turning to his work and +leaving the problem for the meantime to Jack. + +In an hour Jack reported that he had been to the Perrotte home and +had interviewed Tony's mother. From her he had learned that Tony +had left the town, barely catching the train to Toronto. He might +not return for a week or ten days. He could set no time for it. +He was his own master as to time. He had got to the stage where he +could go and come pretty much as he pleased. The mother was not at +all concerned as to these goings and comings of her son. He had an +assured position, all cause for anxiety in regard to him was at an +end. Tony's mother was obviously not a little uplifted that her +son should be of sufficient importance to be entrusted with +business in Toronto in connection with the mill. + +All of which tended little toward relieving the anxiety of Mr. +Maitland. + +"Let him take his swing, Dad, for a bit," was Jack's advice. "He +will come back when he is ready, and until then wild horses won't +bring him nor hold him. He is no good for his old job, and you +have no other ready that he will stick at. He has no Sergeant- +Major now to knock him about and make him keep step, more's the +pity." + +"Life will be his Sergeant-Major, I fear," said his father, "and a +Sergeant-Major that will exact the utmost limit of obedience or +make him pay the price. All the same, we won't let him go. I +can't Jack, anyway." + +"Oh, Tony will turn up, never fear, Dad," said Jack easily. + +With this assurance his father had to content himself. In a +fortnight's time a letter came from Tony to his sister, rosy with +the brilliance of the prospects opening up before him. There was +the usual irresponsible indefiniteness in detail. What he was +doing and how he was living Tony did not deign to indicate. Ten +days later Annette had another letter. The former prospects had not +been realised, but he had a much better thing in view, something +more suitable to him, and offering larger possibilities of position +and standing in the community. So much Annette confided to her +mother who passed on the great news with elaborations and +annotations to Captain Jack. To Captain Jack himself Annette gave +little actual information. Indeed, shorn of its element of +prophecy, there was little in Tony's letter that could be passed on. +Nor did Annette drop any hint but that all was quite well with her +brother, much less that he had suggested a temporary loan of fifty +dollars but only of course if she could spare the amount with +perfect convenience. After this letter there was silence as far as +Tony was concerned and for Annette anxiety that deepened into agony +as the silence remained unbroken with the passing weeks. + +With the anxiety there mingled in Annette's heart anger at the +Maitlands, for she blamed them for Tony's dismissal from his +position. This, it is fair to say, was a reflection from her +mother's wrath, whose mind had been filled up with rumours from the +mills to the effect that her son had been "fired." Annette was +wise enough and knew her brother well enough to discredit much that +rumour brought to her ears, but she could not rid herself of the +thought that a way might have been found to hold Tony about the +mills. + +"He fired the boy, did the ould carmudgeon," said Madame Perrotte +in one of her rages, "and druv him off from the town." + +"Nonsense, Mother," Annette had replied, "you know well enough Tony +left of his own accord. Why should you shame him so? He went +because he wanted to go." + +This was a new light upon the subject for her mother. + +"Thrue for you, Annette, gurl," she said, "an' ye said it that +time. But why for did he not induce the bye to remain? It would +be little enough if he had made him the Manager of the hull works. +That same would never pay back what he did for his son." + +"Hush, Mother," said Annette, in a shocked and angry voice, "let no +one hear you speak like that. Pay back! You know, Mother, nothing +could ever pay back a thing like that." The anger in her daughter's +voice startled the mother. + +"Oui! by gar!" said Perrotte, who had overheard, with quick wrath. +"Dat's foolish talk for sure! Dere's no man can spik lak dat to +me, or I choke him on his fool t'roat, me." + +"Right you are, mon pere!" said Annette appeasing her father. +"Mother did not think what she was saying." + +"Dat's no bon," replied Perrotte, refusing to be appeased. "Sacre +tonnerre! Dat's one--what you call?--damfool speech. Dat boy Tony +he's carry (h)on hees back his friend, le Capitaine Jack, an' le +Capitaine, he's go five mile for fin' Tony on' de shell hole an' +fetch heem to le docteur and stay wit' him till he's fix (h)up. +Nom de Dieu! You pay for dat! Mama! You mak' shame for me on my +heart!" cried the old Frenchman, beating his breast, while sobs +shook his voice. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +FREE SPEECH + + +Fifty years ago Blackwater town was a sawmill village on the +Blackwater River which furnished the power for the first little +sawmill set up by Grant Maitland's father. + +Down the river came the sawlogs in the early spring when the water +was high, to be caught and held by a "boom" in a pond from which +they were hauled up a tramway to the saw. A quarter of a mile up +stream a mill race, tapping the river, led the water to an "overshot +wheel" in the early days, later to a turbine, thus creating the +power necessary to drive the mill machinery. When the saw was still +the water overflowed the "stop-logs" by the "spillway" into the pond +below. + +But that mill race furnished more than power to the mill. It +furnished besides much colourful romance to the life of the village +youth of those early days. For down the mill race they ran their +racing craft, jostling and screaming, urging with long poles their +laggard flotillas to victory. The pond by the mill was to the boys +"swimming hole" and fishing pool, where, during the long summer +evenings and through the sunny summer days, they spent amphibious +hours in high and serene content. But in springtime when the pond +was black with floating logs it became the scene of thrilling deeds +of daring. For thither came the lumber-jacks, fresh from "the +shanties," in their dashing, multi-colored garb, to "show off" +before admiring friends and sweethearts their skill in "log- +running" and "log-rolling" contests which as the spirit of venture +grew would end like as not in the icy waters of the pond. + +Here, too, on brilliant winter days the life of the village found +its centre of vivid interest and activity. For then the pond would +be a black and glittering surface whereon wheeled and curved the +ringing, gleaming blades of "fancy" skaters or whereon in sterner +hours opposing "shinny" teams sought glory in Homeric and often +gory contest. + +But those days and those scenes were now long since gone. The old +mill stood a picturesque ruin, the water wheel had given place to +the steam engine, the pond had shrunk to an insignificant pool +where only pollywogs and minnows passed unadventurous lives, the +mill race had dwindled to a trickling stream grown thick with +watercress and yellow lilies, and what had once been the centre of +vigorous and romantic life was now a back water eddy devoid alike +of movement and of colour. + +A single bit of life remained--the little log cottage, once the +Manager's house a quarter of a century ago, still stood away up +among the pines behind the old mill ruin and remote from the +streets and homes of the present town. At the end of a little +grassy lane it stood, solid and square, resisting with its well +hewn pinelogs the gnawing tooth of time. Abandoned by the growing +town, forgotten by the mill owner, it was re-discovered by Malcolm +McNish, or rather by his keen eyed old mother on their arrival from +the old land six months ago. For a song McNish bought the solid +little cottage, he might have had it as a gift but that he would +not, restored its roof, cleared out its stone chimney which, more +than anything else, had caught the mother's eye, re-set the window +panes, added a wee cunning porch, gave its facings a coat of paint, +enclosed its bit of flower garden in front and its "kale yaird" in +the rear with a rustic paling, and made it, when the Summer had +done its work, a bonnie homelike spot which caught the eye and held +the heart of the passer-by. + +The interior more than fulfilled the promise of the exterior. The +big living room with its great stone fireplace welcomed you on +opening the porch door. From the living room on the right led two +doors, each giving entrance to a tiny bedroom and flanking a larger +room known as "the Room." + +Within the living room were gathered the household treasures, the +Lares and Penates of the little stone rose-covered cottage "at hame +awa' ayont the sea." On the mantel a solid hewn log of oak, a +miracle of broad-axe work, were "bits o' chiny" rarely valuable as +antiques to the knowing connoisseur but beyond price to the old +white-haired lady who daily dusted them with reverent care as +having been borne by her mother from the Highland home in the far +north country when as a bride she came by the "cadger's cairt" to +her new home in the lonely city of Glasgow. Of that Glasgow home +and of her own home later the walls of the log cottage were +eloquent. + +The character giving bit of furniture, however, in the living room +was a book-case that stood in a corner. Its beautiful inlaid +cabinet work would in itself have attracted attention, but not the +case but the books were its distinction. The great English poets +were represented there in serviceable bindings showing signs of +use, Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Browning, Keats, and with +them in various editions, Burns. Beside the poets Robert Louis had +a place, and Sir Walter, as well as Kipling and Meredith and other +moderns. But on the shelf that showed most wear were to be found +the standard works of economists of different schools from the +great Adam Smith to Marx and the lot of his imitators and disciples. +This was Malcolm's book-case. There was in another corner near the +fire-place a little table and above it hung a couple of shelves for +books of another sort, the Bible and The Westminster Confession, +Bunyan and Baxter and Fox's Book of Martyrs, Rutherford and McCheyne +and Law, The Ten Years' Conflict, Spurgeon's Sermons and Smith's +Isaiah, and a well worn copy of the immortal Robbie. This was the +mother's corner, a cosy spot where she nourished her soul by +converse with the great masters of thought and of conscience. + +In this "cosy wee hoosie" Malcolm McNish and his mother passed +their quiet evenings, for the days were given to toil, in talk, not +to say discussion of the problems, the rights and wrongs of the +working man. They agreed in much; they differed, and strongly, in +point of view. The mother was all for reform of wrongs with the +existing economic system, reverencing the great Adam Smith. The +son was for a new deal, a new system, the Socialistic, with +modifications all his own. All, or almost all, that Malcolm had +read the mother had read with the exception of Marx. She "cudna +thole yon godless loon" or his theories or his works. Malcolm had +grown somewhat sick of Marx since the war. Indeed, the war had +seriously disturbed the foundations of Malcolm's economic faith, +and he was seeking a readjustment of his opinion and convictions, +which were rather at loose ends. In this state of mind he found +little comfort from his shrewd old mother. + +"Y'e have nae anchor, laddie, and ilka woof of air and ilka turn o' +the tide and awa' ye go." + +As for her anchor, she made no bones of announcing that she had +been brought up on the Shorter Catechism and the Confession and in +consequence found a place for every theory of hers, Social and +Economic as well as Ethical and Religious, within the four corners +of the mighty fabric of the Calvinistic system of Philosophy and +Faith. + +One of the keen joys of her life since coming to the new country +she found in her discussions with the Rev. Murdo Matheson, whom, +after some considerable hesitation, she had finally chosen to "sit +under." The Rev. Murdo's theology was a little narrow for her. +She had been trained in the schools of the Higher Critics of the +Free Kirk leaders at home. She talked familiarly of George Adam +Smith, whom she affectionately designated as "George Adam." She +would wax wrathful over the memory of the treatment meted out to +Robertson Smith by a former generation of Free Kirk heresy hunters. +Hence she regarded with pity the hesitation with which her Minister +accepted some of the positions of the Higher Critics. Although it +is to be confessed that the war had somewhat rudely shattered her +devotion to German theology. + +"What d'ye think o' yere friend Harnack the noo?" her son had jibed +at her soon after the appearance of the great manifesto from the +German professors. + +"What do A think o' him?" she answered, sparring for time. "What +do A think o' him?" Then, as her eye ran over her son's uniform, +for he was on leave at the time, she blazed forth, "A'll tell ye +what A think o' him. A think that Auld Hornie has his hook intil +him and the hale kaboodle o' them. They hae forsaken God and made +tae themselves ither gods and the Almichty hae gi'en them ower tae +a reprobate mind." + +But her Canadian Minister's economic positions satisfied her. He +had specialised in Social and Economic Science in his University +Course and she considered him sound "in the main." + +She had little patience with half baked theorists and none at all +with mere agitators. It was therefore with no small indignation +that she saw on a Sunday morning Mr. Wigglesworth making his way up +the lane toward her house door. + +"The Lord be guid tae us!" she exclaimed. "What brings yon cratur +here--and on a Sabbath mornin'? Mind you, Malcolm," she continued +in a voice of sharp decision, "A'll hae nane o' his 'rights o' +British citizens' clack the morn." + +"Who is it, Mother?" enquired her son, coming from his room to look +out through the window. "Oh, dinna fash ye're heid ower yon +windbag," he added, dropping into his broadest Doric and patting +his mother on the shoulder. + +"He disna fash me," said his mother. "Nae fears. But A'll no +pairmit him to brak the Sabbath in this hoose, A can tell ye." +None the less she opened the door to Mr. Wigglesworth with +dignified courtesy. + +"Guid mornin', Mr. Wigglesworth," she said cordially. "Ye're airly +on yere way tae the Kirk." + +"Yes--that is--yes," replied Mr. Wigglesworth in some confusion, "I +am a bit (h)early. Fact is, I was (h)anxious to catch Malcolm +before 'e went aht. I 'ave a rather (h)important business on 'and +with 'im, very (h)important business, I might say." + +"'Business,' did ye say, Mr. Wigglesworth?" Mrs. McNish stood +facing him at the door. "Business! On the Lord's Day?" + +Mr. Wigglesworth gaped at her, hat in hand. + +"Well, Mrs. McNish, not (h)exactly business. That is," he said +with an apologetic smile, "(h)it depends, you see, just w'at yeh +puts (h)into a word, Mrs. McNish." + +Mr. Wigglesworth's head went over to one side as if in contemplation +of a new and striking idea. + +"A pit nae meaning into a word that's no in it on its ain accoont," +she replied with uncompromising grimness. "Business is just +business, an' my son diz nae business on the Lord's Day." + +There was no place for casuistry in the old Scotch lady's mind. A +thing was or was not, and there was an end to that. + +"Certainly, Mrs. McNish, certainly! And so sez I. But there might +be a slight difference of (h)opinion between you and I, so to +speak, as to just w'at may constitute 'business.' Now, for +(h)instance--" Mr. Wigglesworth was warming to his subject, but +the old lady standing on her doorstep fixed her keen blue eyes upon +him and ruthlessly swept away all argumentation on the matter. + +"If it is a matter consistent with the Lord's Day, come in; if not, +stay oot." + +"Oh! Yes, thank you. By the way, is your son in, by (h)any +chance? Per'raps 'e's shavin' 'isself, eh?" Mr. Wigglesworth +indulged in a nervous giggle. + +"Shavin' himsel!" exclaimed Mrs. McNish. "On the Sawbath! Man, +d'ye think he's a heathen, then?" Mrs. McNish regarded the man +before her with severity. + +"An 'eathen? Not me! I should consider it an 'eathenish practice +to go dirty of a Sunday," said Mr. Wigglesworth triumphantly. + +"Hoots, man, wha's talkin' about gaein' dirty? Can ye no mak due +preparation on the Saturday? What is yere Saturday for?" + +This was a new view to Mr. Wigglesworth and rather abashed him. + +"What is it, Mother?" Malcolm's voice indicated a desire to +appease the wrath that gleamed in his mother's eye. "Oh, it is Mr. +Wigglesworth. Yes, yes! I want to see Mr. Wigglesworth. Will you +come in, Mr. Wigglesworth?" + +"Malcolm, A was jist tellin' Mr. Wigglesworth--" + +"Yes, yes, I know, Mother, but I want--" + +"Malcolm, ye ken what day it is. And A wull not--" + +"Yes, Mother, A ken weel, but--" + +"And ye ken ye'll be settin' oot for the Kirk in half an oor--" + +"Half an hour, Mother? Why, it is only half past nine--" + +"A ken weel what it is. But A dinna like tae be fashed and +flustered in ma mind on ma way till the Hoose o' God." + +"I shall only require a very few moments, Madam," said Mr. +Wigglesworth. "The matter with w'ich I am (h)entrusted need not +take more than a minute or two. In fact, I simply want to +(h)announce a special, a very special meetin' of the Union this +(h)afternoon." + +"A releegious meetin', Mr. Wigglesworth?" enquired Mrs. McNish. + +"Well--not exactly--that is--I don't know but you might call it a +religious meetin'. To my mind, Mrs. McNish, you know--" + +But Mrs. McNish would have no sophistry. + +"Mr. Wigglesworth," she began sternly. + +But Malcolm cut in. + +"Now, Mother, I suppose it's a regular enough meeting. Just wait +till I get my hat, Mr. Wigglesworth. I'll be with you." + +His mother followed him into the house, leaving Mr. Wigglesworth at +the door. + +"Malcolm," she began with solemn emphasis. + +"Now, now, Mother, surely you know me well enough by this time to +trust my judgment in a matter of this kind," said her son, +hurriedly searching for his hat. + +"Ay, but A'm no sae sure o' yon buddie--" + +"Hoot, toot," said her son, passing out. "A'll be back in abundant +time for the Kirk, Mither. Never you fear." + +"Weel, weel, laddie, remember what day it is. Ye ken weel it's no +day for warldly amusement." + +"Ay, Mither," replied her son, smiling a little at the associating +of Mr. Wigglesworth with amusement of any sort on any day. + +In abundance of time Malcolm was ready to allow a quiet, unhurried +walk with his mother which would bring them to the church a full +quarter of an hour before the hour of service. + +It happened that the Rev. Murdo was on a congenial theme and in +specially good form that morning. + +"How much better is a man than a sheep," was his text, from which +with great ingenuity and eloquence he proceeded to develop the +theme of the supreme value of the human factor in modern life, +social and industrial. With great cogency he pressed the argument +against the inhuman and degrading view that would make man a mere +factor in the complex problem of Industrial Finance, a mere +inanimate cog in the Industrial Machine. + +"What did you think of the sermon, Mother?" asked Malcolm as they +entered the quiet lane leading home. + +"No sae bad, laddie, no sae bad. Yon's an able laddie, especially +on practical themes. Ay, it was no that bad," replied his mother +with cautious approval. + +"What about his view of the Sabbath?" + +"What about it? Wad ye no lift a sheep oot o' the muck on the +Sawbath?" + +"A would, of course," replied Malcolm. + +"Weel, what?" + +"A was jist thinkin' o' Mr. Wigglesworth this morning." + +"Yon man!" + +"You were rather hard on him this morning', eh, Mither?" + +"Hard on him? He's no a sheep, nor in some ways as guid's a sheep, +A grant ye that, but such as he is was it no ma duty to pull him +oot o' the mire o' Sawbath desecration and general ungodliness?" + +"Aw, Mither, Mither! Ye're incorrigible! Ye ought to come to the +meeting this afternoon and give them all a lug out." + +"A wull that then," said his mother heartily. "They need it, A +doot." + +"Hoots! Nonsense, Mither!" said her son hastily, knowing well how +thoroughly capable she was of not only going to a meeting of Union +workers but also of speaking her mind if in her judgment they were +guilty of transgressing the Sabbath law. "The meeting will be just +as religious as Mr. Matheson's anyway." + +"A'm no sae sure," said his mother grimly. + +Whether religious in the sense understood by Mrs. McNish, the +meeting was not wanting in ethical interest or human passion. It +was a gathering of the workers in the various industries in the +town, Trade Unionists most of them, but with a considerable number +who had never owed allegiance to any Union and a number of +disgruntled ex-Unionists. These latter were very vociferous and +for the most part glib talkers, with passions that under the +slightest pressure spurted foaming to the surface. Returned +soldiers there were who had taken on their old jobs but who had not +yet settled down into the colourless routine of mill and factory +work under the discipline of those who often knew little of the +essentials of discipline as these men knew them. A group of +French-Canadian factory hands, taken on none too willingly in the +stress of war work, constituted an element of friction, for the +soldiers despised and hated them. With these there mingled new +immigrants from the shipyards and factories of the Old Land, all +members or ex-members of Trade Unions, Socialists in training and +doctrine, familiar with the terminology and jargon of those +Socialistic debating schools, the Local Unions of England and +Scotland, alert, keen, ready of wit and ready of tongue, rejoicing +in wordy, passionate debate, ready for anything, fearing nothing. + +The occasion of the meeting was the presence of a great International +Official of the American Federation of Labour, and its purpose to +strengthen International Unionism against the undermining of +guerilla bands of non-Unionists and very especially against the new +organizations emanating from the far West, the One Big Union. + +At the door of the hall stood Mr. Wigglesworth, important, fussy +and unctuously impressive, welcoming, directing, introducing and, +incidentally but quite ineffectively, seeking to inspire with +respect for his august person a nondescript crowd of small boys +vainly seeking entrance. With an effusiveness amounting to +reverence he welcomed McNish and directed him in a mysterious +whisper toward a seat on the platform, which, however, McNish +declined, choosing a seat at the side about half way up the aisle. + +A local Union official was addressing the meeting but saying +nothing in particular, and simply filling in till the main speaker +should arrive. McNish, quite uninterested in the platform, was +quietly taking note of the audience, with many of whom he had made +a slight acquaintance. As his eye travelled slowly from face to +face it was suddenly arrested. There beside her father was Annette +Perrotte, who greeted him with a bright nod and smile. They had +long ago made up their tiff. Then McNish had another surprise. At +the door of the hall appeared Captain Jack Maitland who, after +coolly surveying the room, sauntered down the aisle and took a seat +at his side. He nodded to McNish. + +"Quite a crowd, McNish," he said. "I hear the American Johnnie is +quite a spouter so I came along to hear." + +McNish looked at him and silently nodded. He could not understand +his presence at that kind of a meeting. + +"You know I am a Union man now," said Captain Jack, accurately +reading his silence. "Joined a couple of months ago." + +But McNish kept his face gravely non-committal, wondering how it +was that this important bit of news had not reached him. Then he +remembered that he had not attended the last two monthly meetings +of his Union, and also he knew that little gossip of the shops came +his way. None the less, he was intensely interested in Maitland's +appearance. He did Captain Jack the justice to acquit him of +anything but the most honourable intentions, yet he could not make +clear to his mind what end the son of his boss could serve by +joining a Labour Union. He finally came to the conclusion that +this was but another instance of an "Intellectual" studying the +social and economic side of Industry from first-hand observation. +It was a common enough thing in the Old Land. He was conscious of +a little contempt for this dilettante sort of Labour Unionism, +and he was further conscious of a feeling of impatience and +embarrassment at Captain Jack's presence. He belonged to the enemy +camp, and what right had he there? From looks cast in their +direction it was plain that others were asking the same question. +His thought received a sudden and unexpected exposition from the +platform from no less a person than Mr. Wigglesworth himself to +whom as one of the oldest officials in Unionised Labour in the town +had been given the honour of introducing the distinguished visitor +and delegate. + +In flowing periods and with a reckless but wholly unauthorised +employment of aspirates he "welcomed the (h)audience, (h)especially +the ladies, and other citizens among 'oom 'e was delighted to +(h)observe a representative of the (h)employing class 'oo was for +the present 'e believed one of themselves." To his annoyed +embarrassment Captain Jack found himself the observed of many eyes, +friendly and otherwise. "But 'e would assure Captain Maitland that +although 'e might feel as if 'e 'ad no right to be 'ere--" + +"'Ere! 'Ere!" came a piercing voice in unmistakable approval, +galvanising the audience out of its apathy into instant emotional +intensity. + +"(H)I want most (h)emphatically to (h)assure Captain Maitland," +continued Mr. Wigglesworth, frowning heavily upon the interrupter, +"that 'e is as welcome--" + +"No! No!" cried the same Cockney voice, followed by a slight +rumbling applause. + +"I say 'e is," shouted Mr. Wigglesworth, supported by hesitating +applause. + +"No! No! We don't want no toffs 'ere." This was followed by more +definite applause from the group immediately surrounding the +speaker. + +Mr. Wigglesworth was much affronted and proceeded to administer a +rebuke to the interrupter. + +"I (h)am surprised," he began, with grieved and solemn emphasis. + +"Mr. Chairman," said the owner of the Cockney voice, rising to his +feet and revealing himself a small man with large head and thin +wizened features, "Mr. Chairman, I rise to protest right 'ere an' +naow against the presence of (h)any representative of the (h)enemy +class at--" + +"Aw, shut up!" yelled a soldier, rising from his place. "Throw out +the little rat!" + +Immediately there was uproar. On every side returned soldiers, +many of whom had been in Captain Jack's battalion, sprang up and +began moving toward the little Cockney who, boldly standing his +ground, was wildly appealing to the chair and was supported by the +furious cheering of a group of his friends, Old Country men most of +whom, as it turned out, were of the extreme Socialist type. By +this time it had fully been borne in upon Captain Jack's mind, +somewhat dazed by the unexpected attack, that he was the occasion +of the uproar. Rising from his place he tried vainly to catch the +Chairman's attention. + +"Come up to the platform," said a voice in his ear. He turned and +saw McNish shouldering his way through the excited crowd toward the +front. After a moment's hesitation he shrugged his shoulders and +followed. The move caught the eye and apparently the approval of +the audience, for it broke into cheers which gathered in volume +till by the time that McNish and Captain Jack stood on the platform +the great majority were wildly yelling their enthusiastic approval +of their action. McNish stood with his hand raised for a hearing. +Almost instantly there fell a silence intense and expectant. The +Scotchman stood looking in the direction of the excited Cockney +with cold steady eye. + +"A'm for freedom! The right of public assembly! A'm feart o' nae +enemy, not the deevil himself. This gentleman is a member of my +Union and he stays r-r-right he-e-r-re." With a rasping roll of +his r's he seemed to be ripping the skin off the little Cockney's +very flesh. The response was a yell of savage cheers which seemed +to rock the building and which continued while Mr. Wigglesworth in +overflowing effusiveness first shook Maitland's limp hand in a +violent double-handed pump handle exercise and then proceeded to +introduce him to the distinguished visitor, shouting his name in +Maitland's ear, "Mr 'Oward (H)E. Bigelow," adding with a sudden +inspiration, "(H)Introduce 'im to the (h)audience. Yes! Yes! +Most (h)assuredly," and continued pushing both men toward the front +of the platform, the demonstration increasing in violence. + +"I say, old chap," shouted Captain Jack in the stranger's ear, "I +feel like a fool." + +"I feel like a dozen of 'em," shouted Mr. Bigelow in return. +"But," he added with a slow wink, "this old fool is the daddy of +'em all. Go on, introduce me, or they'll bust something loose." + +Captain Jack took one step to the front of the platform and held up +his hand. The cheering assumed an even greater violence, then +ceased in sudden breathless silence. + +"Ladies and gentlemen," he said in a slightly bored voice, "this +gentleman is Mr. Howard E. Bigelow, a representative of the +American Federation of Labour, whom as a member of the Woodworkers' +Union, Local 197, I am anxious to hear if you don't mind." + +He bowed to the visitor, bowed to the audience once more swaying +under a tempest of cheers, and, followed by McNish, made his way to +his seat. + +From the first moment of his speech Mr. Howard E. Bigelow had to +fight for a hearing. The little Cockney was the centre of a well- +organised and thoroughly competent body of obstructers who by clever +"heckling," by points of order, by insistent questioning, by playing +now upon the anti-American string, now upon the anti-Federation +string, by ribald laughter, by cheering a happy criticism, +completely checked every attempt of the speaker to take flight in +his oratory. The International official was evidently an old hand +in this sort of game, but in the hands of these past masters in the +art of obstruction he met more than his match. Maitland was amazed +at his patience, his self-control, his adroitness, but they were all +in vain. At last he was forced to appeal to the Chairman for +British fair play. But the Chairman was helplessly futile and his +futility was only emphasised by Mr. Wigglesworth's attempts now at +browbeating which were met with derision and again at entreaty which +brought only demands for ruling on points of order, till the meeting +was on the point of breaking up in confused disorder. + +"McNish, I think I'll take a hand in this," said Captain Jack in +the Scotchman's ear. "Are you game?" + +"Wait a wee," said McNish, getting to his feet. Slowly he once +more made his way to the platform. As the crowd caught on to his +purpose they broke into cheering. When he reached the side of the +speaker he spoke a word in his ear, then came to the front with his +hand held up. There was instant quiet. He looked coolly over the +excited, disintegrating audience for a moment or two. + +"A belonged tae the Feefty-fir-rst Diveesion," he said in his +richest Doric. "We had a rare time wi' bullies over there. A'm +for free speech! Noo, listen tae me, you Cockney wheedle doodle. +Let another cheep out o' yere trap an' the Captain there will fling +ye oot o' this room as we did the Kayser oot o' France." + +"You said it, McNish," said Maitland, leaping to the aisle. With a +roar a dozen returned men were on their feet. + +"Steady, squad!" rang out Captain Jack's order. "Fall into this +aisle! Shun!" As if on parade the soldiers fell into line behind +their captain. + +"Macnamara!" he said, pointing to a huge Irishman. + +"Sir!" said Macnamara. + +"You see that little rat-faced chap?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Take your place beside him." + +With two steps Macnamara was beside his man. + +"Mr. Chairman, I protest," began the little Cockney fiercely. + +"Pass him up," said the Captain sharply. + +With one single motion Macnamara's hand swept the little man out of +his place into the aisle. + +"Chuck him out!" said Captain Jack quietly. + +From hand to hand, with never a pause, amid the jeers and laughter +of the crowd the little man was passed along like a bundle of old +rags till he disappeared through the open door. + +"Who's next?" shouted Macnamara joyfully. + +"As you were!" came the sharp command. + +At once Macnamara stood at attention. + +Captain Jack nodded to the platform. + +"All right," he said quietly. + +Mr. Howard E. Bigelow finished his speech in peace. He made appeal +for the closing up of the ranks of Labour in preparation for the +big fight which was rapidly coming. They had just finished with +Kaiserism in Europe but they were faced with only another form of +the same spirit in their own land. They wanted no more fighting, +God knew they had had enough of that, but there were some things +dearer than peace, and Labour was resolved to get and to hold those +things which they had fought for, "which you British and especially +you Canadians shed so much blood to win. We are making no threats, +but we are not going to stand for tyranny at the hands of any man +or any class of men in this country. Only one thing will defeat +us, not the traditional enemies of our class but disunion in our +own ranks due to the fool tactics of a lot of disgruntled and +discredited traitors like the man who has just been fired from this +meeting." He asked for a committee which would take the whole +situation in hand. He closed with a promise that in any struggle +which they undertook under the guidance of their International +Officers the American Federation of Labour to their last dollar +would be behind them. + +Before the formal closing of the meeting Maitland slipped quietly +out. As he reached the sidewalk a light hand touched his arm. +Turning he saw at his elbow Annette, her face aglow and her black +eyes ablaze with passionate admiration. + +"Oh, Captain Jack," she panted, her hands outstretched, "you were +just wonderful! Splendid! Oh! I don't know what to say! I--" +She paused in sudden confusion. A hot colour flamed in her face. +Maitland took her hands in his. + +"Hello, Annette! I saw you there. Why! What's up, little girl?" + +A sudden rush of tears had filled her eyes. + +"Oh, nothing. I am just excited, I guess. I don't know what--" +She pulled her hands away. "But you were great!" She laughed +shrilly. + +"Oh, it was your friend McNish did the trick," said Captain Jack. +"Very neat bit of work that, eh? Very neat indeed. Awfully clever +chap! Are you going home now?" + +"No, I am waiting." She paused shyly. + +"Oh, I see!" said Captain Jack with a smile. "Lucky chap, by +Jove!" + +"I am waiting for my father," said Annette, tossing her head. + +"Oh, then, if that's all, come along with me. Your father knows +his way about." The girl paused a moment, hesitating. Then with a +sudden resolve she cried gaily, + +"Well, I will. I want to talk to you about it. Oh, I am so +excited!" She danced along at his side in gay abandon. As they +turned at the first corner Maitland glanced over his shoulder. + +"Hello! Here's McNish," he cried, turning about. "Shall we wait +for him?" + +"Oh, never mind Malcolm," cried the girl excitedly, "come along. I +don't want him just now. I want--" She checked herself abruptly. +"I want to talk to you." + +"Oh, all right," said Captain Jack. "He's gone back anyway. Come +along Annette, old girl. I have been wanting to see you for a long +time." + +"Well, you see me," said the girl, laughing up into his eyes with +a frank, warm admiration in hers that made Captain Jack's heart +quicken a bit in its steady beat. He was a young man with a normal +appreciation of his own worth. She, young, beautiful, unspoiled, +in the innocence of her girlish heart was flinging at him the full +tribute of a warm, generous admiration with every flash of her +black eyes and every intonation of her voice. Small wonder if +Captain Jack found her good to look at and to listen to. Often +during the walk home he kept saying to himself, "Jove, that McNish +chap is a lucky fellow!" But McNish, taking his lonely way home, +was only conscious that the evening had grown chilly and grey. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE DAY BEFORE + + +Business was suspended for the day in Blackwater. That is, men +went through their accustomed movements, but their thoughts were +far apart from the matters that were supposed to occupy their minds +during the working hours of the day. In the offices, in the +stores, in the shops, on the streets, in the schools, in the homes +the one, sole topic of conversation, the one mental obsession was +The Great Game. Would the Maitland Mill Hockey Team pull it off? +Blackwater was not a unit in desiring victory for the Maitland Mill +team, for the reason that the team's present position of proud +eminence in the hockey world of Eastern Ontario had been won by a +series of smashing victories over local and neighbouring rival +teams. They had first disposed of that snappy seven of lightning +lightweights, the local High School team, the champions in their +own League. They had smashed their way through the McGinnis +Foundry Seven in three Homeric contests. This victory attracted +the notice of the Blackwater Black Eagles, the gay and dashing +representatives of Blackwater's most highly gilded stratum of +society, a clever, hard-fighting, never-dying group of athletes +who, summer and winter, kept themselves in perfect form, and who +had moved rapidly out of obscurity into the dazzling spotlight of +championship over their district. For the sake of the practice in +it and in preparation for their games in the Eastern Ontario Hockey +League, they took on the Maitland Mill team. + +It took the Black Eagles a full week to recover sufficient control +to be able to speak intelligibly as to the "how" and "why" of that +match. For the Mill team with apparent ease passed in thirteen +goals under and over and behind and beside the big broad goal stick +of Bell Blackwood, the goal wonder of the League; and the single +register for the Eagles had been netted by Fatty Findlay's own +stick in a moment of aberration. During the week following the +Black Eagle debacle the various Bank managers, Law Office managers +and other financial magnates of the town were lenient with their +clerks. Social functions were abandoned. The young gentlemen had +one continuous permanent and unbreakable engagement at the rink or +in preparation for it. But all was in vain. The result of the +second encounter was defeat for the Eagles, defeat utter, +unmistakable and inexplicable except on the theory that they had +met a superior team. Throughout the hockey season the Maitland +Mill maintained an unbroken record of victory till their fame flew +far; and at the close of the season enthusiasts of the game had +arranged a match between the winners of the Eastern Ontario Hockey +League, the renowned Cornwall team and the Maitland Mill boys. To- +day the Cornwalls were in town, and the town in consequence was +quite unfit for the ordinary duties of life. The Eagles almost to +a man were for the local team; for they were sports true to type. +Not so however their friends and following, who resented defeat of +their men at the hands of a working class team. + +Of course it was Jack Maitland who was responsible for their +humiliation. It was he who had organised his fellow workmen, put +them through a blood and iron discipline, filled them with his own +spirit of irresistible furious abandon in attack which carried them +to victory. + +It was an old game with Jack Maitland. When a High School boy he +had developed that spirit of dominating and indomitable leadership +that had made his team the glory of the town. Later by sound and +steady grinding at the game he had developed a style and plan of +team play which had produced a town team in the winter immediately +preceding the war that had won championship honors. Now with his +Mill team he was simply repeating his former achievements. + +It had astonished his friends to learn that Captain Jack was +playing hockey again. He had played no game except in a desultory +way since the war. He had resisted the united efforts of the +Eagles and their women friends to take the captaincy of that team. +The mere thought of ever appearing on the ice in hockey uniform +gave him a sick feeling at his heart. Of that noble seven whom he +had in pre-war days led so often to victory four were still "over +there," one was wandering round a darkened room. Of the remaining +two, one Rupert Stillwell was too deeply engrossed in large +financial affairs for hockey. Captain Jack himself was the +seventh, and the mere sight of a hockey stick on a school boy's +shoulder gave him a heart stab. + +It was his loyal pal Patricia Templeton, who gave him the first +impulse toward the game again. To her pleading he had yielded so +far as to coach, on a Saturday afternoon, her team of High School +girls to victory. But it was the Reverend Murdo Matheson who +furnished the spur to conscience that resulted in the organising of +the Maitland Mill team. + +"You, John Maitland, more than any of us and more than all of us +together can draw these lads of yours from the pool rooms and +worse," the Reverend Murdo had said one day in early winter. + +"Great Scott, Padre"--the Reverend Murdo had done his bit overseas-- +"what are you giving me now?" + +"You, more than any or all of us, I am saying," repeated the +minister solemnly. "For God's sake, man, get these lads on the ice +or anywhere out-of-doors for the good of their immortal souls." + +"Me! And why me, pray?" Captain Jack had asked. "I'm no uplifter. +Why jump on me?" + +"You, because God has bestowed on you the gift to lead men," said +the minister with increasing solemnity. "A high gift it is, and +one for which God will hold you responsible." + +That very night, passing by the Lucky Strike Pool Rooms, Captain +Jack had turned in to find a score and more of youths--many of them +from the mills--flashing their money with reckless freedom in an +atmosphere thick with foul tobacco-smoke and reeking with profane +and lewd speech. On reaching his home that night Maitland went +straight to the attic and dug up his hockey kit. Before he slept +he had laid his plans for a league among the working lads in the +various industries in the town. + +It was no easy task to force these men into training habits, to +hold them to the grind, to discipline them into self-control in +temper and in desire. It was of vast assistance to him that three +of his seven were overseas men, while some dozen or so of the +twenty in the club were returned soldiers. It was part of his +discipline that his team should never shirk a day's work for the +game except on the rare occasions when they went on tour. Hence +the management in the various mills and factories, at first hostile +and suspicious, came to regard these athletic activities on the +part of their employees with approval and finally came to give +encouragement and support to the games. + +To-day was a half holiday for the Maitland Mills and the streets +were noticeably full of the men and their sweethearts and wives in +their Sunday clothes. Not the team, however. Maitland knew better +than that. He took his men for a run in the country before noon, +bringing them home in rich warm glow. Then after a bath and a hard +rubdown they dined together at the mill and then their Captain +ordered them home to sleep, forbidding them the streets till they +were on their way to the game. + +On his way home Captain Jack was waylaid by his admirer and +champion, Patricia. She, standing in front of his car, brought +him to a halt. + +"I have not even seen you for a whole week," she complained, +getting in beside him, "and your phone is always busy in the +evening. Of course no one can get you during the day. And I do +want to know how the team is. Oh! do tell me they are fit for the +game of their lives! Are they every one fit?" + +"Fit and fine." + +"And will they win?" + +"Sure thing," said Captain Jack quietly. + +"Oh, I hope you are right. But you are so sure," exclaimed his +companion. "The Cornwalls are wonderful, Rupert says." + +"He would." + +"Oh! I forgot you don't think much of Rupert," sighed Patricia. + +"I haven't time, you see," answered Captain Jack gravely. + +"Oh, you know what I mean. It is a pity, too, for he is really +very nice. I mean he is so good to me," sighed Patricia again. + +"Don't sigh, Patsy, old girl. It really isn't worth it, you know. +How is the supply of choc's keeping up?" + +"Now you are thinking me a pig. But tell me about your men. Are +they really in form?" + +"Absolutely at the peak." + +"And that darling Fatty Findlay. I do hope he will not lose his +head and let a goal in. He is perfectly adorable with that +everlasting smile of his. I do hope Fatty is at the peak, too. Is +he, really?" The anxiety in Patricia's tone was more than painful. + +"Dear Patsy, he is right at the pinnacle." + +"Captain Jack, if you don't win to-night I shall--well, I shall +just weep my eyes out." + +"That settles it, Pat. We shall win. We can't--I can't spare +those lovely eyes, you know," said Captain Jack, smiling at her. + +One by one Captain Jack's team were passed in review--the defence, +Macnamara and "Jack" Johnson, so called for his woolly white head; +"Reddy" Hughes, Ross, "Snoopy" Sykes, who with Captain Jack made +the forward line, all were declared to be fit to deliver the last +ounce in their bodies, the last flicker in their souls. + +"Do you know, Captain Jack," said Patricia gravely, "there is one +change you ought to make in your forward line." + +"Yes! What is that, Pat?" asked Captain Jack, with never a +suggestion of a smile. + +"I would change Snoopy for Geordie Ross. You know Geordie is a +little too careful, and he is hardly fast enough for you. Now you +and Snoopy on left wing would be oh! perfectly wonderful." + +"Patsy, you are a wizard!" exclaimed Captain Jack. "That very +change has been made and the improvement is unbelievable. We are +both left-handers and we pull off our little specialties far more +smoothly than Geordie and I could. You have exactly hit the bull. +You watch for that back of the goal play to-night. Well, here we +are. You have good seats, I understand." + +"Oh, yes. Rupert, you see, as patron of the Eagles was able to get +the very best. But won't you come in and see mother? She is +really quite worked up over it, though of course she couldn't bear +to go." + +Captain Jack checked the refusal on his lips. + +"Yes, I will go in for a few minutes," he said gravely. "No! Your +mother would not--could not come, of course." + +There flashed before his mind a picture from pre-war days. The +rink packed with wildly excited throngs and in a certain reserved +section midway down the side the Templeton-Maitland party with its +distinguished looking men and beautiful women following with eager +faces and shining eyes the fortunes of their sons in the fight +before them. The flash of that picture was like a hand of ice upon +his heart as Captain Jack entered the cosy living room. + +"Here he is, Mamma!" cried Patricia as she ushered her hero into +the room with a sweeping gesture. "And he brings the most cheering +news. They are going to win!" + +"But how delightful!" exclaimed Adrien coming from the piano where +she had been playing, with Rupert Stillwell turning her music for +her. + +"I suppose upon the best authority," said Stillwell, grinning at +Patricia. + +"We are so glad you found time to run in," said Mrs. Templeton. +"You must have a great deal to say to your team on the last +afternoon." + +"I'm glad I came too, now," said Captain Jack, holding the fragile +hand in his and patting it gently. "I am afraid Patricia is +responsible for my coming in. I don't really believe I could have +ventured on my own." + +A silence fell on the company which none of them seemed able to +break. Other days were hard upon them. In this very room it was +that that other seven were wont to meet for their afternoon tea +before their great matches. + +Mrs. Templeton, looking up at Jack, found his eyes fixed upon her +and full of tears. With a swift upward reach of her arms she +caught him and drew his head to her breast. + +"I know, Jack dear," she said, with lips that quivered piteously. +For a moment or two he knelt before her while she held him in a +close embrace. Then he gently kissed her cheek and rose to his +feet. + +"Give him some tea, Adrien," she said, making a gallant struggle to +steady her voice, "a cup of tea--and no cake. I remember, you +see," she added with a tremulous smile. + +Adrien came back quickly from the window. + +"Yes! a fresh cup!" she cried eagerly, "and a sandwich. You, Pat, +get the sandwiches. No cake. We must do nothing to imperil the +coming victory." + +"You have a wonderful team, Jack, I hear," said her mother. "Come +and sit here beside me and tell me about them. Patricia has been +keeping me informed, but she is not very coherent at times. Of +course, I know about your wonderful goal keeper Findlay, is it +not?" And the gentle little lady kept a stream of conversation +going, for she saw how deeply moved Maitland was. It was his first +visit to the Rectory since he had taken up the game again, and the +rush of emotion released by the vivid memory of those old happy +days when that jolly group of boys had filled this familiar room +with their noisy clatter wellnigh overcame him. + +For a minute or two he fussed with the tea things till he could +master his voice, then he said very quietly: + +"They are very decent chaps--really very good fellows and they have +taken their training extraordinarily well. Of course, Macnamara +and Johnson were in my old company, and that helps a lot." + +"Yes, I remember Macnamara quite well. He is a fine big Irishman." + +"Fancy you remembering him, Mrs. Templeton," said Captain Jack. + +"Of course, I remember him. He is one of our boys." + +"Let's see, he is one of your defence, isn't he?" said Stillwell, +who had felt himself rather out of the conversation. Maitland +nodded. The presence of Stillwell in that room introduced a +painful element. Once he had been one of the seven and though +never so intimately associated with the Rectory life as the others, +yet at all team gatherings he had had his place. But since the war +Maitland had never been able to endure his presence in that room. +To-day, with the memory of those old thrilling days pressing hard +upon his heart, he could not bear to look upon a man, once one of +them, now forever an outsider. The tea coming in brought to +Maitland relief. + +"Ah, here you are," he cried anticipating Stillwell in relieving +Adrien of part of her load. "You are a life saver. Tea is the +thing for this hour." + +"Three lumps, is it not?" said the girl, smiling at him. "You see, +I remember, though you really don't deserve it. And here is Pat +with the sandwiches." + +"Yes! a whole plate for yourself, Captain Jack," said Patricia. +"Come and sit by me here." + +"No indeed!" said her sister with a bright glow on her cheeks. +"Jack is going to sit right here by the tea-pot, and me," she +added, throwing him a swift glance. + +"No! you are both wrong, children," said their mother. "Jack is +coming to sit beside me. He's my boy this afternoon." + +"Mother, we will all share him," said Patricia, placing chairs near +her mother. "I must talk about the match, I simply must." + +A shadow for a moment wiped the brightness from the face and eyes +of the elder sister, but yielding to her mother's appeal, she +joined the circle, saying to Maitland, + +"I don't believe you want to talk about the match, do you? That is +not supposed to be good psychology before a match. What you really +want is a good sleep. Isn't that right?" + +"He has just sent his men off to bed, I know," said Patricia, "and +we will send him off when he has had his tea." + +"I am so glad you are playing again," said Mrs. Templeton to +Maitland as he sat down by her side. "You need more recreation +than you have been taking, I believe." + +A shadow crossed Maitland's face. + +"I don't believe I need recreation very much, but these chaps of +mine do," he said simply. + +"The workmen, you mean!" + +"Yes. They lead rather a dull life, you know. Not much colour. A +pool room on the whole has rather a rotten effect upon a chap who +has been nine or ten hours indoors already and who sticks at the +same thing day in and day out for months at a time." + +"Ah, I see. You mean you took up hockey for--ah--to help--" + +"Well, I don't want to pose as a workingman's advocate and that +sort of thing. But really he has a slow time." + +"Then, why doesn't he get busy and do something for himself," broke +in Stillwell, impatiently. "The Lord knows he is getting most of +the money these days and has more spare time than anyone else in +the community." + +But Maitland ignored him, till Patricia intervened. + +"Tell me about that," she demanded. + +"Look here!" said her sister. "You are not going to get Jack into +a labour controversy this afternoon. But I would just like to ask +you, Pat, how keen you'd be on organising and conducting a Literary +and Debating Society after you had put in not five and a half +hours' lessons, but eight or nine hours'! It would take some +doing, eh? But let's cut out the labour trouble. It is nearly +time for his sleep, isn't it?" + +"Is it, Captain Jack? If so, we won't keep you a minute," said +Patricia anxiously. "No, mother! you must not keep him. He must +be on tip-toe to-night." + +Captain Jack rose. "Patricia would make an ideal trainer," he +said. "I fear I must really go. I am awfully glad to have come in +and seen you all. Somehow I feel a whole lot better." + +"And so do we, Jack," said the old lady in a wistful voice. "Won't +you come again soon?" + +Maitland hesitated a moment, glancing at Adrien. + +"Oh, do!" said the girl, with a little colour coming into her face. +"It has been a little like old times to see you this way." + +"Yes, hasn't it?" said Stillwell. "Awfully jolly." + +Maitland stiffened and turned again to the old lady whose eyes were +turned on him with sad entreaty. + +"Yes, I shall come to see you," said Maitland, bowing over her hand +in farewell. + +"We shall expect you to come and see us to-night at the match, +remember, Captain Jack," said Patricia, as he passed out of the +room. "Now be sure to go and have your sleep." + +But there was no sleep that afternoon for Captain Jack. On his way +through the town he was halted by McNish. + +"The boys want to see you," he said briefly. + +"What boys? What do you mean, McNish?" + +"At the rooms. Will you come down now?" + +"Now? I can't come now, McNish. I have to be on the ice in three +hours and I must get a little rest. What's up, anyway? Tell them +I'll see them to-morrow." + +"No! they want you now!" said McNish firmly. "I would advise that +you come." + +"What do you mean, McNish? Well, get in here and I'll go to see +them." McNish got into the car. "Now, what's all the mystery?" + +"Better wait," said McNish, grimly. + +"Well, it is a dog's trick," said Maitland wrathfully, "to get on +to a chap before a big match like this." + +In the Union Committee rooms a group of men were awaiting them, +among them Mr. Wigglesworth and the little cockney who had made +himself so obnoxious at the public meeting. + +"What's all this tomfoolery, Wigglesworth?" demanded Captain Jack, +striding in among them. + +"(H)excuse me," said the little cockney. "You are a member of the +Woodworkers' Union I (h)understand." + +"Who the devil are you, may I ask?" said Maitland in a rage. + +"(H)allow me," said Mr. Wigglesworth. "Mister Simmons, Mr. +Maitland--Mr. Simmons is our new secretary, (h)elected last +meetin'." + +"Well, what do you want of me?" demanded Maitland. "Don't you know +I am tied up this afternoon?" + +"Tied (h)up?" asked Simmons coolly, "'ow?" + +"With the match, confound you." + +"Oh, the match! And w'at match may that be? (H)Anythin' to do +with your Union?" + +Maitland glared at him, too dumfounded to speak. + +"You see, Mr. Maitland," began Mr. Wigglesworth in a hurried and +apologetic manner. + +"'Ere! you keep aht o' this," said Simmons sharply, "this 'ere's my +job. I shall tell Brother Maitland all that is necessary." + +"I was only going to (h)explain--" began Mr. Wigglesworth. + +"Naw then! IS this your job or mine? Was you (h)appointed or was +I? When I find myself (h)unable to discharge my dooty to the Union +I might per'aps call on you, Brother Wigglesworth; but until I find +myself in that situation I 'ope you will refrain from shovin' in +your 'orn." Brother Simmons' sarcasm appeared to wither Brother +Wigglesworth into silence. + +"Naw then, Brother Maitland, we shall get (h)on." + +Maitland glanced round on the group of half a dozen men. Some of +them he knew; others were strangers to him. + +"I don't know what the business is, gentlemen," he said, curbing +his wrath, "but I want to know if it can't wait till to-morrow? +You know our boys are going on the ice in a couple of hours or so--" + +"Goin' on the (h)ice! Goin' on the (h)ice! W'at's that to do with +Union business?" snarled Simmons. "This 'ere's no silly kids' +gaime! It's a man's work we ave in 'and, if you don't want to do +the business to w'ich you are (h)appointed w'y just say so and we +shall know 'ow to (h)act. There 'as been too much o' this gaime +business to suit me. If we are men let us (h)act like men." + +"Better get on wi' it," said McNish curtly. + +"I shall get on w'en I am good and ready, Brother McNish," answered +Simmons. + +"All r-r-right, brother, but A doot ye're oot o' order. Who is the +chairman o' this Committee?" asked McNish calmly. + +"Brother Phillips," answered two or three voices. + +"All right. I suggest you proceed regularly and call the meeting +to order," said McNish quietly. Simmons, recognising that it was +Greek meeting Greek, agreed to this. + +Clumsily and hesitatingly Brother Phillips began stating the +business of the Committee. He had not gone far before Simmons +interrupted. + +"Mr. Chairman, with your permission I would just like to say that +the resolution passed at the representative joint meetin' of the +Maitland Mills and Box Factory (h)employees last night will +sufficiently (h)explain the (h)object of this meetin' 'ere." +Brother Simmons' tone suggested infinite pity for the lumbering +efforts of the chairman. + +"Yes, I guess it will," said the chairman, blushing in his +confusion. Brother Phillips was new to his position and its +duties. + +"I would suggest that that resolution be read," said Brother +Simmons, the pity in his tone hardly veiling his contempt. + +"Yes! Yes! Of course!" said Brother Phillips hurriedly. "Eh-- +would you please read it, Mr.--that is--Brother Simmons?" + +With great show of deliberation and of entire mastery of the +situation Mr. Simmons produced a Minute Book and began: + +"Mr. Chairman and brothers, I may say that this 'ere resolution was +passed at a joint representative meetin' of all the (h)employees of +the Maitland Company--" + +"There is no sich company, Mr. Chairman," said McNish. "A say let +us hear the resolution. We'll hear the speech afterwards if we +must." It was again Greek meeting Greek, and the little man turned +with a sarcastic smile to McNish. + +"I suppose Brother McNish is (h)anxious to get ready for this gaime +we've bin 'earing abaht. I should just like to remind 'im that we +'ave a bigger gaime on 'and, if 'e wants to get into it. Personally +I don't 'ave no use for these 'ere gaimes. I 'ave seen the same +kind of capitalistic dodge to distract the workin' man's (h)attention +from 'is real gaime in life. These circumventions--" + +"Maister Chair-r-man! A rise--" + +"Mr. Chairman, I 'ave the floor and if Brother McNish knows +(h)anythink abaht constitootional proceedin's--" + +"Maister Chair-r-man--Maister-r Chair-r-r-man!" Brother McNish's +Doric was ominously rasping. "A rise tae a pint of or-r-de-r-r. +And Brother Simmons, who claims to be an expert in constitutional +law and procedure knows I have the floor. Ma pint of order is +this, that there is no business before the meeting and as +apparently only aboot half the members are absent--" + +"And 'oo's fault is that? 'E was to get them 'isself," shouted Mr. +Simmons. + +"A searched the toon for them but cudna find them, but as A was +sayin'--as the secretary has no business tae bring before the +meeting but a wheen havers, A move we adjourn tae tomorrow at 12:30 +p. m. in this place, and I believe that as Brither Maitland is also +a member o' this committee he will second the motion." + +Maitland, not knowing in the least what the whole thing was about, +but seeing a way out of the present mix-up, promptly seconded the +motion. + +"Mr. Chairman!" shouted Simmons. "I am prepared to--" + +"Maister Chair-r-man, A need not remind you that there is no +discussion on a motion to adjourn." + +"That is quite right," said the chairman, in whose memory by some +obscure mental process this fact seemed to have found a lodging. + +"It is moved that this committee do now adjourn." + +"Mr. Chairman! I protest," shrieked Brother Simmons frantically. + +"Ay, he's a grand protester!" said Brother McNish. + +The motion was carried by a majority of one, Brothers Wigglesworth, +McNish and Maitland voting in the affirmative. + +"Traitors!" shrieked Brother Simmons. "Capitalistic traitors!" + +"Hoot mon! Ye're no in Hyde Park. Save yere breath for yere +porritch the morn--" said McNish, relaxing into a grim smile as he +left the rooms. + +"We'll get 'im," said Simmons to his ally and friend. "'E's in +with that there young pup. 'E knows 'ow to work 'im and 'e'd sell +us all up, 'e would." Brother Simmons' brand of profanity strongly +savoured of the London pavements in its picturesque fluency. + +"Get in here, McNish," said Maitland, who was waiting at the door. +With some hesitation McNish accepted the invitation. + +"Now, what does this mean?" said Maitland savagely, then checking +his rage, "but I ought to thank you for getting me out of the grip +of that frantic idiot. What is this fool thing?" + +"It's nae that," said McNish shortly. "It is anything but that. +But I grant ye this was no time to bring it on. That was beyond +me. A doot yon puir cratur had a purpose in it, however. He +disna--does not think much of these games of yours. But that's +anither--another"--McNish was careful of his speech--"matter." + +"But what in--" + +"I am just telling you. There is a strong, a very strong movement +under way among the unions at present." + +"A movement? Strike, do you mean?" + +"It may be, or worse." McNish's tone was very grave. "And as a +good union man they expect your assistance." + +"Wages again?" + +"Ay, and condeetions and the like." + +"But it is not six months since the last agreement was signed and +that agreement is running still." + +"Ay, it is, but condeetions, conditions have changed since that +date," said McNish, "and there must be readjustment--at least, +there is a feeling that way." + +"Readjustment? But I have had no hint of this in our meetings. +This has not come up for discussion." + +A gentle pity smiled from the rugged face of the man beside him. + +"Hardly," he said. "It's no done that way." + +They came to McNish's door. + +"Will you come in?" he said courteously. A refusal was at Maitland's +lips when the door was opened by an old lady in a white frilled cap +and without being able to explain how it came about he found himself +in the quaintly furnished but delightfully cosy living-room, soaking +in the comfort of a great blazing fire. + +"This is really solid comfort," he said, spreading his hands to the +glowing pine slabs. + +"Ay, ye need it the day. The fire cheers the heart," said the old +lady. + +"But you don't need it for that, Mrs. McNish," said her visitor, +smiling at the strong, serene face under the white frilled cap. + +"Do I not then? An' what aboot yersel'?" The keen grey eye +searched his face. Maitland was immediately conscious of a vast +dreariness in his life. He sat silent looking into the blazing +fire. + +"Ay," continued the old lady, "but there are the bright spots tae, +an' it's ill tae glower at a cauld hearth stone." Maitland glanced +quickly at the shrewd and kindly face. What did she know about him +and his life and his "cauld hearth stone"? So he said nothing but +waited. Suddenly she swerved to another theme. + +"Malcolm," she said, "have ye secured the tickets for the match?" + +"Aw, mither, now it is the terrible auld sport ye are. She drags +me out to all these things." His eyes twinkled at Maitland. "I +can't find time for any study." + +"Hoots ye and ye're study. A doot a rale heartening scramble on +the ice wad dae ye mair guid than an oor wi' yon godless Jew +buddie." + +"She means Marx, of course," said McNish, in answer to Maitland's +look of perplexity. "She has no use for him." + +"But the tickets, Malcolm," insisted his mother. + +"Well, mither, A'll confess I clean forgot them. Ye see," he +hurried to say, "A was that fashed over yon Committee maitter--" + +"Committee maitter!" exclaimed the old lady indignantly. "Did I +not tell ye no to heed yon screamin' English cratur wi' his +revolutionary nonsense?" + +"She means Simmons," interjected Malcolm with a little smile. "He +means well, mither, but A'm vexed aboot the tickets." + +"Mrs. McNish," said Maitland, "I happen to have two tickets that I +can let you have." For an instant she hesitated. + +"We can find a way in, I think, Mr. Maitland," said Malcolm, +forestalling his mother's answer. But with simple dignity his +mother put him aside. + +"A shall be verra pleased indeed to have the tickets, provided you +can spare them, Mr. Maitland. Never mind, noo, Malcolm. A ken +well what ye're thinkin'. He's gey independent and his mind is on +thae revolutionary buddies o' his. A'm aye tellin' him this is nae +land for yon nonsense. Gin we were in Rooshie, or Germany whaur +the people have lived in black slavery or even in the auld land +whaur the fowk are haudden doon wi' generations o' class bondage, +there might be a chance for a revolutionary. But what can ye dae +in a land whaur the fowk are aye climbin' through ither, noo up, +noo down, noo maister, noo man? Ye canna make Canadians +revolutionaries. They are a' on the road to be maisters. Malcolm +is a clever loon but he has a wee bee in his bonnet." The old lady +smiled quizzically at her big, serious-faced son. + +"Noo, mither, ye're just talkin' havers," he said. "My mother is +as great a Socialist as I am." + +"Ay, but A keep ma heid." + +"That ye do, mither. Ye're gey cannie," replied her son, shaking +his head, and so they passed the word to and fro, and Maitland sat +listening to the chat. The delightful spirit of camaraderie +between mother and son reminded him of a similar relationship +between mother and sons in his own home in pre-war days. He could +not tear himself away. It was well on to his dinner hour before he +rose to go. + +"You have given me a delightful hour, Mrs. McNish," he said as he +shook hands. "You made me think of my own home in the old days,--I +mean before the war came and smashed everything." The old lady's +eyes were kindly scanning his face. + +"Ay, the war smashed yere hame?" Maitland nodded in silence. + +"His brither," said Malcolm, quietly. + +"Puir laddie," she said, patting his hand. + +"And my mother," added Maitland, speaking with difficulty, "and +that, of course, meant our home--and everything. So I thank you +for a very happy hour," he added with a smile. + +"Wad ye care to come again?" said the old lady with a quiet +dignity. "We're plain fowk but ye'll be always welcome." + +"I just will, Mrs. McNish. And I will send you the tickets." + +"Man! I wish ye grand luck the night. A grand victory." + +"Thank you. We are going to make a try for it," said Maitland. +"You must shout for us." + +"Ay, wull I," she answered grimly. And she kept her word for of +all the company that made up the Maitland party, none was more +conspicuously enthusiastic in applause than was a white-haired old +lady in a respectable black bonnet whose wild and weird Doric +expletives and exclamations were the joy of the whole party about +her. + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE NIGHT OF VICTORY + + +It was an hour after the match. They were gathered in the old +rendezvous of the hockey teams in pre-war days. And they were all +wildly excited over the Great Victory. + +"Just think of it, Mamma, dear," Patricia shouted, pirouetting now +on one foot and then on the other, "Eight to six! Oh, it is too +glorious to believe! And against that wonderful team, the +Cornwalls! Now listen to me, while I give you a calm and connected +account of the game. I shall always regret that you were not +present, Mamma. Victory! And at half time we were down, five to +two! I confess disaster and despair stared me in the face. And we +started off so gloriously! Captain Jack and Snoopy in the first +five minutes actually put in two goals, with that back goal play of +theirs. You know, I explained it to you, Mamma." + +"Yes, dear, I know," said her mother, "but if you will speak a +little more quietly and slowly--" + +"I will, Mamma," said her daughter, sitting down with great +deliberation, in front of her. "I will explain to you again that +'round the goal' play." + +"I am afraid, my dear, that I could hardly grasp just what you +mean." + +"Well, never mind, Mamma. It is a particular and special play that +Captain Jack worked out. They rush down to the goal and instead of +trying to shoot, the one with the puck circles round the back and +delivers the puck immediately in front of the goal, where another +takes and slips it in. Two goals in about five minutes, wasn't it, +Hugh?" + +"About eight minutes, I should say," replied Hugh Maynard, the big +Captain of the Eagles. + +"Well, eight minutes," continued Patricia, taking up the tale, "and +then they began the roughhouse business. Jumbo Larson--a terribly +big Swede, Mamma--put it all over little Snoopy. Chucked him +about, wiped the ice with him!" + +"My dear!" exclaimed her mother. + +"Well, you know what I mean. A great big, two-hundred-pound +monster, who simply threw Snoopy and Georgie Ross all about the +rink. It took Captain Jack all his time to stand up against him. +And then they ran in goals at a perfectly terrific rate. Two-- +three--four--five! And only Fatty Findlay's marvelous play kept +down the score. I adore Fatty! You know, Mamma, that dear old +Scotchwoman--" + +"Scotchwoman?" exclaimed Mrs. Templeton. + +"Yes. Oh! you don't know about her. Captain Jack brought her +along. Mrs. Mc-something." + +"McNish," supplied Adrien. + +"Yes, McNish," continued Patricia, "a perfect dear! She did +everything but swear. Indeed, she may have been swearing for I +could not understand half of what she said." + +Adrien interrupted: "She is perfectly priceless, Mother. I wish +you could meet her--so dignified and sweet." + +"Sweet!" exclaimed Patricia, with a laugh. "Well, I didn't see the +sweetness, exactly. But at half time, Mamma, fancy! they stood +five to two against us. It was a truly awful moment for all of us. +And then, after half time, didn't those Cornwalls within five +minutes run in another goal, and, worse than all, Jumbo Larson laid +out Snoopy flat on the ice! Now the game stood six to two! Think +of it, Mamma!" + +Then Adrien put in: "It was at this point that the old lady made a +remark which, I believe, saved the day. What was it exactly, +Hugh?" + +"I didn't quite get it." + +"I know," said little Vic Forsythe, himself a star of the Eagle +forward line. "You poor Sassenach! You couldn't be expected to +catch the full, fine flavour of it. Maitland was trying to cheer +the old lady up when she said to him: 'Yon half backs, A'm +thinkin''--she was a soccer fan in the old land, I believe--'yon +half backs, A'm thinkin', are gey confident. It is a peety they +cudna be shaken a bit in their nerves.' By Jove! Maitland jumped +at it. 'Mrs. McNish, you're right! you're right. I wonder I did +not think of it before.'" + +Then Adrien broke in: "Yes, from that moment there was a change in +our men's tactics." + +Then Patricia broke in: "Well, then, let me go on. Captain Jack +knew quite well there was no use of allowing those little chaps, +Snoopy and Geordie Ross, to keep feeding themselves to those horrid +monsters, Jumbo Larson and Macnab, so what did they do but move up +"Jack" Johnson and Macnamara. That is, you see, Mamma, the +forwards would take down the puck and then up behind them would +come the backs, Macnamara and "Jack" Johnson, like a perfect storm, +and taking the puck from the forwards, who would then fall back to +defence, would smash right on the Cornwall defence. The very first +time when "Jack" Johnson came against Jumbo, Jumbo found himself +sitting on the ice. Oh! it was lovely! Perfectly lovely! And the +next time they did it, Jumbo came at him like a bull. But that +adorable "Jack" Johnson just lifted him clear off his feet and +flung him against the side. It seemed to me that the whole rink +shook!" + +Here Vic broke in: "You didn't hear what the old lady said at this +point, I suppose. I was sitting next to her. She was really a +whole play by herself. When Jumbo went smashing against the side, +the old lady gave a grunt. 'Hum, that wull sort ye a doot.' Oh! +she is a peach!" + +"And the next time they came down," cried Patricia, taking up the +tale again, "Jumbo avoided him. For Macnamara, 'Jack' Johnson and +Captain Jack came roaring down the ice at a terrific pace, and with +never a stop, smashed head on into Jumbo and Macnab and fairly +hurled them in on Hepburn--that is their goal keeper, you know--and +scored. Oh! Oh! Oh! Such a yell! Six to three, and ten minutes +to play." + +"But Patricia," said Mrs. Templeton, "do moderate your tone. We +are not in the rink. And this terrible excitement can't be good +for you." + +"Good for me?" cried Patricia. "What difference does that make? +Ten minutes to play, Mamma! But that was the end of the roughhouse +game by the Cornwall defence." + +Then Hugh stepped in: "It really did break up that defence. It +was a wonderful piece of generalship, I must say. They never +seemed to get together after that." + +"Let me talk, Hugh," exclaimed Patricia, "I want to tell Mamma what +happened next, for this was really the most terribly exciting part +of the game. And I think it was awfully clever of Captain Jack. +You know, next time, Mamma, when they came down--I mean our men-- +they pretended to be playing the same game, but they weren't. For +Captain Jack and Snoopy went back to their old specialty, and +before the Cornwalls knew where they were at, they ran in three +goals--one-two-three, just like that! Oh! you ought to have seen +that rink, Mamma, and you ought to have heard the yelling! I wish +you had been there! And then, just at that last goal didn't that +horrid Jumbo make a terrible and cruel swing at Snoopy's ankle, +just as he passed. Knocked him clean off his feet so that poor +Snoopy lay on the ice quite still! He was really nearly killed. +They had to carry him off!" + +"Well, I wouldn't say that exactly," said Hugh. "The fact of the +matter is, Snoopy is a clever little beggar and I happened to catch +his wink as Maitland was bending over him. I was helping him off +the ice, you know, and I heard him whisper, 'Don't worry, Captain, +I'm all right. Get me another pair of skates. It will take a +little time.'" + +"Do you mean he wasn't hurt?" exclaimed Patricia indignantly. +"Indeed he was; he was almost killed, I am sure he was." + +"Oh, he was hurt right enough," said Hugh, "but he wasn't killed by +any means!" + +"And then," continued Patricia, "there was the most terrible riot +and uproar. Everybody seemed to be on the ice and fighting. Hugh +ran in, and Vic--I should loved to have gone myself--Hugh was +perfectly splendid--and all the Eagles were there and--" + +Then Mrs. Templeton said: "What do you mean--a fight, a riot?" + +"A real riot, Mother," said Adrien, "the whole crowd demanding +Jumbo's removal from the ice." + +"Yes," continued Patricia impatiently, pushing her sister aside, +"Hugh went straight to the umpire and it looked almost as though he +was going to fight, the way he tore in. But he didn't. He just +spoke quietly to the umpire. What did you say, Hugh?" + +"Oh," cried Vic, "Hugh was perfectly calm and superior. He knows +the umpire well. Indeed, I think the umpire owes his life to Hugh +and his protecting band of Eagles." + +"What did he say," cried Patricia. "I wish I could have heard +that." + +"Oh," said Vic, "there was an interesting conversation. 'Keep out +of this, Maynard. You ought to know better,' the umpire said, +'keep out.' 'Baker, that man Larson must go off.' 'Rubbish,' said +the umpire, 'they were both roughing it.' 'Look here, Baker, +that's rot and you know it. It was a deliberate and beastly trick. +Put him off!' 'He stays on!' said the umpire, and he stuck to it, +I'll give him credit for that. It was old Maitland that saved the +day. He came up smiling. 'I hope you are taking off the time, +umpire,' he said, with that little laugh of his. 'I am not going +to put Larson off,' shouted the umpire to him. 'Who asked you to?' +said Maitland. 'Go on with the game.' That saved the day. They +all started cheering. The ice was cleared and the game went on." + +"Oh, that was it. I couldn't understand. They were so savage +first, and then suddenly they all seemed to quiet down. It was +Captain Jack. Well, Mamma, on they came again! But when poor +Snoopy came out, all bandaged round the head and the blood showing +through--" + +"Quite a clever little beggar," murmured Vic. + +"Clever? What do you mean?" cried Patricia. + +"Oh, well, good psychology, I mean--that's all. Bloody bandages-- +demanding vengeance, Jack's team, you know--Macnamara, for +instance, entreating his captain for the love of heaven to put him +opposite Jumbo--shaking the morale of the enemy and so forth-- +mighty good psychology." + +"I don't know exactly what you mean," said Patricia, "but the +Cornwall defence was certainly rattled. They pulled their men back +and played defence like perfect demons, with the Mill men on to +them like tigers." + +"But Patricia, my dear," said her mother, "those are terrible +words." + +"But, Mamma, not half so terrible as the real thing. Oh, it was +perfectly splendid! And then how did it finish, Hugh? I didn't +quite see how that play came about." + +"I didn't see, either," said Hugh. + +"Didn't you?" cried Adrien, "I did. Jack and Geordie Ross were +going down the centre at a perfectly terrific speed, big Macnamara +backing them up. Out came Macnab and Jumbo Larson following him. +Macnab checked Geordie, who passed to Jack, who slipped it back to +Macnamara. Down came Jumbo like a perfect thunderbolt and fairly +hurled himself upon Macnamara. I don't know what happened then, +but--" + +"Oh, I do!" cried Vic. "When old Jumbo came hurtling down upon +Macnamara, this was evidently what Macnamara was waiting for. +Indeed, what he had been praying for all through the game. I saw +him gather himself, crouch low, lurch forward with shoulder well +down, a wrestler's trick--you know Macnamara was the champion +wrestler of his division in France--he caught Jumbo low. Result, a +terrific catapult, and the big Swede lay on his back some twenty +feet away. Everybody thought he was dead." + +"Oh, it was perfectly lovely!" exclaimed Patricia, rapturously. + +"But, my dear," said her mother, "lovely, and they thought the man +was dead!" + +"Oh, but he wasn't dead. He came to. I will say he was very +plucky. Then just as they faced off, time was called. Six to six! +Think of it, Mamma, six to six! And we had been five to two at +half time!" + +"Six to six?" said Mrs. Templeton. "But I thought you said we +won?" + +"Oh, listen, Mamma, this is the most wonderful thing of the whole +match," said Adrien, trying to break in on the tornado of words +from her younger sister. + +"No, let me, Adrien! I know exactly how it was done. Captain Jack +explained it to me before. It was Captain Jack's specialty. It +was what they call the double-circle. Here is the way it was +worked." Patricia sprang to her feet, arranged two chairs for goal +and proceeded to demonstrate. "You see, Mamma, in the single +circle play, Captain Jack and Snoopy come down--say Snoopy has the +puck. Just as they get near the goal Snoopy fools the back, rushes +round the goal and passes to Jack, who is standing in front ready +to slip it in. But of course the Cornwalls were prepared for the +play. But that is where the double-circle comes in. This time +Geordie had the puck, with Captain Jack immediately at his left and +Snoopy further out. Well, Geordie had the puck, you see. He +rushes down and pretends to make the circle of the goal. But this +time he doesn't. He tears like mad around the goal with the puck, +Snoopy tears like mad around the goal from the other side, the +defence all rush over to the left to check them, leaving the right +wide open. Snoopy takes the ball from Geordie, rushes around the +goal the other way, Mamma, do you see?--passes back to Reddy, his +partner, who slips it in! And poor Jumbo was unable to do +anything. I believe he was still dazed from his terrible fall!" + +Then Hugh breaks in: "It really was beautifully done." + +"It certainly was," said Vic. + +"Seven to six, Mamma, think of it! Seven to six, and two minutes +of the first overtime to play. Two minutes! It just seemed that +our men could do as they liked. The last time the whole forward +lines came down, with Macnamara and 'Jack' Johnson roaring and +yelling like--like--I don't know what. And they did the double- +circle again! Think of it! And then time was called. Oh, I am +perfectly exhausted with this excitement!" said Patricia, sinking +back into her chair. "I don't believe I could go down to that +rink, not even for another game. It is terribly trying!" + +At this moment Rupert Stillwell came in, full of enthusiasm for the +Cornwalls' scientific hockey, and with grudging praise for the +local team, deploring their roughhouse tactics. But he met a sharp +and unexpected check, for Adrien took him in hand, in her quiet, +cool, efficient manner. + +"Roughhouse!" she said. "What do you mean exactly by that?" + +"Well," said Rupert, somewhat taken aback, "for instance that +charge of Macnamara on Jumbo Larson at the last." + +"I saw that quite clearly," said Adrien, "and it appeared to me +quite all right. It was Larson who made the most furious charge +upon Macnamara." + +"Of course it was," cried Patricia, indignantly. "Jumbo deserved +all he got. Why, the way he mauled little Snoopy and Geordie Ross +in the first part of the game was perfectly horrid. Don't you +think so, Hugh?" + +"Oh, well, hockey is not tiddly-winks, you know, Patricia, and--" + +"As if I didn't know that!" broke in the girl indignantly. + +"And Jumbo and Macnab," continued Hugh, "really had to break up the +dangerous combination there. Of course that was a rotten assault +on Snoopy. It wasn't Jumbo's fault that he didn't break an ankle. +As it was, he gave him a very bad fall." + +At this Rupert laughed scornfully. "Rot," he said, "the whole town +is laughing at all that bloody bandage business. It was a bit of +stage play. Very clever, I confess, but no hockey. I happen to +know that Maitland was quite hot about it." + +But Hugh and Vic only laughed at him. + +"He is a clever little beggar, is Snoopy," said Vic. + +"But, meantime," said Mrs. Templeton, "where is Jack! He was going +to be here, was he not?" + +"Feasting and dancing, I expect," said Rupert. "There is a big +supper on, given by the Mill management, and a dance afterwards-- +'hot time in the old town,' eh?" + +"A dance?" gasped Patricia. "A dance! Where?" + +"Odd Fellows' Hall," said Rupert. "Want to go? I have tickets. +Don't care for that sort of thing myself. Rather a mixed affair, I +guess. Mill hands and their girls." + +"Oh," breathed Patricia, "I should love to go. Couldn't we?" + +"But my dear Patricia," said her mother, "a dance, with all those +people? What nonsense. But I wish Jack would drop in. I should +so like to congratulate him on his great victory." + +"Oh, do let us go, just for a few minutes, Mamma" entreated +Patricia. "Hugh, have you tickets?" + +The men looked at each other. + +"Well," confessed Vic, "I was thinking of dropping in myself. +After all, it is our home team and they are good sports. And +Maitland handled them with wonderful skill." + +"Yes, I am going," said Hugh. "I am bound to go as Captain of the +Eagles, and that sort of thing, but I would, anyway. Would you +care to come, Adrien, if Mrs. Templeton will allow you? Of course +there are chaperons. Maitland would see to that." + +"I should like awfully to go," said Adrien eagerly. "We might, for +a few minutes, Mother? Of course, Patricia should be in bed, +really." + +Poor Patricia's face fell. + +"It is no place for any of you," said the mother, decidedly. "Just +think of that mixed multitude! And you, Patricia, you should be in +bed." + +"But oh, Mamma, dear," wailed Patricia, "I can rest all day to- +morrow." + +At this point a new voice broke in to the discussion and Doctor +Templeton appeared. "Well, what's the excitement," he enquired. +"Oh, the match, of course! Well, what was the result?" + +"Oh, Daddy, we won, we won!" cried Patricia, springing at him. +"The most glorious match! Big Jumbo Larson, a perfect monster on +the Cornwall defence, was knocked out! Oh, it was a glorious +match! And can't I go down to see the dance? Adrien and Hugh and +Vic are going. Only for a few minutes," she begged, with her arms +around her father's neck. "Say yes, Daddy!" + +"Give me time; let me get my breath, Patricia. Now, do begin +somewhere--say, with the score." + +They all gave him the score. + +"Hurrah!" cried the old doctor. "No one hurt--seriously, I mean?" + +"No," said Patricia, "except perhaps Jumbo Larson," she added +hopefully. + +"The Lord was merciful to this family when he made you a girl, +Patricia," said her father. + +"But, Daddy, it was a wonderful game." Quite breathlessly, she +went once more over the outstanding features of the play. + +"Sounds rather bloody, I must say," said her father, doubtfully. + +But Hugh said: "It was not really--not quite so bad as Patricia +makes it, sir. Rough at times, of course, but, on the whole, +clean." + +"Clean," cried Patricia, "what about Jumbo's swing at Snoopy?" + +"Oh, well, Snoopy had the puck, you know. It was a little off- +colour, I must confess." + +"And now, Daddy," said Patricia, going at her father again, "we all +want to go down to the dance. There will be speeches, you know, +and I do want to hear Captain Jack," she added, not without guile. +"Won't you let me go with them? Hugh will take care of me." + +"I think I should rather like to go myself," said her father. A +shout of approval rose from the whole company. "But," continued +the doctor, "I don't think I can. My dear, I think they might go +for a few minutes--and you can bring me in a full account of the +speeches, Patricia," he added, with a twinkle in his eye. + +"But, my dear," exclaimed his wife, "this is one of those awful +public affairs. You can't imagine what they are like. The Mill +hands will all be there, and that sort of people." + +"Well, my dear, Jack Maitland will be there, I fancy, and you were +thinking of going, Hugh?" + +"Yes, sir, I am going. Of course there will be a number of the +friends of both teams, townspeople. Of course the Mill hands will +be there, too, in large numbers. It will be great fun." + +"Well, my dear," said the doctor, "I think they might go down for a +few minutes. But be sure to be back before midnight. Remember, +Patricia, you are to do exactly as your sister says." + +Then Vic said: "I shall keep a firm hand on her, sir." + +"Oh, you darling," Patricia cried, hugging her father rapturously. +"I will be so good; and won't it be fun!" + +Odd Fellows' Hall was elaborately decorated with bunting and +evergreens. The party from the Rectory, arriving in time to hear +the closing speeches of the two team captains, took their places in +the gallery. The speeches were brief and to the point. + +The Captain of the visiting team declared that he had greatly +enjoyed the game. He was not quite convinced that the best team +had won, but he would say that the game had gone to the team that +had put up the best play. He complimented Captain Maitland upon +his generalship. He had known Captain Maitland in the old days and +he ought to have been on the lookout for the kind of thing he had +put over. The Maitland Mill team had made a perfectly wonderful +recovery in the last quarter, though he rather thought his friend +Macnamara had helped it a little at a critical point. + +"He did that," exclaimed Jumbo Larson, with marked emphasis. + +After the roar of laughter had quieted down, the Cornwall Captain +closed by expressing the hope that the Maitland Mill team would try +for a place next season in the senior hockey. In which case he +expressed the hope that he might have the pleasure of meeting them +again. + +Captain Maitland's speech was characteristic. He had nothing but +praise for the Cornwalls. They played a wonderful game and a clean +game. He shared in the doubt of their Captain as to which was the +better team. He frankly confessed that in the last quarter the +luck came to his team. + +"Not a bit of it," roared the Cornwalls with one voice. + +As to his own team, he was particularly proud of the way they had +taken the training--their fine self-denial, and especially the +never-dying spirit which they showed. It was a great honour for +his team to meet the Cornwalls. A hard team to meet--sometimes--as +Snoopy and himself had found out that evening--but they were good +sports and he hoped some day to meet them again. + +After the usual cheers for the teams, individually and collectively, +for their supporters, for the Mill management and for the ladies, +the dinner came to an end, the whole party joining with wide open +throats and all standing at attention, in the Canadian and the +Empire national anthems. + +While the supper table was being cleared away preparatory to the +dance, Captain Jack rushed upstairs to the party in the gallery. +Patricia flung herself at him in an ecstasy of rapture. + +"Oh! Captain Jack, you did win! You did win! You did win! It was +glorious! And that double-circle play that you and Snoopy put up-- +didn't it work beautifully!" + +"We were mighty lucky," said Captain Jack. + +The others, Hugh, Vic and Rupert, crowded round, offering +congratulations. Adrien waited behind, a wonderful light shining +in her eyes, a faint colour touching her pale cheek. Captain Jack +came slowly forward. + +"Are you not going to congratulate us, too, Adrien?" he said. + +She moved a pace forward. + +"Oh, Jack," she whispered, leaning toward him and breathing +quickly, "it was so like the old, the dear old days." + +Into Maitland's eyes there flashed a look of surprise, of wonder, +then of piercing scrutiny, while his face grew white. + +"Adrien," he said, in a voice low, tense, almost stern, which she +alone heard. "What do you mean? Then do you--" + +"Oh, Captain Jack," cried Patricia, catching his arm, "are you +going to dance? You are, aren't you? And will you give me-- Oh, +I daren't ask! You are such a great hero to-night!" + +"Why, Patsy, will you give me a dance?" + +The girl stood gazing at him with eyes that grew misty, the quick +beating of her loyal heart almost suffocating her. + +"Oh, Captain Jack," she gasped, "how many?" + +Maitland laughed at her, and turned to her sister. + +"And you, Adrien, may I have a dance?" + +Again Adrien leaned toward him. + +"One?" she asked. + +"And as many more as you can spare." + +"My program is quite empty, you see," she said, flinging out her +hands and laughing joyously into his face. + +"What about me? And me? And me?" said the other three men. + +"I suppose we are all nowhere to-night," added Rupert, with a touch +of bitterness in his voice. + +"Well, there is only one conquering hero, you know," replied +Adrien, smiling at them all. + +"Now I must run off," said Maitland. "You see, I am on duty, as it +were. Come down in a few minutes." + +"Yes, go, Jack," said Adrien, throwing him a warm smile. "We will +follow you in a few minutes." + +"Oh, I am so excited!" said Patricia, as Maitland disappeared down +the stairs. "I mean to dance with every one of the team. I know I +am going to have a perfectly lovely time! But I would give them +all up if I could have Captain Jack all the time." + +"Pig," said her sister, smiling at her. + +"Wretch," cried Vic, making a face. + +But Patricia was quite unabashed. "I am going to have him just as +often as I can," she said, brazenly. + +For a few minutes they stood watching the dancers on the floor +below. It was indeed, as Mrs. Templeton had said, a "mixed +multitude." Mill hands and their girls, townsfolk whose social +standing was sufficiently assured to endure the venture. A mixed +multitude, but thoroughly jolly, making up in vigour what was +lacking in grace in their exposition of the Terpsichorean art. + +"Rather ghastly," said Rupert, who appeared to be quite disgusted +with the whole evening's proceedings. + +"Lovely!" exclaimed Patricia. + +"They are enjoying themselves, at any rate," said Adrien, "and, +after all, that is what people dance for." + +"Stacks of fun. I am all for it, eh, Pat?" said Vic, making +adoring eyes at the young girl. + +But Patricia severely ignored him. + +"Oh, Adrien, look!" she cried suddenly. "There is Annette, and who +is the big man with her? Oh, what an awful dancer he is! But +Annette, isn't she wonderful! What a lovely dress! I think she is +the most beautiful thing." And Patricia was right, for Annette was +radiant in colour and unapproachable in the grace of her movement. + +"By Jove! She is a wonder!" said Vic. "Some dancer, if she only +had a chance." + +"Well, why don't you go down, Vic," said Patricia sharply. "You +know you are just aching to show off your fox trot. Run away, +little boy, I won't mind." + +"I don't believe you would," replied Vic ruefully. + +For some minutes longer they all stood watching the scene below. + +"They are a jolly crowd," said Adrien. "I don't think we have half +the fun at our dances." + +"They certainly get a lot for their money," said Vic. "But wait +till they come to 'turkey-in-the-straw!' That is where they really +cut loose." + +"Oh, pshaw!" cried Patricia. "I can 'turkey' myself. Just wait +and you'll see." + +"So can I," murmured Vic. "Will you let me in on it? Hello," he +continued, "there is the Captain and Annette. Now look out for +high art. I know the Captain's style. And a two-step! My eye! +She is a little airy fairy!" + +"How beautifully she dances," said Adrien. "And how charmingly she +is dressed." + +"They do hit it off, don't they," said Rupert. "They evidently +know each other's paces." + +Suddenly Adrien turned to Hugh: "Don't you think we should go +down?" she asked. "You know we must not stay late." + +"Yes, do come along!" cried Patricia, seizing Victor by the arm and +hurrying to the stairs, the others making their way more leisurely +to the dancing room. + +The hall was a scene of confused hilarity. Maitland was nowhere to +be seen. + +"Oh! let us dance, Vic!" cried Patricia. "There is really no use +waiting for Captain Jack. At any rate, Adrien will claim the first +dance." + +No second invitation was needed and together they swung off into +the medley of dancers. + +"We may as well follow," said Hugh. "We shall doubtless run into +Maitland somewhere before long." + +But not in that dance, nor in the three successive dances did +Maitland appear. The precious moments were slipping by. Patricia +was becoming more and more anxious and fretful at the non- +appearance of her hero. Also, Hugh began to notice and detect a +lagging in his partner's step. + +"Shall we go out into the corridor?" he said. "This air is +beginning to be rather trying." + +From the crowded hall they passed into the corridor, from which +opened side rooms which were used as dressing and retiring rooms, +and whose entrances were cleverly screened by a row of thick spruce +trees set up for the occasion. + +"This is better," said Hugh, drawing a deep breath. "Shall we sit +a bit and rest?" + +"Oh, do let us," said Adrien. "This has been a strenuous and +exciting evening. I really feel quite done out. Here is a most +inviting seat." + +Wearily she sat down on a bench which faced the entrance to one of +the rooms. + +"Shall I bring you a glass of water or an ice, Adrien?" inquired +Hugh, noting the pallor in her face. + +"Thank you. A glass of water, if you will be so kind. How +deliciously fragrant that spruce is." + +As her partner set off upon his errand, Adrien stepped to the +spruce tree which screened the open door of the room opposite, and +taking the bosky branches in her hands, she thrust her face into +the aromatic foliage. + +"How deliciously fragrant," she murmured. + +Suddenly, as if stabbed by a spine in the trees, she started back +and stood gazing through the thick branches into the room beyond +There stood Maitland and Annette, the girl, with her face tearfully +pale and pleading, uplifted to his and with her hands gripped tight +and held fast in his, clasped against his breast. More plainly +than words her face, her eyes, her attitude told her tale. She was +pouring out her very soul to him in entreaty, and he was giving +eager, sympathetic heed to her appeal. + +Swiftly Adrien stepped back from the screening tree, her face white +as if from a stunning blow, her heartbeats checking her breath. +Quickly, blindly, she ran down the corridor. At the very end she +met Hugh with a glass of water in his hand. + +"What is the matter, Adrien? Have you seen a ghost?" he cried in +an anxious voice. + +She caught the glass from his hand and began to drink, at first +greedily, then more slowly. + +"Ah!" she said, drawing a deep breath. "That is good. Do you +know, I was almost overcome. The air of that room is quite deadly. +Now I am all right. Let us get a breath from the outside, Hugh." + +Taking him by the arm, she hastened him to the farther end of the +corridor and opened the door. "Oh, delicious!" She drew in deep +breaths of the cold, fresh air. + +"How wonderful the night is, Hugh." She leaned far out, "and the +snow was like a cloth of silver and diamonds in this glorious +moon." She stooped, and from a gleaming bank beside the door she +caught up a double handful of the snow and, packing it into a +little ball, flung it at her partner, catching him fairly on the +ear. + +"Aha!" she cried. "Don't ever say a woman is a poor shot. Now +then," she added, stamping her feet free from the clinging flakes +and waving her hands in the air to dry them, "I feel fit for +anything. Let us have one more dance before we go home, for I feel +we really must go." + +"You are sure you are quite fit?" inquired Hugh, still anxious for +her. + +"Fit? Look at me!" Her cheeks were bright with colour, her eyes +with light. + +"You surely do look fit," said Hugh, beaming at her with frank +admiration. "But you were all in a few moments ago." + +"Come along. There is a way into the hall by this door," she +cried, catching his hand and hurrying him into the dancing room +again. + +At the conclusion of their dance they came upon Patricia near the +main entrance, in great distress. "I have not seen Captain Jack +anywhere," she lamented. "Have you, Adrien? I have just sent Vic +for a final search. I simply cannot go home till I have had my +dance." The girl was almost in tears. + +"Never mind, dear," said Adrien. "He has many duties to-night with +all these players to look after. I think we had better go whenever +Vic returns. I am awfully sorry for you, Patricia," she added. +"No! Don't! You simply must not cry here." She put her arm +around her sister's shoulder, her own lips trembling, and drew her +close. "Where has Vic gone, I wonder?" + +That young man, however, was having his own trials. In his search +for Maitland he ran across McNish, whom he recognised as Annette's +partner in the first dance. + +"Hello!" he cried. "Do you know where Captain Maitland is, by any +chance?" + +"No, how should I know," replied McNish, in a voice fiercely +guttural. + +"Oh!" said Vic, somewhat abashed. "I saw you dance with Annette-- +with Miss Perrotte--and I thought perhaps you might know where the +Captain was." + +McNish stood glowering at him for a moment or two, then burst +forth: + +"They are awa'--he's ta'en her awa'." + +"Away," said Vic. "Where?" + +"To hell for all I ken or care." + +Then with a single stride McNish was close at his side, gripping +his arm with fingers that seemed to reach the bone. + +"Ye're a friend o' his. Let me say tae ye if ony ill cames tae +her, by the leevin' God above us he wull answer tae me." Hoarse, +panting, his face that of a maniac, he stood glaring wild-eyed at +the young man before him. To say that Vic was shaken by this +sudden and violent onslaught would be much within the truth. +Nevertheless he boldly faced the passion-distracted man. + +"Look here! I don't know who you are or what you mean," he said, +in as steady tones as he could summon, "but if you suggest that any +girl will come to harm from Captain Maitland, then I say you are a +liar and a fool." So speaking, little Vic set himself for the rush +which he was firmly convinced would come. McNish, however, stood +still, fighting for control. Then, between his deep-drawn breaths, +he slowly spoke: + +"Ye may be richt. A hope tae God A am baith liar and fule." The +agony in his face moved Vic to pity. + +"I say, old chap," he said, "you are terribly mistaken somehow, I +can swear to that. Where is Maitland, anyway, do you know?" + +"They went away together." McNish had suddenly gotten himself in +hand. "They went away in his car, secretly." + +"Secretly," said Vic, scornfully. "Now, that is perfect rot. Look +here, do you know Captain Maitland? I am his friend, and let me +tell you that all I ever hope to own, here and hereafter, and all +my relatives and friends, I would gladly trust with him." + +"Maybe, maybe," muttered McNish. "Ye may be richt. A apologise, +sir, but if--" His eyes blazed again. + +"Aw, cut out the tragedy stuff," said Vic, "and don't be an ass. +Good-night." + +Vic turned on his heel and left McNish standing in a dull and dazed +condition, and made his way toward the ballroom. + +"Who is the Johnny, anyway?" he said to himself. "He is mad-- +looney--utterly bughouse. Needs a keeper in the worst way. But +what about the Captain--must think up something. Let's see. Taken +suddenly ill? Hardly--there is the girl to account for. Her +mother--grandmother--or something--stricken--let's see. Annette +has a brother--By Jove! the very thing--I've got it--brother met +with an accident--run over--fell down a well--anything. Hurry +call--ambulance stuff. Good line. Needs working up a bit, though. +What has happened to my grey matter? Let me think. Ah, yes--when +that Johnny brought word of an accident, a serious accident to her +brother, Maitland, naturally enough, the gallant soul, hurries her +off in his car, sending word by aforesaid mad Johnny." + +Vic went to the outer door, feeling the necessity for a somewhat +careful conning of his tale to give it, as he said himself, a +little artistic verisimilitude. Then, with his lesson--as he +thought--well learned, and praying for aid of unknown gods, he went +back to find his partner. + +"If only Patricia will keep out of it," he said to himself as he +neared the hall door, "or if I could only catch old Hugh first. +But he is not much of a help in this sort of thing. Dash it all! +I am quite nervous. This will never do. Must find a way--good +effect--cool and collected stuff." So, ruminating and praying and +moving ever more slowly, he reached the door. Coming in sight of +his party, he hurried to meet them. "Awfully sorry!" he exclaimed +excitedly. "The most rotten luck! Old Maitland's just been called +off." + +"Called off!" cried Patricia, in dismay. "Where to!" + +"Now, don't jump at me like that. Remember my heart. Met that +Johnny--the big chap dancing with Annette, you know--just met him-- +quite worked up--a hurry call for the girl--for the girl, Annette, +you know." + +"The girl!" exclaimed Patricia. "You said Captain Jack." + +"I know! I know!" replied Vic, somewhat impatiently. "I am a bit +excited, I confess. Rather nasty thing--Annette's brother, you +know--something wrong--accident, I think. Couldn't get the +particulars." + +"But Annette's brother is in Toronto," said Adrien, gravely. + +"Exactly!" cried Vic. "That is what I have been telling you. A +hurry call--phone message for Annette--horrible accident. Maitland +rushed her right away in his car to catch the midnight to Toronto." + +"By Jove! That is too bad," said Hugh, a genuine sympathy in his +honest voice. "That is hard luck on poor Annette. Tony is not +exactly a safe proposition, you know." + +"Was he--is he killed?" cried Patricia, in a horror-stricken voice. + +"Killed! Not a bit of it," said Vic cheerfully. "Slight injury-- +but serious, I mean. You know, just enough to cause anxiety." Vic +lit another cigarette with ostentatious deliberation. "Nasty +shock, you know," he said. + +"Who told you all this?" inquired Rupert. + +"Who told me?" said Vic. "Why, that mad Johnny." + +"Mad Johnny? What mad Johnny?" + +Vic said: "Eh! What? You know, that--ahr--big chap who was +falling over her in the fox trot. Looked kind of crazy, you know-- +big chap--Scotch." + +"Where is he now?" enquired Rupert. + +"Oh, I fancy about there, somewhere," replied Vic, remembering that +he had seen McNish moving toward the door. "Better go and look him +up and get more particulars. Might help some, you know." + +"Oh, Adrien, let us go to her," said Patricia. "I am sure Annette +would love to have you. Poor Annette!" + +"Oh! I say!" interposed Vic hurriedly. "There is really no +necessity. I shouldn't like to intrude in family affairs and that +sort of thing, you know what I mean." + +Adrien's grave, quiet eyes were upon Vic's face. "You think we had +better not go, then," she said slowly. + +"Sure thing!" replied Vic, with cheerful optimism. "There is no +necessity--slight accident--no need to make a fuss about it." + +"But you said it was a serious accident--a terrible thing," said +Patricia. + +"Oh, now, Patricia, come out of it. You check a fellow up so hard. +Can't you understand the Johnny was so deucedly worked up over it +he couldn't give me the right of it. Dash it all! Let's have +another turn, Patricia!" + +But Adrien said: "I think we will go home, Hugh." + +"Very well, if you think so, Adrien. I don't fancy you need worry +over Annette. The accident probably is serious but not dangerous. +Tony is a tough fellow." + +"Exactly!" exclaimed Vic. "Just as I have been telling you. +Serious, but not dangerous. At least, that was the impression I +got." + +"Oh, Vic, you are so terribly confusing!" exclaimed Patricia. "Why +can't you get things straight? I say, Adrien, we can ride round to +Annette's on our way home, and then we will get things quite +clearly." + +"Certainly," said Hugh. "It will only take us a minute. Eh, +what!" he added to Vic, who was making frantic grimaces at him. +"Well, if you ladies will get your things, we will go." + +"But I am so disappointed," said Patricia to Adrien, as they went +to their dressing room together. + +After they had gone, Hugh turned upon Vic: "Now then, what the +deuce and all are you driving at?" + +"Driving at!" cried Vic, in an exasperated tone. "You are a sweet +support for a fellow in distress. I am a nervous wreck--a perfect +mess. Another word from that kid and I should have run screaming +into the night. And as for you, why the deuce didn't you buck up +and help a fellow out?" + +"Help you out? How in the name of all that is reasonable could I +help you out? What is all the yarn about? Of course I know it +isn't true. Where's Maitland?" + +"Search me," said Vic. "All I know is that I hit upon that Scotch +Johnny out in the hall--he nearly wrenched an arm off me and did +everything but bite--spitting out incoherent gaspings indicating +that Maitland had 'gone awa' wi' his gur-r-l, confound him!' and +suggesting the usual young Lochinvar stuff. You know--nothing in +it, of course. But what was I to do? Some tale was necessary! +Fortunately or unfortunately, brother Tony sprang to the thing I +call my mind and--well, you know the mess I made of it. But Hugh, +remember, for heaven's sake, make talk about something--about the +match--and get that girl quietly home. I bag the back seat and +Adrien. It is hard on me, I know, but fifteen minutes more of +Patsy and I shall be counting my tootsies and prattling nursery +rhymes. Here they come," he breathed. "Now, 'a little forlorn +hope, deadly breach act, if you love me, Hardy.' Play up, old +boy!" + +And with commendable enthusiasm and success, Hugh played up, +supported--as far as his physical and mental condition allowed--by +the enfeebled Vic, till they had safely deposited their charges at +the Rectory door, whence, refusing an invitation to stop for cocoa, +they took their homeward way. + +"'And from famine, pestilence and sudden death,' and from the once- +over by that penetrating young female, 'good Lord, deliver us,'" +murmured Vic, falling into the seat beside his friend. "Take me +home to mother," he added, and refused further speech till at his +own door. He waved a weak adieu and staggered feebly into the +house. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE NEW MANAGER + + +Grant Maitland sat in his office, plainly disturbed in his mind. +His resolute face, usually reflecting the mental repose which +arises from the consciousness of a strength adequate to any +emergency, carried lines which revealed a mind which had lost its +poise. Reports from his foremen indicated brooding trouble, and +this his own observation within the last few weeks confirmed. +Production was noticeably falling low. The attitude of the workers +suggested suspicion and discontent. That fine glow of comradeship +which had been characteristic of all workers in the Maitland Mills +had given place to a sullen aloofness and a shiftiness of eye that +all too plainly suggested evil forces at work. + +During the days immediately preceding and following the Great +Match, there had been a return of that frank and open bearing that +had characterised the employees of the Maitland Mills in the old +days, but that fleeting gleam of sunshine had faded out and the old +grey shadow of suspicion, of discontent, had fallen again. To +Maitland this attitude brought a disappointment and a resentment +which sensibly added to his burden, already heavy enough in these +days of weakening markets and falling prices. In his time he had +come through periods of financial depression. He was prepared for +one such period now, but he had never passed through the unhappy +experience of a conflict with his own employees. Not that he had +ever feared a fight, but he shrank from a fight with his own men. +It humiliated him. He felt it to be a reflection upon his system +of management, upon his ability to lead and control, indeed, upon +his personality. But, more than all, it grieved him to feel that +he had lost that sense of comradeship which for forty years he had +been able to preserve with those who toiled with him in a common +enterprise. + +A sense of loneliness fell upon him. Like many a man, self-made +and self-sufficing, he craved companionship which his characteristic +qualities of independence and strength seemed to render unnecessary +and undesired. The experience of all leaders of men was his, for +the leader is ever a lonely man. + +This morning the reports he had just received convinced him that a +strike with his workers would not long be delayed. "If I only knew +what they really wanted," he bitterly mused. "It cannot be wages. +Their wages are two or three times what they were before the war-- +shop conditions are all that could be desired--the Lord knows I +have spent enough in this welfare stuff and all that sort of thing +during these hard times. I have heard of no real grievances. I am +sick of it all. I guess I am growing too old for this sort of +thing." + +There was a tap at the door and his son appeared, with a cheery +greeting. + +"Come in, Jack," said his father, "I believe you are the very man I +want." + +"Hello, Dad. You look as if you were in trouble." + +"Well," replied his father with a keen look at him, "I think I may +return the compliment." + +"Well, yes, but perhaps I should not bother you. You have all you +can carry." + +"All I can carry," echoed Maitland, picking up the reports from his +desk and handing them to his son, who glanced over them. "Things +are not going well at the mills. No, you needn't tell me. You +know I never ask you for any confidences about your brother +unionists." + +"Right you are, Dad. You have always played the game." + +"Well, I must confess this is beyond me. Everywhere on the men's +faces I catch that beastly look of distrust and suspicion. I hate +to work with men like that. And very obviously, trouble is +brewing, but what it is, frankly, it is beyond me to know." + +"Well, it is hardly a secret any longer," said Jack. "Trouble is +coming, Dad, though what form it shall take I am not in a position +to say. Union discipline is a fierce thing. The rank and file are +not taken into the confidence of the leaders. Policies are decided +upon in the secret councils of the Great Ones and handed down to us +to adopt. Of course, it is open to any man to criticise, and I am +bound to say that the rankers exercise that privilege with +considerable zest. All the same, however, it is difficult to +overturn an administration, hard to upset established order. The +thing that is, is the thing that ought to be. Rejection of an +administration policy demands revolution." + +"Well," said his father, taking the sheets from Jack's hand, "we +needn't go to meet the trouble. Now, let us have yours. What is +your particular grief?" + +"Tony," said Jack shortly. + +"Tony?" echoed his father in dismay. "Heaven help us! And what +now has come to Tony? Though I must confess I have been expecting +this for some time. It had to come." + +"It is a long story, Dad, and I shan't worry you with the details. +As you know, after leaving us, Tony went from one job to another +with the curve steadily downwards. For the last few months, I +gather, he has been living on his wits, helped out by generous +contributions from his sister's wages. Finally he was given a +subordinate position under "The Great War Veterans" who have really +been very decent to him. This position involved the handling of +funds--no great amount. Then it was the old story--gambling and +drinking--the loss of all control--desperate straits--hoping to +recoup his losses--and you know the rest." + +"Embezzlement?" asked Maitland. + +"Yes, embezzlement," said Jack. "Tony is not a thief. He didn't +deliberately steal, you understand." + +"Jack," said his father, sharply, "get that out of your head. +There is no such distinction in law or in fact. Stealing is +stealing, whatever the motive behind it, whatever the plan +governing it, by whatever name called." + +"I didn't really mean anything else, Dad. Tony did the thing, at +any rate, and the cops were on his trail. He got into hiding, sent +an S. O. S. to his sister. Annette, driven to desperation, came to +me with her story the night of the Match. She was awfully cut up, +poor girl. I had to leave the dance and go right off to Toronto. +Too late for the train, I drove straight through,--ghastly roads,-- +found Tony, fetched him back, and up till yesterday he has been +hiding in his own home. Meantime, I managed to get things fixed +up--paid his debts, the prosecution is withdrawn and now he wants,-- +or, rather, he doesn't want but needs, a job." + +Maitland listened with a grave face. "Then the little girl was +right, after all," he said. + +"Meaning?" + +"Patricia," said his father. "She told me a long story of a +terrible accident to Tony that had called you away to Toronto. I +must say it was rather incoherent." + +"But who told her? I swear not a soul knew but his people and +myself," said Jack. + +"Strange how things get out," said his father. "Well, where is +Tony now?" + +"Here, in the outer office." + +"But," said Maitland, desperately, "where can we place him? He is +impossible in any position--dangerous in the office, useless as a +foreman, doubtful and uncertain as a workman." + +"One thing is quite certain," said Jack decidedly, "he must be +under discipline. He is useless on his own. I thought that +perhaps he might work beside me. I could keep an eye on him. +Tony has nothing in him to work with. I should like to hear old +Matheson on him--the Reverend Murdo, I mean. That is a great theme +of his--'To the man who has nothing you can give nothing.'" + +"Matheson?" said Maitland. "A chum of yours, I understand. +Radical, eh?" + +"A very decent sort, father," replied Jack. "I have been doing a +little economics with him during the winter. His radicalism is of +a sound type, I think. He is a regular bear at economics and he is +even better at the humanity business, the brother-man stuff. He is +really sound there." + +"I can guess what you mean," said his father, "though I don't quite +catch on to all your jargon. But I confess that I suspect there is +a whole lot of nonsense associated with these theories." + +"You will pardon me, Dad," said Jack, "if I suggest that your +education is really not yet complete." + +"Whose is?" inquired his father, curtly. + +"But about Tony," continued Jack, "I wish I had him in a gang under +me. I would work him, or break his neck." + +His father sat silently pondering for some minutes. Then, as if +making a sudden resolve, he said: "Jack, I have been wanting to +speak with you about something for some weeks. I have come to a +place where it is imperative that I get some relief from my load. +You see, I am carrying the whole burden of management practically +alone. I look after the financing, the markets, I keep an eye on +production and even upon the factory management. In normal +conditions I could manage to get along, but in these critical days, +when every department calls for close, constant and sane supervision, +I feel that I must have relief. If I could be relieved of the job +of shop management, I could give myself to the other departments +where the situation at present is extremely critical. I want a +manager, Jack. Why not take the job? Now," he continued, holding +up his hand, as his son was about to speak, "listen for a moment or +two. I have said the situation is serious. Let me explain that. +The financing of this business in the present crisis requires a +man's full time and energy. Markets, credits, collections, all +demand the very closest attention." + +Jack glanced at his father's face. For the first time he noticed +how deep-cut were the lines that indicated care, anxiety and worry. +A sudden remorse seized him. + +"I am awfully sorry, sir," he said, "I have not been of much help +to you." + +Maitland waved his hand as if dismissing the suggestion. "Now you +know nothing of the financial side, but you do know men and you can +handle them. You proved that in the war, and, in another way, you +proved that during this recent athletic contest. I followed that +very closely and I say without hesitation that it was a remarkably +fine bit of work and the reactions were of the best. Jack, I +believe that you would make a great manager if you gave yourself to +it, and thought it worth while. Now, listen to me." Thereupon the +father proceeded to lay before his son the immediately pressing +problems in the business--the financial obligations already +assumed, the heavy accumulation of stock for which there were no +markets, the increasing costs in production with no hope of relief, +but rather every expectation of added burdens in this direction. + +As he listened to his father, Jack was appalled with what he +considered the overwhelmingly disastrous situation in which the +business was placed. At the same time he saw his father in a new +light. This silent, stern, reserved man assumed a role of hero in +his eyes, facing desperate odds and silently fighting a lonely and +doubtful battle. The son was smitten with a sense of his own +futility. In him was born a desire and a resolve to stand beside +his father in this conflict and if the battle went against them, to +share in the defeat. + +"Dad," cried his son impulsively, "I am a rotter. I have been of +no help to you, but only a burden. I had no idea the situation was +so serious." Remorse and alarm showed in his tone. + +"Don't misunderstand me," said his father. "This is new to you and +appears more serious than it is. There is really no ground, or +little ground, for anxiety or alarm. Let me give you the other +side." Then he proceeded to set forth the resources of the +business, the extent of his credit, his plans to meet the present +situation and to prepare for possible emergencies. "We are not at +the wall yet, by any means, Jack," he said, his voice ringing out +with a resolute courage. "But I am bound to say that if any sudden +or untoward combination of circumstances, a strike, for instance, +should arise, disaster might follow." + +Jack's heart sank still lower. He was practically certain that a +strike was imminent. Although without any official confirmation of +his suspicions, he had kept his eyes and ears opened and he was +convinced that trouble was unavoidable. As his father continued to +set forth his plans, his admiration for him grew. He brought to +bear upon the problems with which he was grappling a clear head, +wide knowledge and steady courage. He was a general, planning a +campaign in the face of serious odds. He recalled a saying of his +old Commander-in-Chief in France: "War is a business and will be +won by the application of business principles and business methods. +Given a body of fighting men such as I command, the thing becomes a +problem of transportation, organization, reserve, insurance. War +is a business and will be won by fighting men directed or governed +by business principles." He was filled with regret that he had not +given himself more during these last months to the study of these +principles. The prospect of a fight against impending disaster +touched his imagination and stimulated him like a bugle call. + +"I see what you want, father," he said. "You want to have some +good N. C. O.'s. The N. C. O. is the backbone of the army," he +quoted with a grin. + +"N. C. O?" echoed his father. He was not sufficiently versed in +military affairs to catch the full meaning of the army rag. + +"What I mean is," said Jack, "that no matter how able a military +commander is, he must have efficient subordinates to carry on. No +Colonel can do his own company and platoon work." + +His father nodded: "You've got it, Jack. I want a manager to whom +I can entrust a policy without ever having to think of it again. I +don't want a man who gets on top of the load, but one who gets +under it." + +"You want a good adjutant, father, and a sergeant-major." + +"I suppose so," said the father, "although your military terms are +a little beyond me. After all, the thing is simple enough. On the +management side, we want increase in production, which means +decrease in production costs, and this means better organization of +the work and the workers." + +Jack nodded and after a moment, said: "May I add, sir, one thing +more?" + +"Yes," said his father. + +"Team play," said Jack. "That is my specialty, you know. +Individualism in a game may be spectacularly attractive, but it +doesn't get the goal." + +"Team play," said his father. "Co-operation, I suppose you mean. +My dear boy, this is no time for experimentation in profit-sharing +schemes, if that is what you are after. Anyway, the history of +profiteering schemes as I have read it is not such as to warrant +entire confidence in their soundness. You cannot change the +economic system overnight." + +"That is true enough, Dad," said his son, "and perhaps I am a fool. +But I remember, and you remember, what everybody said, and +especially what the experts said, about the military methods and +tactics before the war. You say you cannot change the economic +system overnight, and yet the whole military system was changed +practically overnight. In almost every particular, there was a +complete revolution. Cavalry, fortress defences, high explosives, +the proper place for machine guns, field tactics, in fact, the +whole business was radically changed. And if we hadn't changed, +they would be speaking German in the schools of England, like +enough, by this time." + +"Jack, you may be right," said his father, with a touch of +impatience, "but I don't want to be worried just now. It is easy +enough for your friend, Matheson, and other academic industrial +directors, to suggest experiments with other people's money. If we +could only get production, I would not mind very much what wages we +had to pay. But I confess when industrial strife is added to my +other burdens, it is almost more than I can bear." + +"I am awfully sorry, Dad," replied his son. "I have no wish to +worry you, but how are you going to get production? Everybody says +it has fallen off terribly during and since the war. How are you +going to bring it up? Not by the pay envelope, I venture to say, +and that is why I suggested team play. And I am not thinking about +co-operative schemes of management, either. Some way must be found +to interest the fellows in their job, in the work itself, as +distinct from the financial returns. Unless the chaps are +interested in the game, they won't get the goals." + +"My boy," said his father wearily, "that old interest in work is +gone. That old pride in work which we used to feel when I was at +the job myself, is gone. We have a different kind of workman +nowadays." + +"Dad, don't believe that," said Jack. "Remember the same thing was +said before the war. We used to hear all about that decadent race +stuff. The war proved it to be all rot. The race is as fine as +ever it was. Our history never produced finer fighting men." + +"You may be right," said his father. "If we could only get rid of +these cursed agitators." + +"There again, Dad, if you will excuse me, I believe you are +mistaken. I have been working with these men for the last nine +months, I have attended very regularly the meetings of their unions +and I have studied the whole situation with great care. The union +is a great institution. I am for it heart and soul. It is soundly +and solidly democratic, and the agitators cut very little figure. +I size up the whole lot about this way: Fifty per cent of the men +are steady-going fellows with ambition to climb; twenty-five per +cent are content to grub along for the day's pay and with no great +ambition worrying them. Of the remainder, ten per cent are sincere +and convinced reformers, more or less half-baked intellectuals; ten +per cent love the sound of their own voices, hate work and want to +live by their jaw, five per cent only are unscrupulous and selfish +agitators. But, Dad, believe me, fire-brands may light fires, but +solid fagots only can keep fires going. You cannot make +conflagrations out of torches alone." + +"That is Matheson, I suppose," said his father, smiling at him. + +"Well, I own up. I have got a lot of stuff from Matheson. All the +same I believe I have fairly sized up the labour situation." + +"Boy, boy," said his father, "I am tired of it all. I believe with +some team play you and I could make it go. Alone, I am not so +sure. Will you take the job?" + +There was silence between them for a few minutes. Then Jack +answered slowly: "I am not sure of myself at all, Dad, but I can +see you must have someone and I am willing to try the planing +mill." + +"Thank you, boy," said his father, stretching his hand quickly +across the table, "I will back you up and won't worry you. Within +reasonable limits I will give you a free hand." + +"I know you will, Dad," said Jack, "and of course I have been in +the army long enough to know the difference between the O. C. and +the sergeant-major." + +"Now, what about Tony?" inquired Maitland, reverting suddenly to +what both felt to be a painful and perplexing problem. "What are +we to do with him?" + +"I will take him on," said Jack. "I suppose I must." + +"He will be a heavy handicap to you, boy. Is there no other way?" + +"I see no other way," Jack replied. "I will give him a trial. +Shall I bring him in?" + +"Bring him in." + +In a minute or two Jack returned with Tony. As Maitland's eyes +fell upon him, he could not prevent a start of shocked surprise. + +"Why, Tony!" he exclaimed. "What in all the world is wrong with +you? You are ill." Trembling, pale, obviously unstrung, Tony +stood before him, his shifty eyes darting now at one face, then at +the other, his hands restless, his whole appearance suggesting an +imminent nervous collapse. "Why, Tony, boy, what is wrong with +you?" repeated Maitland. The kindly tone proved too much for +Tony's self-control. He gulped, choked, and stood speechless, his +eyes cast down to the floor. + +"Sit down, Tony," said Maitland. "Give him a chair, Jack." + +But Jack said, "He doesn't need a chair. He is not here for a +visit. You wanted to say something to him, did you not?" Jack's +dry, matter-of-fact and slightly contemptuous tone had an instant +and extraordinary effect upon the wretched man beside him. + +Instantly, Tony stiffened up. His head went back, he cast a swift +glance at Jack's face, whose smile, slightly quizzical, slightly +contemptuous, appeared to bite into his vitals. A hot flame of +colour swept his pale and pasty face. + +"I want a job, sir," he said, in a tone low and fierce, looking +straight at Mr. Maitland. + +Maitland, taking his cue from his son, replied in a quiet voice: +"Can you hold a job?" + +"God knows," said Tony. + +"He does," replied Maitland, "but what about you?" + +Tony stood for a few moments saying nothing, darting uncertain +glances now and then at Jack, on whose face still lingered the +smile which Tony found so disturbing. + +"If you want work," continued Mr. Maitland, "and want to make it +go, Tony, you can go with Jack. He will give it to you." + +"Jack!" exclaimed Tony. His face was a study. Uncertainty, fear, +hope, disappointment were all there. + +"Yes, Jack," said Mr. Maitland. "He is manager in these works +now." + +Tony threw back his head and laughed. "I guess I will have to +work, then," he said. + +"You just bet you will, Tony," replied Jack. "Come along, we will +go." + +"Where?" + +"I am taking you home. See you to-night, sir," Jack added, nodding +to his father. + +The two young men passed out together to the car. + +"Yes, Tony," said Jack, "I have taken over your job." + +"My job? What do you mean by that?" asked Tony, bitter and sullen +in face and tone. + +"I am the new manager of the planing mill. Dad had you slated for +that position, but you hadn't manager-timber in you." + +Tony's answer was an oath, deep and heartfelt. + +"Yes," continued Jack, "manager-timber is rare and slow-growing +stuff, Tony." + +Again Tony swore but kept silence, and so remained till they had +reached his home. Together they walked into the living room. +There they found Annette, and with her McNish. Both rose upon +their entrance, McNish showing some slight confusion, and assuming +the attitude of a bulldog on guard, Annette vividly eager, +expectant, anxious. + +"Well," she cried, her hands going fluttering to her bosom. + +"I have got a job, Annette," said Tony, with a short laugh. "Here +is my boss." + +For a moment the others stood looking at Jack, surprised into +motionless silence. + +"I tell you, he is the new manager," repeated Tony, "and he is my +boss." + +"What does he mean, Jack?" cried the girl, coming forward to +Maitland with a quick, impulsive movement. + +"Just what he says, Annette. I am the new manager of the planing +mill and I have given Tony a job." + +Again there fell a silence. Into the eyes of the bulldog McNish +there shot a strange gleam of something that seemed almost like +pleasure. In those brief moments of silence life was readjusting +itself with them all. Maitland had passed from the rank and file +of the workers into the class of those who direct and control their +work. Bred as they were and trained as they were in the democratic +atmosphere of Canada, they were immediately conscious of the +shifting of values. + +Annette was the first to break silence. "I wish I could thank +you," she said, "but I cannot. I cannot." The girl's face had +changed. The eager light had faded from her dark eyes, her hands +dropped quietly to her side. "But I am sure you know," she added +after a pause, "how very, very grateful I am, how grateful we all +are, Mr. Maitland." + +"Annette," said Jack severely, "drop that 'Mr.' stuff. I was your +friend yesterday. Am I any less your friend to-day? True enough, +I am Tony's boss, but Tony is my friend--that is, if he wants to +have it so. You must believe this, Annette." + +He offered her his hand. With a sudden impulse she took it in both +of hers and held it hard against her breast, her eyes meanwhile +burning into his with a look of adoration, open and unashamed. She +apparently forgot the others in the room. + +"Jack," she cried, her voice thrilling with passion, "I don't care +what you are. I don't care what you think. I will never, never +forget what you have done for me." + +Maitland flung a swift glance at McNish and was startled at the +look of rage, of agonised rage, that convulsed his face. + +"My dear Annette," he said, with a light laugh, "don't make too +much of it. I was glad to help Tony and you. Why shouldn't I help +old friends?" + +As he was speaking they heard the sound of a door closing and +looking about, Jack found that McNish had gone, to be followed by +Tony a moment or two later. + +"Oh, never mind him," cried Annette, answering Jack's look of +surprise. "He has to go to work. And it doesn't matter in the +least." + +Jack was vaguely disturbed by McNish's sudden disappearance. + +"But, Annette," he said, "I don't want McNish to think that I--that +you--" + +"What?" She leaned toward him, her face all glowing with warm and +eager light, her eyes aflame, her bosom heaving. "What, Jack?" she +whispered. "What does it matter what he thinks?" + +He put out his hands. With a quick, light step she was close to +him, her face lifted up in passionate surrender. Swiftly Jack's +arms went around her and he drew her toward him. + +"Annette, dear," he said, and his voice was quiet and kind, too +kind. "You are a dear girl and a good girl, and I am glad to have +helped you and shall always be glad to help you." + +The door opened and Tony slipped into the room. With passionate +violence, Annette threw away the encircling arms. + +"Ah!" she cried, a sob catching her voice. "You--you shame me. +No--I shame myself." Rigid, with head flung back, she stood before +him, her eyes ablaze with passionate anger, her hands clenched +tight. She had flung herself at him and had been rejected. + +"What the devil is this?" cried Tony, striding toward them. "What +is he doing to you, Annette?" + +"He?" cried Annette, her breath coming in sobs. "To me? Nothing! +Keep out of it, Tony." She pushed him fiercely aside. "He has +done nothing! No! No! Nothing but what is good and kind. Ah! +kind. Yes, kind." Her voice rose shrill in scorn of herself and +of him. "Oh, yes, he is kind." She laughed wildly, then broke +into passionate tears. She turned from them and fled to her room, +leaving the two men looking at each other. + +"Poor child," said Jack, the first to recover speech. "She is +quite all in. She has had two hard weeks of it." + +"Two hard weeks," repeated Tony, his eyes glaring. "What is the +matter with my sister? What have you done to her?" His voice was +like the growl of a savage dog. + +"Don't be a confounded fool, Tony," replied Jack. "You ought to +know what is the matter with your sister. You have had something +to do with it. And now your job is to see if you can make it up to +her. To-morrow morning, at seven o'clock, remember," he said +curtly, and, turning on his heel, he passed out. + +It seemed to Jack as he drove home that life had suddenly become a +tangle of perplexities and complications. First there was Annette. +He was genuinely distressed as he thought of the scene through +which they had just passed. That he himself had anything to do +with her state of mind did not occur to him. + +"Poor little girl," he said to himself, "she really needs a change +of some sort, a complete rest. We must find some way of helping +her. She will be all right in a day or two." With which he +dismissed the subject. + +Then there was McNish. McNish was a sore puzzle to him. He had +come to regard the Scotchman with a feeling of sincere friendliness. +He remembered gratefully his ready and efficient help against the +attacks of the radical element among his fellow workmen. On several +occasions he, with the Reverend Murdo Matheson, had foregathered in +the McNish home to discuss economic problems over a quiet pipe. He +was always conscious of a reserve deepening at times to a sullenness +in McNish's manner, the cause of which he could not certainly +discover. That McNish was possessed of a mentality of more than +ordinary power there was no manner of doubt. Jack had often +listened with amazement to his argumentation with the Reverend +Murdo, against whom he proved over and over again his ability to +hold his own, the minister's superiority as a trained logician being +more than counterbalanced by his antagonist's practical experience. + +As he thought of these evenings, he was ready to believe that his +suspicion of the Scotchman's ill-will toward himself was due +largely to imagination, and yet he could not rid himself of the +unpleasant memory of McNish's convulsed face that afternoon. + +"What the deuce is the matter with the beggar, anyway?" he said to +himself. + +Suddenly a new suggestion came to him. + +"It can't be," he added, "surely the idiot is not jealous." Then +he remembered Annette's attitude at the moment, her hands pressing +his hard to her breast, her face lifted up in something more than +appeal. "By Jove! I believe that may be it," he mused. "And +Annette? Had she observed it? What was in her heart? Was there a +reason for the Scotchman's jealousy on that side?" + +This thought disturbed him greatly. He was not possessed of a +larger measure of self-conceit than falls to the lot of the average +young man, but the thought that possibly Annette had come to regard +him other than as a friend released a new tide of emotion within +him. Rapidly he passed in review many incidents in their +association during the months since he returned from the war, and +gradually the conviction forced itself upon him that possibly +McNish was not without some cause for jealousy. It was rotten luck +and was bound to interfere with their present happy relations. Yet +none the less was he conscious that it was not altogether an +unpleasant thought to him that in some subtle way a new bond had +been established between this charming young girl and himself. + +But he must straighten things out with McNish at the very first +opportunity. He was a decent chap and would make Annette a first- +rate husband. Indeed, it pleased Jack not a little to feel that he +would be able to further the fortunes of both. McNish had good +foreman timber in him and would make a capable assistant. As to +this silly prejudice of his, Jack resolved that he would take steps +immediately to have that removed. That he could accomplish this he +had little doubt. + +But the most acutely pressing of the problems that engaged his mind +were those that arose out of his new position as manager. The mere +organizing and directing of men in their work gave him little +anxiety. He was sure of himself as far as that was concerned. He +was sure of his ability to introduce among the men a system of team +play that would result in increased production and would induce +altogether better results. He thought he knew where the weak spots +were. He counted greatly upon the support of the men who had been +associated with him in the Maitland Mills Athletic Association. +With their backing, he was certain that he could eliminate most of +that very considerable wastage in time that even a cursory +observation had revealed to him in the shops, due to such causes as +dilatory workers, idle machines, lack of co-ordination, improper +routing of work, and the like. He had the suspicion that a little +investigation would reveal other causes of wastage as well. + +There was one feature in the situation that gave him concern and +that was the radical element in the unions. Simmons and his gang +had from the very first assumed an attitude of hostility to +himself, had sought to undermine his influence and had fought his +plans for the promotion of clean sport among the Mill men. None +knew better than Simmons that an active interest in clean and +vigorous outdoor sports tended to produce contentment of mind, and +a contented body of men offered unfertile soil for radical and +socialistic doctrines. Hence, Simmons had from the first openly +and vociferously opposed with contemptuous and bitter indignation +all Jack's schemes and plans for the promotion of athletic sports. +But Jack had been able to carry the men with him and the recent +splendid victory over a famous team had done much to discredit +brother Simmons and his propaganda. + +Already Jack was planning a new schedule of games for the summer. +Baseball, football, cricket, would give occupation and interest to +all classes of Mill workers. And in his new position he felt he +might be able, to an even greater degree, to carry out the plans +which he had in mind. On the other hand, he knew full well that +men were apt to be suspicious of welfare schemes "promoted from +above." His own hockey men he felt sure he could carry with him. +If he could only win McNish to be his sergeant-major, success would +be assured. This must be his first care. + +He well knew that McNish had no love for Simmons, whom the +Scotchman despised first, because he was no craftsman, and chiefly +because he had no soundly-based system of economics but was +governed by the sheerest opportunism in all his activities. A +combination between McNish and Simmons might create a situation not +easy to deal with. Jack resolved that that combination should be +prevented. He would see McNish at once, after the meeting of his +local, which he remembered was set for that very night. + +This matter being settled, he determined to proceed immediately to +the office for an interview with Wickes. He must get to know as +speedily as possible something of the shop organization and of its +effect upon production. He found Mr. Wickes awaiting him with +tremulous and exultant delight, eager to put himself, his +experience, his knowledge and all that he possessed at the disposal +of the new manager. The whole afternoon was given to this work, +and before the day was done, Jack had in his mind a complete +picture of the planing mill, with every machine in place and an +estimate, more or less exact, of the capacity of every machine. In +the course of this investigation, he was surprised to discover that +there was no detailed record of the actual production of each +machine, nor, indeed, anything in the way of an accurate cost +system in any department of the whole business. + +"How do you keep track of your men and their work, Wickes?" he +inquired. + +"Oh!" said the old man, "the foremen know all about that, Mr. +Jack." + +"But how can they know? What check have they?" + +"Well, they are always about, Mr. Jack, and keep their eyes on +things generally." + +"I see," said Jack. "And do you find that works quite +satisfactorily?" + +"Well, sir, we have never gone into details, you know, Mr. Jack, +but if you wish--" + +"Oh, no, Wickes, I am just trying to get the hang of things, you +know." Jack was unwilling to even suggest a criticism of method at +so early a stage in his managerial career. "I want to know how you +run things, Wickes, and at any time I shall be glad of assistance +from you." + +The old bookkeeper hastened to give him almost tearful assurance of +his desire to assist to the utmost of his power. + +The meeting of Local 197 of the Woodworkers' Union was largely +attended, a special whip having been sent out asking for a full +meeting on the ground that a matter of vital importance to +unionised labour was to be considered. + +The matter of importance turned out to be nothing less than a +proposition that the Woodworkers' Union should join with all other +unions in the town to make a united demand upon their respective +employers for an increase in wages and better conditions all +around, in connection with their various industries. The question +was brought up in the form of a resolution from their executive, +which strongly urged that this demand should be approved and that a +joint committee should be appointed to take steps for the +enforcement of the demand. The executive had matters thoroughly in +hand. Brother Simmons and the more radical element were kept to +the background, the speakers chosen to present the case being all +moderates. There was no suggestion of extreme measures. Their +demands were reasonable, and it was believed that the employers +were prepared to give fair consideration--indeed, members had had +assurance from an authoritative quarter on the other side that such +was the case. + +Notwithstanding the moderate tone adopted in presenting it, the +resolution met with strenuous opposition. The great majority of +those present were quiet, steady-going men who wanted chiefly to +be let alone at their work and who were hostile to the suggested +action, which might finally land them in "trouble." The old-time +workers in the Maitland Mills had no grievances against their +employer. They, of course, would gladly accept an increase in +wages, for the cost of living was steadily climbing, but they +disliked intensely the proposed method of making a general demand +for an increase in wages and for better conditions. + +The sporting element in the meeting were frankly and fiercely +antagonistic to anything that would disturb the present friendly +relation with their employers in the Maitland Mills. "The old man" +had always done the square thing. He had shown himself a "regular +fellow" in backing them up in all their games during the past year. +He had always given them a fair hearing and a square deal. They +would not stand for any hold-up game of this sort. It was a low- +down game, anyway. + +The promoters of the resolution began to be anxious for their +cause. They had not anticipated any such a strong opposition and +were rather nonplussed as to the next move. Brother Simmons was in +a fury and was on the point of breaking forth into a passionate +denunciation of scabs and traitors generally when, to the amazement +of all and the intense delight of the supporters of the +administration, McNish arose and gave unqualified support to the +resolution. + +His speech was a masterpiece of diplomacy, and revealed his long +practice in the art of oratory in that best of all training +schools, the labour union of the Old Land. He began by expressing +entire sympathy with the spirit of the opposition. The opposition, +however, had completely misunderstood the intent and purport of the +resolution. None of them desired trouble. There need not be, +indeed, he hoped there would not be trouble, but there were certain +very ugly facts that must be faced. He then, in terse, forceful +language, presented the facts in connection with the cost of +living, quoting statistics from the Department of Labour to show +the steady rise in the price of articles of food, fuel and clothing +since the beginning of the war, a truly appalling array. He had +secured price lists from dealers in these commodities, both +wholesale and retail, to show the enormous profits made during the +war. There were returned soldiers present. They had not hesitated +at the call of duty to give all they had for their country. They +had been promised great things when they had left their homes, +their families, their business and their jobs. How had they found +things upon their return? He illustrated his argument from the +cases of men present. It was a sore spot with many of them and he +pressed hard upon it. They were suffering to-day; worse, their +wives and children were suffering. Had anyone heard of their +employers suffering? Here again he offered illustrations of men +who had made a good thing out of the war. True, there were many +examples of the other kind of employer, but they must deal with +classes and not individuals in a case like this. This was part of +a much bigger thing than any mere local issue. He drew upon his +experience in the homeland with overwhelming effect. His voice +rose and rolled in his richest Doric as he passionately denounced +the tyranny of the masters in the coal and iron industries in the +homeland. He was not an extremist; he had never been one. Indeed, +all who knew him would bear him out when he said that he had been +an opponent of Brother Simmons and those who thought with him on +economic questions. This sudden change in attitude would doubtless +surprise his brothers. He had been forced to change by the stern +logic of facts. There was nothing in this resolution which any +reasonable worker might object to. There was nothing in the +resolution that every worker with any sympathy with his fellow +workers should not support. Moreover, he warned them that if they +presented a united front, there would be little fear of trouble. +If they were divided in their ranks, or if they were halfhearted in +their demands, they would invite opposition and, therefore, +trouble. He asked them all to stand together in supporting a +reasonable demand, which he felt sure reasonable men would consider +favorably. + +The effect of his speech was overwhelming. The administration +supporters were exuberant in their enthusiastic applause and in +their vociferous demands for a vote. The opposition were paralysed +by the desertion of one whom they had regarded and trusted as a +leader against the radical element and were left without answer to +the masterly array of facts and arguments which he had presented. + +At this point, the door opened and Maitland walked in. A few +moments of tense silence, and then something seemed to snap. The +opposition, led by the hockey men and their supporters, burst into +a demonstration of welcome. The violence of the demonstration was +not solely upon Maitland's account. The leaders of the opposition +were quick to realise that his entrance had created a diversion for +them which might save them from disastrous defeat. They made the +most of this opportunity, prolonging the demonstration and joining +in a "chair procession" which carried Maitland shoulder-high about +the room, in the teeth of the violent protest of Brother Simmons +and his following. + +Order being restored, business was again resumed, when Brother +Macnamara rose to his feet and, in a speech incoherent at times, +but always forceful, proposed that the usual order be suspended +and that here and now a motion be carried expressing their +gratification at the recent great hockey victory and referring in +highly laudatory terms to the splendid work of Brother Captain +Maitland, to whose splendid efforts victory was largely due. + +It was in vain that Brother Simmons and those of his way of +thinking sought to stem the tide of disorder. The motion was +carried with acclaim. + +No sooner had this matter been disposed of than Maitland rose to +his feet and said: + +"Mr. President, I wish to thank you all for this very kind +reference to my team and myself. I take very little credit for +the victory which we won. We had a good team, indeed, quite a +remarkable team. I have played in a good many athletic teams of +various kinds, but in two particulars the Maitland Mills Hockey +Team is the most remarkable of any I have known--first, in their +splendid loyalty in taking their training and sticking together; +that was beyond all praise; and, secondly, in the splendid grit +which they showed in playing a losing game. Now, Mr. President, I +am going to do something which gives me more regret than any of you +can understand. I have to offer my resignation as a member of this +union. I have accepted the position of manager of the planing mill +and I understand that this makes it necessary that I resign as a +member of this union. I don't really see why this should be +necessary. I don't believe myself that it should, and, brothers, I +expect to live long enough to belong to a union that will allow a +fellow like me to be a member with chaps like you. But meantime, +for the present I must resign. You have treated me like a brother +and a chum. I have learned a lot from you all, but one thing +especially, which I shall never forget: that there is no real +difference in men that is due to their position in life; that a +man's job doesn't change his heart." + +He paused for a few moments as if to gather command of his voice, +which had become suddenly husky. + +"I am sorry to leave you, boys, and I want to say to you from my +heart that though I cannot remain a member of this union, I can be +and I will be a brother to you all the same. And I promise you +that, as far as I can, I will work for the good of the union in the +future as I have done in the past." + +McNish alone was prepared for this dramatic announcement, although +they all knew that Maitland sooner or later would assume a position +which would link him up with the management of the business. But +the suddenness of the change and the dramatic setting of the +announcement created an impression so profound as to neutralise +completely the effect of McNish's masterly speech. + +Disappointed and enraged at the sudden turn of events, he was too +good a general to allow himself to be routed in disorder. He set +about to gather his disordered forces for a fresh attack, when once +more the hockey men took command of the field. This time it was +Snoopy Sykes, the most voiceless member of the union. + +After a few moments of dazed silence that followed Maitland's +announcement of his resignation, Snoopy rose and, encouraged by the +cheers of his astonished comrades, began the maiden speech of his +life. + +"Mr. President," he shouted. + +"Go to it, Snoopy, old boy." + +"I never made a speech in my life, never--" + +"Good, old scout, never begin younger! Cheerio, old son!" + +"And I want to say that he don't need to. I once heard of a feller +who didn't. He kept on and he didn't do no harm to nobody. And +the Captain here wouldn't neither. So what I say is he don't need +to," and Snoopy sat down with the whole brotherhood gazing at him +in silence and amazed perplexity, not one of them being able to +attach the faintest meaning to Snoopy's amazing oration. + +At length Fatty Findlay, another of the voiceless ones, but the +very special pal of Snoopy Sykes, broke forth in a puzzled voice: + +"Say it again, Snoopy." + +There was a roar of laughter, which only grew in volume as Snoopy +turned toward his brothers a wrathful and bewildered countenance. + +"No," said another voice. "Say something else, Snoopy. Shoot a +goal this time." + +Again Snoopy rose. "What I said was this," he began indignantly. +Again there was a roar of laughter. + +"Say, you fellers, shut up and give a feller a chance. The Captain +wants to resign. I say 'No.' He is a darned good scout. We want +him and we won't let him go. Let him keep his card." + +"By the powers," roared Macnamara, "it is a goal, Snoopy. It's a +humdinger. I second the motion." + +It was utterly in vain that Brother Simmons and his whole following +pointed out unitedly and successively the utter impossibility and +absurdity of the proposal which was unconstitutional and without +precedent. The hockey team had the company with them and with the +bit in their teeth swept all before them. + +At this point, McNish displayed the master-hand that comes from +long experience. He saw his opportunity and seized it. + +"Mr. President," he said, and at once he received the most complete +attention. "A confess this is a most extraordinary proposal, but +A'm goin' tae support it." The roar that answered told him that he +had regained control of the meeting. "Brother Simmons says it is +unconstitutional and without precedent. He is no correct in this. +A have known baith maisters and managers who retained their union +cards. A grant ye it is unusual, but may I point oot that the +circumstances are unusual?"--Wild yells of approval--"And Captain +Maitland is an unusual man"--louder yells of approval--"It may that +there is something in the constitution o' this union that stands in +the way--"Cries of "No! No!" and consignment of the constitution to +a nameless locality.--"A venture to suggest that a committee be +appointed, consisting of Brothers Sykes, Macnamara and the +chairman, wi' poors tae add, tae go into this maitter with Captain +Maitland and report." + +It was a master-stroke. A true union man regards with veneration +the constitution and hesitates to tamper with it except in a +perfectly constitutional manner. The opposition to the +administration's original resolution had gained what they sought, a +temporary stay. The committee was appointed and the danger to both +the resolution and the constitution for the present averted. + +Again Mr. McNish took command. "And noo, Mr. President," he said, +"the oor is late. We are all tired and we all wish to give mair +thocht to the main maitter before us. A move, therefore, that we +adjourn to the call o' the Executive." + +Once more Brother Simmons found himself in a protesting minority, +and the meeting broke up, the opposition jubilant over their +victory, the supporters of the administration determined to await a +more convenient time. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +LIGHT THAT IS DARKNESS + + +At the next monthly meeting of Local 197 of the Woodworkers' Union, +the executive had little difficulty in finally shelving the report +of its committee appointed to deal with the resignation of Captain +Maitland, and as little difficulty in passing by unanimous vote +their resolution held up at the last meeting. The allied unions +had meantime been extended to include the building trades. Their +organization had been perfected and their discipline immensely +strengthened. Many causes contributed to this result. A month's +time had elapsed and the high emotional tides due to athletic +enthusiasm, especially the hockey victory, had had space to +subside. The dead season for all outdoor games was upon them and +the men, losing touch with each other and with their captain, who +was engrossed in studying his new duties, began to spend their +leisure hours in loafing about the streets or lounging in the pool +rooms. + +All over the country the groundswell of unrest was steadily and +rapidly rising. The returned soldiers who had failed to readjust +themselves to the changed conditions of life and to the changes +wrought in themselves by the war, embittered, disillusioned and +disappointed, fell an easy prey to unscrupulous leaders and were +being exploited in the interests of all sorts of fads and foolish +movements. Their government bonuses were long since spent and many +of them, through no fault of their own, found themselves facing a +situation full of difficulty, hardship, and often of humiliation. + +Under the influence of financial inflation and deceived by the +abundant flow of currency in every department of business, +industries by the score started up all over the land. Few could +foresee the approach of dark and stern days. It was in vain that +financial leaders began to sound a note of warning, calling for +retrenchment and thrift. And now the inevitable results were +beginning to appear. The great steel and coal industries began to +curtail their operations, while desperately striving to maintain war +prices for their products. Other industries followed their example. +All the time the cost of living continued to mount. Foodstuffs +reached unheard-of prices, which, under the manipulations of +unscrupulous dealers, continued to climb. + +Small wonder that working men with high wages and plenty of money +in their hands cherished exaggerated ideas of their wealth and +developed extravagant tastes in dress, amusements and in standard +of living. With the rest of the world, they failed to recognise +the fact that money was a mere counter in wealth and not wealth +itself. To a large extent, thrift was abandoned and while deposits +in the savings banks grew in volume, the depositors failed to +recognise the fact that the value of the dollar had decreased fifty +per cent. Already the reaction from all this had begun to set in. +Nervousness paralysed the great financial institutions. The fiat +went forth "No more money for industrial enterprises. No more +advances on wholesale stocks." The order was issued "Retrench. +Take your losses, unload your stocks." This men were slow to do, +and while all agreed upon the soundness of the policy, each waited +for the other to begin. + +Through the month of April anxiety, fear and discontent began to +haunt the minds of business men. In the labour world the High +Command was quick to sense the approach of a crisis and began to +make preparations for the coming storm. The whole industrial and +commercial world gradually crystallised into its two opposing +classes. A subsidised press began earnestly to demand lower cost +in productions retrenchment in expenditure, a cut in labour costs, +a general and united effort to meet the inevitable burden of +deflation. + +On the other hand, an inspired press began to raise an outcry +against the increasing cost of living, to point out the effect of +the house famine upon the income of the working man, and to sound a +warning as to the danger and folly of any sudden reduction in the +wage scale. + +Increased activity in the ranks of organised labour began to be +apparent. Everywhere the wild and radical element was gaining in +influence and in numbers, and the spirit of faction and internecine +strife became rampant. + +It was due to the dominating forcefulness of McNish, the leader of +the moderates, that the two factions in the allied unions had been +consolidated, and a single policy agreed upon. His whole past had +been a preparation for just a crisis as the present. His wide +reading, his shrewd practical judgment, his large experience in +labour movements in the Old Land, gave him a position of commanding +influence which enabled him to dominate the executives and direct +their activities. His sudden and unexplained acceptance of the +more radical program won for him an enthusiastic following of the +element which had hitherto recognised the leadership of Brother +Simmons. Day and night, with a zeal that never tired, he laboured +at the work of organising and disciplining the various factions and +parties in the ranks of labour into a single compact body of +fighting men under a single command. McNish was in the grip of one +of the mightiest of human passions. Since that day in the Perrotte +home, when he had seen the girl that he loved practically offer +herself, as he thought, to another man, he had resolutely kept +himself away from her. He had done with her forever and he had +torn out of his heart the genuine friendship which he had begun to +hold toward the man who had deprived him of her love. But deep in +his heart he nourished a passion for vengeance that became an +obsession, a madness with him. He merely waited the opportunity to +gratify his passion. + +He learned that the Maitland Mills were in deep water, financially. +His keen economic instinct and his deep study of economic movements +told him that a serious financial crisis, continent-wide, was +inevitable and imminent. It only needed a successful labour war to +give the final touch that would bring the whole industrial fabric +tumbling into ruin. The desire for immediate revenge upon the man +toward whom he had come to cherish an implacable hatred would not +suffer him to await the onset of a nation-wide industrial crisis. +He fancied that he saw the opportunity for striking an immediate +blow here in Blackwater. + +He steadily thwarted Maitland's attempts to get into touch with +him, whether at the works or in his own home, where Maitland had +become a frequent visitor. He was able only partially to allay his +mother's anxiety and her suspicion that all was not well with him. +That shrewd old lady knew her son well enough to suspect that some +untoward circumstance had befallen him, but she knew also that she +could do no more than bide her time. + +With the workers of the Maitland Mills circumstances favoured the +plans of McNish and the Executive of the allied unions. The new +manager was beginning to make his hand felt upon the wheel. Checks +upon wastage in labour time and in machine time were being +instituted; everywhere there was a tightening up of loose screws +and a knitting up of loose ends, with the inevitable consequent +irritation. This was especially true in the case of Tony Perrotte, +to whom discipline was ever an external force and never an inward +compulsion. Inexact in everything he did, irregular in his habits, +irresponsible in his undertakings, he met at every turn the +pressure of the firm, resolute hand of the new manager. Deep down +in his heart there was an abiding admiration and affection for Jack +Maitland, but he loathed discipline and kicked against it. + +The first of May is ever a day of uncertainty and unrest in the +world of labour. It is a time for readjustment, for the fixing of +wage scales, for the assertion of labour rights and the ventilating +of labour wrongs. It is a time favourable to upheaval, and is +therefore awaited by all employers of labour with considerable +anxiety. + +On the surface there was not a ripple to indicate that as far as +the Maitland Mills were concerned there was beneath a surging tide +of unrest. So undisturbed indeed was the surface that the +inexperienced young manager was inclined to make light of the +anxieties of his father, and was confident in his assurance that +the danger of a labour crisis had, for the present at least, been +averted. + +Out of the blue heaven fell the bolt. The mails on May Day morning +brought to the desk of every manager of every industry in +Blackwater, and to every building contractor, a formal document +setting forth in terms courteous but firm the demands of the +executives of the allied unions of Blackwater. + +"Well, it has come, boy," was Maitland's greeting to his son, who +came into the office for the usual morning consultation. + +"What?" said Jack. + +"War," replied his father, tossing him the letter and watching his +face as he read it. + +Jack handed him the letter without a word. + +"Well, what do you think of it?" said his father. + +"It might be worse." + +"Worse?" roared his father. "Worse? How can it be worse?" + +"Well, it is really a demand for an increase in wages. The others, +I believe, are mere frills. And between ourselves, sir, though I +haven't gone into it very carefully, I am not sure but that an +increase in wages is about due." + +Maitland glowered at his son in a hurt and hopeless rage. + +"An increase in wages due?" he said. "After the increase of six +months ago? The thing is preposterous. The ungrateful +scoundrels!" + +At this point the telephone upon his desk rang. Jack took up the +receiver. + +"Good morning, Mr. McGinnis. . . . Yes, he is here. Yes. . . . +At least, I suppose so. . . . Oh, I don't know. . . . It is +rather peremptory. . . . All right, sir, I shall tell him." + +"Let me talk to him," said his father, impatiently. + +"Never mind just now, Dad," said Jack, with his hand over the +receiver. Then through the telephone he said: "All right, sir; he +will await you here. Good morning." + +". . . The old boy is wild," said Jack with a slight laugh. "The +wires are quite hot." + +"This is no joke, Jack, I can tell you. McGinnis is coming over, +is he?" + +"Yes," replied Jack, "but we won't get much help from him." + +"Why not?" inquired his father. "He is a very shrewd and able +business man." + +"He may be all that, sir, but in a case like this, if you really +want my opinion, and I have no wish to be disrespectful, he is a +hot-headed ass. Just the kind of employer to rejoice the heart of +a clever labour leader who is out for trouble. Dad," and Jack's +voice became very earnest, "let's work this out by ourselves. We +can handle our own men better without the help of McGinnis or any +other." + +"That is just the trouble. Look at this precious document, 'The +Allied Unions.' What have I got to do with them? And signed by +Simmons and McDonough. Who is McDonough, pray?" + +"McDonough? Oh, I know McDonough. He is a little like McGinnis-- +big-hearted, hot-headed, good in a scrap, useless in a conference. +But I suggest, sir, that we ignore the slight unpleasant +technicalities in the manner and method of negotiation and try to +deal with our own people in a reasonable way." + +"I am ready always to meet my own people, but I refuse utterly to +deal with this committee!" It was not often that Mr. Maitland +became profane, but in his description of this particular group of +individuals his ordinary English suffered a complete collapse. + +"Dad, McGinnis will be here in a few minutes. I should like to +suggest one or two things, if you will allow me." + +"Go on," said his father quickly. + +"Dad, this is war, and I have learned a little about that game +'over there.' And I have learned something about it in my athletic +activities. The first essential is to decline to play the enemy's +game. Let's discover his plan of campaign. As I read this +document, the thing that hits my eye is this: do they really want +the things they ask for, or is the whole thing a blind? What I +mean is, do they really want war or peace? I say let's feel them +out. If they are after peace, the thing is easy. If they want +war, this may come to be a very serious thing. Meantime, Dad, +let's not commit ourselves to McGinnis. Let's play it alone." + +Mr. Maitland's lips had set in a thin, hard line. His face was +like a mask of grey steel. He sat thinking silently. + +"Here he comes," said Jack, looking out of the window. "Dad, you +asked me to come into this with you. Let's play the game together. +I found it wise to place the weight on the defence line. Will you +play defence in this?" + +The lines in his father's face began to relax. + +"All right, boy, we'll play it together, and meantime I shall play +defence." + +"By Jove, Dad," cried Jack, in a tone of exultant confidence, +"we'll beat 'em. And now here comes that old Irish fire-eater. +I'll go. No alliance, Dad, remember." His father nodded as Jack +left the room, to return almost immediately with Mr. McGinnis, +evidently quite incoherent with rage. + +In the outer office Jack paused beside the desk of the old +bookkeeper. From behind the closed door came the sound of high +explosives. + +"Rough stuff in there, eh, Wickes," said Jack, with a humorous +smile. For some moments he stood listening. "War is a terrible +thing," he added with a grin. + +"What seems to be the matter, Mr. Jack?" + +Jack laid before him the document sent out by the Allied Unions. + +"Oh, this is terrible, Mr. Jack! And just at this time. I am very +much afraid it will ruin us." + +"Ruin us? Rot. Don't ever say that word again. We will possibly +have a jolly good row. Someone will be hurt and perhaps all of us, +more or less, but I don't mean to be beaten, if I know myself," he +added, with the smile on his face that his hockey team loved to see +before a match. "Now, Wickes," continued Jack, "get that idea of +failure out of your mind. We are going to win. And meantime, let +us prepare for our campaign. Here's a bit of work I want you to do +for me. Get four things for me: the wages for the last three +years--you have the sheets?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"--The cost of living from the Labour Gazette for the last three +years--you have them here--and the rates of increase in wages. +Plot a diagram showing all these things. You know what I mean?" + +"Yes, sir, I understand." + +"And find out the wages paid at our competing points." + +"All right, Mr. Jack. I know what you want. I can give you the +necessary information in regard to the first three points almost at +once. It will take some days, however, to get the wages of our +competing points." + +"All right, old boy. Carry on!" said Jack, and with the same smile +on his face he passed out of the office into the shops. + +It amused him slightly to observe the change in the attitude and +bearing of his men. They would not look at him fairly in the face. +Even Snoopy Sykes and Macnamara avoided his glance. But he had for +everyone his usual cheery word. Why should he not? These chaps +had no hatred for him, nor he for them. He had come to understand +union methods of discipline and recognised fully the demands for +loyalty and obedience imposed upon its members by the organisation. +These men of his were bound to the union by solemn obligations. He +bore them no ill-will on that score. Rather he respected them the +more for it. If a fight was inevitable, he would do his best to +beat them but he would allow no spirit of hatred to change his mind +toward them nor cloud his judgment. + +The day was full of excursions and alarms. A hurry call was sent +out by McGinnis to all employers who had received copies of the +document from the Allied Unions. In the afternoon a meeting was +held in the Board of Trade Building, but it was given over chiefly +to vituperation and threatening directed toward their variously +described employees. With one heart and voice all affirmed with +solemn, and in many cases with profane oaths that they would not +yield a jot to the insolent demands of this newly organised body. + +"I have already sent my answer," shouted Mr. McGinnis. + +"What did you say, Mac?" + +"Told 'em to go to hell, and told 'em that if any of these highly +coloured committee men came on my premises, I would kick 'em into +the middle of next week." + +Jack, who was present at the meeting, sat listening with silent and +amused pity. They seemed to him so like a group of angry children +whose game had suddenly been interfered with and whose rage +rendered them incapable of coherent thought. + +Grant Maitland, who, throughout the meeting had sat silent, finally +rose and said: "Gentlemen, the mere expression of feeling may +afford a sort of satisfaction but the question is, What is to be +done? That the situation is grave for all of us we know too well. +Not many of us are in a position to be indifferent to a strike. +Let us get down to business. What shall we do?" + +"Fight them to a finish! Smash the unions!" were the suggestions +in various forms and with various descriptive adjectives. + +"It may come to a fight, gentlemen, but however gratifying a fight +may be to our feelings, a fight may be disastrous to our business. +A strike may last for weeks, perhaps months. Are we in a position +to stand that? And as for smashing the unions, let us once and for +all put such a thought out of our minds. These unions have all +international affiliations. It is absurd to imagine that we here +in Blackwater could smash a single union." + +Fiercely McGinnis made reply. "I want to tell you right here and +now that I am prepared to close down and go out of business but I +will have no outside committee tell me how to run my job." + +But no one took this threat seriously, and no one but knew that a +shut-down for any of them might mean disaster. They all recalled +those unfilled orders which they were straining every nerve to +complete before the market should break, or cancellation should +come. It added not a little to their rage that they knew +themselves to be held in the grip of circumstances over which they +had little control. + +After much angry deliberation it was finally agreed that they +should appoint a committee to consider the whole situation and to +prepare a plan of action. Meantime the committee were instructed +to temporise with the enemy. + +The evening papers announced the imminence of a strike the extent +and magnitude of which had never been experienced in the history of +Blackwater. Everywhere the citizens of the industrial town were +discussing the disturbing news anxiously, angrily, indifferently, +according as they were variously affected. But there was a general +agreement among all classes of citizens that a strike in the +present industrial and financial situation which was already +serious enough, would be nothing short of a calamity, because no +matter what the issue would be, no matter which of the parties won +in the conflict, a fight meant serious loss not only to the two +parties immediately concerned, but to the whole community as well. +With the rank and file of the working people there was little heart +for a fight. More especially, men upon whom lay the responsibility +for the support of homes shrank from the pain and the suffering, as +well as from the loss which experience taught them a strike must +entail. It is safe to say that in every working man's home in +Blackwater that night there was to be found a woman who, as she put +her children to bed, prayed that trouble might be averted, for she +knew that in every war it is upon the women and children that in +the last analysis the sorest burden must fall. To them even +victory would mean for many months a loss of luxuries for the +family, it might be of comforts; and defeat, which would come not +until after long conflict, would mean not only straitened means but +actual poverty, with all the attendant humiliation and bitterness +which would kill for them the joy of life and sensibly add to its +already heavy burden. + +That night Jack Maitland felt that a chat with the Reverend Murdo +Matheson might help to clear his own mind as to the demands of the +Allied Unions. He found the minister in his study and in great +distress of soul. + +"I am glad to see you, Maitland," he said, giving him a hearty +greeting. "My hope is largely placed in you and you must not fail +me in this crisis. What exactly are the demands of the unions?" + +Maitland spread before him the letter which his father had received +that morning. The Reverend Murdo read it carefully over, then, +with a sigh of relief, he said: "Well, it might be worse. There +should not be much difficulty in coming to an agreement between +people anxious for peace." + +After an hour spent in canvassing the subject from various points +of view, the Reverend Murdo exclaimed: "Let us go and see McNish." + +"The very thing," said Maitland. "I have been trying to get in +touch with him for the last month or so, but he avoids me." + +"Ay," replied the Reverend Murdo, "he has a reason, no doubt." + +To Maitland's joy they found McNish at home. They were received +with none-too-cordial a welcome by the son, with kindly, even eager +greeting by the mother. + +"Come awa in, Minister; come awa, Mr. Maitland. You have come to +talk about the 'trouble,' a doot. Malcolm does-na want to talk +about it to me, a bad sign. He declines to converse even, wi' me, +Mr. Matheson. Perhaps ye may succeed better wi' him." + +"Mr. Matheson can see for himself," said her son, using his most +correct English, "the impropriety of my talking with an employer in +this way." + +"Nonsense, McNish," said the minister briskly. "You know me quite +well and we both know Maitland. It is just sheer nonsense to say +that you cannot talk with us. Everyone in town is talking. Every +man in your union is talking, trying to justify their present +position, which, I am bound to say, takes some justifying." + +"Why?" asked McNish hotly. + +"Because the demands are some of them quite unsound. Some other +than you had a hand in drawing up your Petition of Right, McNish, +and some of the demands are impossible." + +"How do you--" began McNish indignantly, but the minister held up +his hand and continued: + +"And some of them are both sound and reasonable." + +"What's wrang with the demands?" said McNish. + +"That's what I am about to show you," said the minister with grave +confidence. + +"Aye, minister," said the mother with a chuckle of delight. +"That's you! That's you! Haud at him! Haud at him! That's you!" + +They took seats about the blazing fire for the evening was still +shrewd enough to make the fire welcome. + +"Noo, Mr. Matheson," said the old lady, leaning toward him with +keen relish in her face, "read me the union demands. Malcolm wadna +read nor talk nor anything but glower." + +The Reverend Murdo read the six clauses. + +"Um! They're no bad negotiating pints." + +"Negotiatin' pints!" exclaimed her son indignantly. "Noo, mither, +ye maun play the game. A'm no gaun tae argue with ye to-night. +Nor wi' any of ye," he added. + +"Nonsense, Malcolm. You can't object to talk over these points +with us. You must talk them over before you're done with them. +And you'll talk them over before the whole town, too." + +"What do you mean, 'before the whole town'?" said Malcolm. + +"This is a community question. This community is interested and +greatly interested. It will demand a full exposition of the +attitude of the unions." + +"The community!" snorted McNish in contempt. + +"Aye, the community," replied the minister, "and you are not to +snort at it. That's the trouble with you labour folk. You think +you are the whole thing. You forget the third and most important +party in any industrial strife, the community. The community is +interested first, in justice being done to its citizens--to all its +citizens, mind you; second, in the preservation of the services +necessary to its comfort and well-being; third, in the continuance +of the means of livelihood to wage earners." + +"Ye missed one," said McNish grimly. "The conserving of the +profits of labour for the benefit of the capitalist." + +"I might have put that in, too," said the minister, "but it is +included in my first. But I should have added another which, to my +mind, is of the very first importance, the preservation of the +spirit of brotherly feeling and Christian decency as between man +and man in this community." + +"Aye, ye might," replied Malcolm in bitter irony, "and ye might +begin with the ministers and the churches." + +"Whisht, laddie," said his mother sharply, "Mind yer manners." + +"He doesn't mean me specially, Mrs. McNish, but I will not say but +what he is right." + +"No," replied McNish, "I don't mean you exactly, Mr. Matheson." + +"Don't take it back, McNish," said the minister. "I need it. We +all need it in the churches, and we will take it, too. But come +now, let us look at these clauses. You are surely not standing for +them all, or for them all alike?" + +"Why not, then?" said McNish, angrily. + +"I'll tell you," replied the minister, "and won't take long, +either." He proceeded to read over carefully the various clauses +in the demands of the allied unions, emphasizing and explaining the +meaning of each clause. "First, as to wages. This is purely a +matter for adjustment to the cost of living and general industrial +conditions. It is a matter of arithmetic and common sense. There +is no principle involved." + +"I don't agree with you," said McNish. "There is more than the +cost of living to be considered. There is the question of the +standard of living. Why should it be considered right that the +standard of living for the working man should be lower than that +for the professional man or the capitalist?" + +"There you are again, McNish," said the minister. "You are not up +to your usual to-night. You know quite well that every working man +in my parish lives better than I do, and spends more money on his +living. The standard of living has no special significance with +the working man to-day as distinguished from the professional man. +We are not speaking of the wasteful and idle rich. So I repeat +that here it is a matter of adjustment and that there is no +principle involved. Now, as regard to hours. You ask an eight- +hour day and a Saturday half-holiday. That, too, is a matter of +adjustment." + +"What about production, Mr. Matheson?" said Maitland. "And +overhead? Production costs are abnormally high to-day and so are +carrying charges. I am not saying that a ten-hour day is not too +long. Personally, I believe that a man cannot keep at his best for +ten hours in certain industries--not in all." + +"Long hours do not mean big production, Maitland. Not long hours +but intensive and co-ordinated work bring up production and lower +production costs." + +"What about idle machines and overhead?" inquired Maitland. + +"A very important consideration," said the minister. "The only +sound rule governing factory industry especially is this: the +longest possible machine time, the shortest possible man time. But +here again it is a question of organisation, adjustment and co- +ordination of work and workers. We all want education here." + +"If I remember right," said McNish, and he could not keep the +bitterness out of his voice, "I have heard you say something in the +pulpit at times in regard to the value of men's immortal souls. +What care can men take of their bodies and minds, let alone their +souls, if you work them ten hours a day?" + +"There is a previous question, McNish," said the minister. "Why +give more leisure time to men who spend their leisure hours now in +pool rooms and that sort of nonsense?" + +"And whose fault is that," replied McNish sharply. "Who is +responsible that they have not learned to use their leisure more +wisely? And further, what about your young bloods and their +leisure hours?" + +"Ay, A doot he has ye there, minister," said Mrs. McNish with a +quiet chuckle. + +"He has," said the minister. "The point is well taken and I +acknowledge it freely. My position is that the men need more +leisure, but, more than that, they need instruction as to how to +use their leisure time wisely. But let us get on to the third +point. 'A Joint Committee of References demanded to which all +complaints shall be referred.' Now, that's fine. That's the +Whitley plan. It is quite sound and has proved thoroughly useful +in practice." + +"I quite agree," said Maitland frankly. "But certain conditions +must be observed." + +"Of course, of course," replied the minister. "Conditions must be +observed everywhere. Now, the fourth point: 'The foreman must be +a member of the union.' Thoroughly unsound. They can't ride two +horses at once. + +"I am not so sure of that," said Maitland. "For my part, I should +like to have retained my membership in the union. The more that +both parties meet for conference, the better. And the more +connecting links between them, the better. I should like to see a +union where employers and employees should have equal rights of +membership." + +McNish grunted contemptuously. + +"It would be an interesting experiment," said the minister. "An +interesting experiment, McNish, and you are not to grunt like that. +The human element, of course, is the crux here. If we had the +right sort of foreman he might be trusted to be a member of the +union, but a man cannot direct and be directed at the same time. +But that union of yours, Maitland, with both parties represented in +it, is a big idea. It is worth considering. What do you think +about it, McNish?" + +"What do I think of it? It is sheer idealistic nonsense." + +"It is a noble idea, laddie, and no to be sneered at, but A doot it +needs a better world for it than we hae at the present." + +"I am afraid that is true," said the minister. "But meantime a +foreman is a man who gives orders and directs work, and, generally +speaking, he must remain with a directorate in any business. There +may be exceptions. You must acknowledge that, McNish." + +"I'll acknowledge nothing of the sort," replied McNish, and entered +into a long argument which convinced no one. + +"Now we come to the next, number five: 'a voice in the management,' +it means. Come now, McNish, this is rather much. Do you want Mr. +Maitland's job here, or is there anyone in your shop who would be +anything but an embarrassment trying running the Maitland Mills, +and you know quite well that the men want nothing of the sort. It +may be as Mrs. McNish said, 'a good negotiating point,' but it has +no place in practical politics here in Blackwater. How would you +like, for instance, to take orders from Simmons?" + +The old lady chuckled delightedly. "He has you there, laddie, he +has you there!" + +But this McNish would not acknowledge, and proceeded to argue at +great length on purely theoretical grounds for joint control of +industries, till his mother quite lost patience with him. + +"Hoots, laddie, haud yer hoofs on mither earth. Would ye want yon +radical bodies to take chairge o' ony business in which ye had a +baubee? Ye're talkin' havers." + +"Now, let us look at the last," said Mr. Matheson. "It is +practically a demand for the closed shop. Now, McNish, I ask you, +man to man, what is the use of putting that in there? It is not +even a negotiating point." + +At that McNish fired up. "It is no negotiating point," he +declared. "I stand for that. It is vital to the very existence of +unionised labour. Everyone knows that. Unionism cannot maintain +itself in existence without the closed shop. It is the ideal +toward which all unionised labour works." + +"Now, McNish, tell me honestly," said the minister, "do you expect +or hope for an absolutely closed shop in the factories here in +Blackwater, or in the Building Industries? Have you the faintest +shadow of a hope?" + +"We may not get it," said McNish, "but that is no reason why we +should not fight for it. Men have died fighting for the impossible +because they knew it was right, and, by dying for it, they have +brought it to pass." + +"Far be it from me, McNish, to deny that. But I am asking you now, +again as man to man, do you know of any industry, even in the Old +Land, where the closed shop absolutely prevails, and do you think +that conditions in Blackwater give you the faintest hope of a +closed shop here?" + +"Yes," shouted McNish, springing to his feet, "there is hope. +There is hope even in Blackwater." + +"Tut, tut, laddie," said his mother. "Dinna deeve us. What has +come ower ye that ye canna talk like a reasonable man? Noo, Mr. +Matheson, ye've had enough of the labour matters. A'll mak ye a +cup of tea." + +"Thank you, Mrs. McNish," said the minister gravely, "but I cannot +linger. I have still work to do to-night." He rose from his chair +and found his coat. His manner was gravely sad and gave evidence +of his disappointment with the evening's conversation. + +"Dinna fash yerself, minister," said the old lady, helping him on +with his coat. "The 'trouble' will blow ower, a doot. It'll a' +come oot richt." + +"Mrs. McNish, what I have seen and heard in this house to-night," +said the minister solemnly, "gives me little hope that it will all +come right, but rather gives me grave concern." Then, looking +straight into the eyes of her son, he added: "I came here +expecting to find help and guidance in discovering a reasonable way +out of a very grave and serious difficulty. I confess I have been +disappointed." + +"Mr. Matheson," said McNish, "I am always glad to discuss any +matter with you in a reasonable and kindly way." + +"I am afraid my presence has not helped very much, Mrs. McNish," +said Maitland. "I am sorry I came tonight. I did come earnestly +desiring and hoping that we might find a way out. It seems I have +made a mistake." + +"You came at my request, Maitland," said the minister. "If a +mistake has been made, it is mine. Good-night, Mrs. McNish. Good- +night, Malcolm. I don't pretend to know or understand what is in +your heart, but I am going to say to you as your minister that +where there is evil passion there can be no clear thinking. And +further, let me say that upon you will devolve a heavy responsibility +for the guidance you give these men. Good-night again. Remember +that One whom we both acknowledge as the source of all true light +said: 'If the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that +darkness.'" He shook hands first with the mother, then with the +son, who turned away from him with a curt "Good-night" and nodded to +Maitland. + +For a moment or two neither of the men spoke. They were both +grievously disappointed in the interview. + +"I never saw him like that," said the Reverend Murdo at length. +"What can be the matter with him? With him passion is darkening +counsel." + +"Well," said Maitland, "I have found out one thing that I wanted." + +"And what is that?" + +"These men clearly do not want what they are asking for. They want +chiefly war--at least, McNish does." + +"I am deeply disappointed in McNish," replied the minister, "and I +confess I am anxious. McNish, above all others, is the brains of +this movement, and in that mood there is little hope of reason from +him. I fear it will be a sore fight, with a doubtful issue." + +"Oh, I don't despair," said Maitland cheerily. "I have an idea he +has a quarrel with me. He wants to get me. But we can beat him." + +The Reverend Murdo waited for a further explanation, but was too +much of a gentleman to press the point and kept silent till they +reached his door. + +"You will not desert us, Mr. Matheson," said Maitland earnestly. + +"Desert you? It is my job. These people are my people. We cannot +desert them." + +"Right you are," said Maitland. "Cheerio. We'll carry on. He +shook hands warmly with the minister and went off, whistling +cheerily. + +"That is a man to follow," said the minister to himself. "He goes +whistling into a fight." + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE STRIKE + + +The negotiations between the men and their employers, in which the +chief exponents of the principles of justice and fair play were Mr. +McGinnis on the one hand and Brother Simmons on the other, broke +down at the second meeting, which ended in a vigorous personal +encounter between these gentlemen, without, however, serious injury +to either. + +The following day a general strike was declared. All work ceased +in the factories affected and building operations which had begun +in a moderate way were arrested. Grant Maitland was heartily +disgusted with the course of events and more especially with the +humiliating and disgraceful manner in which the negotiations had +been conducted. + +"You were quite right, Jack," he said to his son the morning after +which the strike had been declared. "That man McGinnis is quite +impossible." + +"It really made little difference, Dad. The negotiations were +hopeless from the beginning. There was no chance of peace." + +"Why not?" + +"Because McNish wants war." He proceeded to give an account of the +evening spent at the McNish home. "When McNish wants peace, we can +easily end the strike," concluded Jack. + +"There is something in what you say, doubtless," replied his father, +"but meantime there is a lot to be done." + +"What do you mean exactly, Father?" + +"We have a lot of stock made up on hand. The market is dead at +present prices. There is no hope of sales. The market will fall +lower still. I propose that we take our loss and unload at the +best rate we can get." + +"That is your job, Dad. I know little about that, but I believe +you are right. I have been doing a lot of reading in trade +journals and that sort of thing, and I believe that a big slump is +surely coming. But there is a lot to do in my department at the +Mills, also. I am not satisfied with the inside arrangement of our +planing mill. There is a lot of time wasted and there is an almost +complete lack of co-ordination. Here is a plan I want to show you. +The idea is to improve the routing of our work." + +Maitland glanced at the plan perfunctorily, more to please his son +than anything else. But, after a second glance, he became deeply +interested and began to ask questions. After half an hour's study +he said: + +"Jack, this is really a vast improvement. Strange, I never thought +of a great many of these things." + +"I have been reading up a bit, and when I was on my trip two weeks +ago I looked in upon two or three of the plants of our competitors. +I believe this will be more up-to-date and will save time and +labour." + +"I am sure it will, boy. And we will put this in hand at once. +But what about men?" + +"Oh, we can pick up labourers, and that is all we want at the +present time." + +"All right, go at it. I will give you a hand myself." + +"Then there is something else, Dad. We ought to have a good +athletic field for our men." + +His father gasped at him. + +"An athletic field for those ungrateful rascals?" + +"Father, they are not rascals," said his son. "They are just the +same to-day as they ever were. A decent lot of chaps who don't +think the same as we do on a number of points. But they are coming +back again some time and we may as well be ready for them. Look at +this." + +And before Grant Maitland could recover his speech he found himself +looking at a beautifully-drawn plan of athletic grounds set out +with walks, shade trees and shrubbery, and with a plain but +commodious club-house appearing in the background. + +"And where do you get this land, and what does it cost you?" + +"The land," replied Jack, "is your land about the old mill. It +will cost us nothing, I hope. The old mill site contains two and +one-half acres. It can be put in shape with little work. The mill +itself is an eyesore; ought to have been removed long ago. Dad, +you ought to have seen the plant at Violetta, that is in Ohio, you +know. It is a joy to behold. But never mind about that. The +lumber in the old mill can be used up in the club-house. The +timbers are wonderful; nothing like them to-day anywhere. The +outside finishing will be done with slabs from our own yard. They +will make a very pretty job." + +"And where do you get the men for this work?" inquired his father. + +"Why, our men. It is for themselves and they are our men." + +"Voluntary work, I suppose?" inquired Maitland. + +"Voluntary work?" said Jack. "We couldn't have men work for us for +nothing." + +"And you mean to pay them for the construction of their own athletic +grounds and club-house?" + +"But why not?" inquired Jack in amazement. + +His father threw back his head and began to laugh. + +"This is really the most extraordinary thing I have ever heard of +in all my life," he said, after he had done with his laugh. "Your +men strike; you prepare for them a beautiful club-house and +athletic grounds as a reward for their loyalty. You pay them wages +so that they may be able to sustain the strike indefinitely." +Again he threw back his head and continued laughing as Jack had +never in his life heard him laugh. + +"Why not, Dad?" said Jack, gazing at his father in half-shamed +perplexity. "The idea of athletic grounds and club-house is +according to the best modern thought. These are our own men. You +are not like McGinnis. You are not enraged at them. You don't +hate them. They are going to work for us again in some days or +weeks. They are idle and therefore available for work. You can +get better work from them than from other men. And you wouldn't +take their work from them for nothing." + +Again his father began to laugh. "Your argument, Jack," he said +when he was able to control his speech, "is absolutely unanswerable. +There is no answer possible on any count; but did ever man hear +of such a scheme? Did you?" + +"I confess not. But, Dad, you are a good sport. We are out to win +this fight, but we don't want to injure anybody. We are going to +beat them, but we don't want to abuse them unnecessarily. Besides, +I think it is good business. And then, you see, I really like +these chaps." + +"Simmons, for instance?" said his father with an ironical smile. + +"Well, Simmons, just as much as you can like an ass." + +"And McNish?" inquired Maitland. + +"McNish," echoed Jack, a cloud falling upon his face. "I confess I +don't understand McNish. At least," he added, "I am sorry for +McNish. But what do you say to my scheme, Dad?" + +"Well, boy," said his father, beginning to laugh again, "give me a +night to think it over." + +Then Jack departed, not quite sure of himself or of the plan which +appeared to give his father such intense amusement. "At any rate," +he said to himself as he walked out of the office, "if it is a joke +it is a good one. And it has given the governor a better laugh +than he has had for five years." + +The Mayor of Blackwater was peculiarly sensitive to public opinion +and acutely susceptible of public approval. In addition, he was +possessed of a somewhat exalted idea of his powers as the +administrator in public affairs, and more particularly as a +mediator in times of strife. He had been singularly happy in his +mediation between the conflicting elements in his Council, and more +than once he had been successful in the composing of disputes in +arbitration cases submitted to his judgment. Moreover, he had an +eye to a second term in the mayor's chair, which gubernatorial and +majestical office gave full scope to the ruling ambition of his +life, which was, in his own words, "to guard the interests and +promote the well-being of my people." + +The industrial strike appeared to furnish him with an opportunity +to gratify this ambition. He resolved to put an end to this +unnecessary and wasteful struggle, and to that end he summoned to a +public meeting his fellow citizens of all classes, at which he +invited each party in the industrial strife to make a statement of +their case, in the hope that a fair and reasonable settlement might +be effected. + +The employers were more than dubious of the issue, having but a +small idea of the mayor's power of control and less of his common- +sense. Brother Simmons, however, foreseeing a magnificent field +for the display of his forensic ability, a thing greatly desired by +labour leaders of his kidney, joyfully welcomed the proposal. +McNish gave hesitating assent, but, relying upon his experience in +the management of public assemblies and confident of his ability to +shape events to his own advantage, he finally agreed to accept the +invitation. + +The public meeting packed the City Hall, with representatives of +both parties in the controversy in about equal numbers and with a +great body of citizens more or less keenly interested in the issue +of the meeting and expectant of a certain amount of "fun." The +Mayor's opening speech was thoroughly characteristic. He was +impressed with the responsibility that was his for the well-being +of his people. Like all right-thinking citizens of this fair town +of Blackwater, he deeply regretted this industrial strife. It +interfered with business. It meant loss of money to the strikers. +It was an occasion of much inconvenience to the citizens and it +engendered bitterness of feeling that might take months, even +years, to remove. He stood there as the friend of the working man. +He was a working man himself and was proud of it. He believed that +on the whole they were good fellows. He was a friend also of the +employers of labour. What could we do without them? How could our +great industries prosper without their money and their brains? The +one thing necessary for success was co-operation. That was the +great word in modern democracy. In glowing periods he illustrated +this point from their experiences in the war. All they wanted to +do was to sit down together, and, man to man, talk their difficulties +over. He would be glad to assist them, and he had no doubt as to +the result. He warned the working man that hard times were coming. +The spectre of unemployment was already parading their streets. +Unemployment meant disorder, rioting. This, he assured them, would +not be permitted. At all costs order would be maintained. He had +no wish to threaten, but he promised them that the peace would be +preserved at all costs. He suggested that the strikers should get +back at once to work and the negotiations should proceed in the +meantime. + +At this point Brother Simmons rose. + +"The mayor (h)urges the workers to get back to work," he said. +"Does 'e mean at (h)increased pay, or not? 'E says as 'ow this +strike interferes with business. 'E doesn't tell us what business. +But I can tell 'im it (h)interferes with the business of robbery of +the workin' man. 'E deplores the loss of money to the strikers. +Let me tell 'im that the workin' men are prepared to suffer that +loss. True, they 'ave no big bank accounts to carry 'em on, but +there are things that they love more than money--liberty and +justice and the rights of the people. What are we strikin' for? +Nothin' but what is our own. The workin' man makes (h)everything +that is made. What percentage of the returns does 'e get in wages? +They won't tell us that. Last year these factories were busy in +the makin' o' munitions. Mr. McGinnis 'ere was makin' shells. I'd +like to (h)ask, Mr. Mayor, what profit Mr. McGinnis made out of +these shells." + +Mr. McGinnis sprang to his feet, "I want to tell you," he said in a +voice choking with rage, "that it is none of your high-explosive +business." + +"'E says as it is none o' my business," cried Brother Simmons, +joyously taking Mr. McGinnis on. "Let me (h)ask 'im who paid for +these shells? I did, you did, all of us did. Not my business? +Then 'ose business is it? (H)If 'e was paid a fair price for 'is +shells, (h)all right, I say nothin' against it. If 'e was paid +more than a fair price, then 'e is a robber, worse, 'e is a blood +robber, because the price was paid in blood." + +At once a dozen men were on their feet. Cries of "Order! Order!" +and "Put him out!" arose on every hand. The mayor rose from his +chair and, in an impressive voice, said: "We must have order. Sit +down, Mr. Simmons." Simmons sat down promptly. Union men are +thoroughly disciplined in points of order. "We must have order," +continued the mayor. "I will not permit any citizen to be +insulted. We all did our bit in this town of Blackwater. Some of +us went to fight, and some that could not go to fight 'kept the +home fires burning'." A shout of derisive laughter from the +working men greeted this phrase. The mayor was deeply hurt. "I +want to say that those who could not go to the war did their bit at +home. Let the meeting proceed, but let us observe the courtesies +that are proper in debate." + +Again Simmons took the floor. "As I was sayin', Mr. Mayor--" + +Cries of "Order! Order! Sit down!" + +"--Mr. Mayor, I believe I 'ave the floor?" + +"Yes, you have. Go on. But you must not insult." + +"(H)Insult? Did I (h)insult anybody? I don't know what Mr. McGinnis +made from 'is shells. I only said that if--you (h)understand--if 'e +made more than e ought to, 'e is a robber. And since the price of +our freedom was paid in blood, if 'e made more than was fair, 'e's a +blood robber." + +Again the cries arose. "Throw him out!" Once more the mayor rose. +"You must not make insinuations, sir," he cried angrily. "You must +not make insinuations against respectable citizens." + +"(H)Insinooations," cried Simmons. "No, sir, I never make no +(h)insinooations. If I knew that (h)any man 'ere 'ad made +(h)unfair profits I wouldn't make no (h)insinooations. I would +charge 'im right 'ere with blood robbery. And let me say," shouted +Simmons, taking a step into the aisle, "that the time may come when +the working men of this country will make these charges, and will +(h)ask the people who kept the ''ome fires burning'--" + +Yells of derisive laughter. + +"--what profits came to them from these same 'ome fires. The +people will (h)ask for an (h)explanation of these bank accounts, of +these new factories, of these big stores, of these (h)autermobiles. +The people that went to the war and were (h)unfortoonate enough to +return came back to poverty, while many of these 'ere 'ome fire +burners came (h)out with fortunes." At this point brother Simmons +cast a fierce and baleful eye upon a group of the employers who sat +silent and wrathful before him. "And now, what I say," continued +Brother Simmons-- + +At this point a quiet voice was heard. + +"Mr. Mayor, I rise to a point of order." + +Immediately Simmons took his seat. + +"Mr. Farrington," said the mayor, recognising one of the largest +building contractors in the town. + +"Mr. Mayor, I should like to ask what are we discussing this +afternoon? Are we discussing the war records of the citizens of +Blackwater? If so, that is not what I came for. It may be +interesting to find out what each man did in the war. I find that +those who did most say least. I don't know what Mr. Simmons did in +the war. I suppose he was there." + +With one spring Simmons was on his feet and in the aisle. He +ripped off coat and vest, pulled his shirt over his head and +revealed a back covered with the network of ghastly scars. "The +gentleman (h)asks," he panted, "what I done in the war. I don't +know. I cannot say what I done in the war, but that is what the +war done to me." The effect was positively overwhelming. + +A deadly silence gripped the audience for a single moment. Then +upon every hand rose fierce yells, oaths and strange cries. Above +the uproar came Farrington's booming voice. Leaving his seat, +which was near the back of the hall, he came forward, crying out: + +"Mr. Mayor! Mr. Mayor! I demand attention!" As he reached +Simmons's side, he paused and, facing about, he looked upon the +array of faces pale and tense with passion. "I want to apologise +to this gentleman," he said in a voice breaking with emotion. "I +should not have said what I did. The man who bears these scars is +a man I am proud to know." He turned swiftly toward Simmons with +outstretched hand. "I am proud to know you, sir. I could not go +to the war. I was past age. I sent my two boys. They are over +there still." As the two men shook hands, for once in his life +Simmons was speechless. His face was suffused with uncontrollable +feeling. On every side were seen men, strong men, with tears +streaming down their faces. A nobler spirit seemed to fall upon +them all. In the silence that followed, Mr. Maitland rose. + +"Mr. Mayor," he said quietly, "we have all suffered together in +this war. I, for one, want to do the fair thing by our men. Let +us meet them and talk things over before any fair-minded committee. +Surely we who have suffered together in war can work together in +peace." It was a noble appeal, and met with a noble response. On +all sides and from all parties a storm of cheers broke forth. + +Then the Reverend Murdo Matheson rose to his feet. "Mr. Mayor," he +said, "I confess I was not hopeful of the result of this meeting. +But I am sure we all recognise the presence and influence of a +mightier Spirit than ours. From the outset I have been convinced +that the problems in the industrial situation here are not beyond +solution, and should yield to fair and reasonable consideration. I +venture to move that a committee of five be appointed, two to be +chosen by each of the parties in this dispute, who would in turn +choose a chairman; that this committee meet with representatives of +both parties; and that their decision in all cases be final." + +Mr. Farrington rose and heartily seconded the motion. + +At this point Jack, who was sitting near the platform and whose +eyes were wandering over the audience, was startled by the look on +the face of McNish. It was a look in which mingled fear, anxiety, +wrath. He seemed to be on the point of starting to his feet when +McGinnis broke in: + +"Do I understand that the decision of this committee is to be final +on every point?" + +"Certainly," said the Reverend Murdo. "There is no other way by +which we can arrive at a decision." + +"Do you mean," cried McGinnis, "that if this committee says I must +hire only union men in my foundry that I must do so?" + +"I would reply," said the Reverend Murdo, "that we must trust this +committee to act in a fair and reasonable way." + +But Mr. McGinnis was not satisfied with this answer. + +"I want to know," he cried in growing anger, "I want to know +exactly where we are and I want a definite answer. Will this +committee have the right to force me to employ only union men?" + +"Mr. Mayor," replied the Reverend Murdo, "Mr. McGinnis is right in +asking for definiteness. My answer is that we must trust this +committee to do what is wise and reasonable, and we must accept +their decision as final in every case." + +Thereupon McGinnis rose and expressed an earnest desire for a +tragic and unhappy and age-long fate if he would consent to any +such proposition. With terrible swiftness the spirit of the +meeting was changed. The moment of lofty emotion and noble impulse +passed. The opportunity for reason and fair play to determine the +issue was lost, and the old evil spirit of suspicion and hate fell +upon the audience like a pall. + +At this point McNish, from whose face all anxiety had disappeared, +rose and said: + +"For my part, and speaking for the working men of this town, I am +ready to accept the proposal that has been made. We have no fear +for the justice of our demands like some men here present. We know +we have the right on our side and we are willing to accept the +judgment of such a committee as has been proposed." The words were +fair enough, but the tone of sneering contempt was so irritating +that immediately the position assumed by McGinnis received support +from his fellow employers on every hand. Once more uproar ensued. +The mayor, in a state of angry excitement, sought in vain to +restore order. + +After some minutes of heated altercation with Mr. McGinnis, whom he +threatened with expulsion from the meeting, the mayor finally left +the chair and the meeting broke up in disorder which threatened to +degenerate into a series of personal encounters. + +Again McNish took command. Leaping upon a chair, with a loud voice +which caught at once the ears of his following, he announced that a +meeting was to be held immediately in the union rooms, and he +added: "When these men here want us again, they know where to find +us." He was answered with a roar of approval, and with an ugly +smile on his face he led his people in triumph from the hall, +leaving behind the mayor, still engaged in a heated argument with +McGinnis and certain employers who sympathised with the Irishman's +opinions. Thus the strike passed into another and more dangerous +phase. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +GATHERING CLOUDS + + +On the Rectory lawn a hard-fought game had just finished, bringing +to a conclusion a lengthened series of contests which had extended +over a whole week, in which series Patricia, with her devoted +cavalier, Victor Forsythe, had been forced to accept defeat at the +hands of her sister and her partner, Hugh Maynard. + +"Partner, you were wonderful in that last set!" said Patricia, as +they moved off together to offer their congratulations to their +conquerors. + +"Patsy," said her partner, in a low voice, "as ever, you are superb +in defeat as in victory. Superb, unapproachable, wonderful." + +"Anything else, Vic?" inquired Patsy, grinning at the youth. + +"Oh, a whole lot more, Pat, if you only give me a chance to tell +you." + +"No time just now," cried Patricia as she reached the others. +"Well, you two deserved to win. You played ripping tennis," she +continued, offering Hugh her hand. + +"So did you, Pat. You were at the very top of your form." + +"Well, some other day," said Vic. "I think we are improving a bit, +partner. A little more close harmony will do the trick." + +"Come away, children," said Mrs. Templeton, calling to them from +the shade at the side of the courts. "You must be very tired and +done out. Why, how hot you look, Patricia." + +"Stunning, I should say!" murmured Vic, looking at her with adoring +eyes. + +And a truly wonderful picture the girl made, in her dainty muslin +frock, her bold red hair tossed in a splendid aureole about her +face. Care-free, heart-free, as she flashed from her hearty blue +eyes her saucy and bewitching glances at her partner's face, her +mother sighed, thinking that her baby girl was swiftly slipping +away from her and forever into that wider world of womanhood where +others would claim her. + +In lovely contrast stood her sister, dressed in flannel skirt and +sweater of old gold silk, fair, tall, beautiful, a delicate grace +in every line of her body and a proud, yet gentle strength in every +feature of her face. There dwelt in her deep blue eyes a look of +hidden, mysterious power which had wrought in her mother a certain +fear of her eldest daughter. The mother never quite knew what to +expect from Adrien. Yet, for all, she carried an assured confidence +that whatever she might do, her daughter never would shame the high +traditions of her race. + +The long shadows from the tall elms lay across the velvet sward of +the Rectory lawn. The heat of the early June day had given place +to the cool air of the evening. The exquisitely delicate colouring +from the setting sun flooded the sky overhead and deepened into +blues and purples behind the elms and the church spire. A deep +peace had fallen upon the world except that from the topmost bough +of the tallest elm tree a robin sang, pouring his very heart out in +a song of joyous optimism. + +The little group, disposed upon the lawn according to their various +desires, stood and sat looking up at the brave little songster. + +"How happy he is," said Mrs. Templeton, a wistful cadence of +sadness in her voice. + +"I wonder if he is, Mamma. Perhaps he is only pretending," said +Adrien. + +"Cheerio, old chap!" cried Vic, waving his hand at the gallant +little songster. "You are a regular grouch killer." + +"He has no troubles," said Mrs. Templeton, with a sigh. + +"I wonder, Mamma. Or is he just bluffing us all?" + +"He has no strike, at any rate, to worry him," said Patricia, "and, +by the way, what is the news to-day? Does anybody know? Is there +any change?" + +"Oh," cried Vic, "there has been a most exciting morning at the +E. D. C.--the Employers' Defence Committee," he explained, in answer +to Mrs. Templeton's mystified look. + +"Do go on!" cried Patricia impatiently. "Was there a fight? They +are always having one." + +"Of course there was the usual morning scrap, but with a variation +to-day of a deputation from the brethren of the Ministerial +Association. But, of course, Mrs. Templeton, the Doctor must have +told you already." + +"I hardly ever see him these days. He is dreadfully occupied. +There is so much trouble, sickness and that sort of thing. Oh, it +is all terribly sad. The Doctor is almost worn out." + +"He made a wonderful speech to the magnates, my governor says." + +"Oh, go on, Vic!" cried Patricia. "Why do you stop? You are so +deliberate." + +"I was thinking of that speech," replied Victor more quietly than +was his wont. "It came at a most dramatic moment. The governor +was quite worked up over it and gave me a full account. They had +just got all their reports in--'all safe along the Potomac'--no +break in the front line--Building Industries slightly shaky due to +working men's groups taking on small contracts, which excited great +wrath and which McGinnis declared must be stopped." + +"How can they stop them? This is a free country," said Adrien. + +"Aha!" cried Victor. "Little you know of the resources of the +E. D. C. It is proposed that the supply dealers should refuse +supplies to all builders until the strike is settled. No more +lumber, lime, cement, etc., etc." + +"Boycott, eh? I call that pretty rotten," said Adrien. + +"The majority were pretty much for it, however, except Maitland and +my governor, they protesting that this boycott was hardly playing +the game. Your friend Captain Jack came in for his licks," +continued Vic, turning to Patricia. "It appears he has been +employing strikers in some work or other, which some of the +brethren considered to be not according to Hoyle." + +"Nonsense!" cried Patricia indignantly. "Jack took me yesterday to +see the work. He showed me all the plans and we went over the +grounds. It is a most splendid thing, Mamma! He is laying out +athletic grounds for his men, with a club house and all that sort +of thing. They are going to be perfectly splendid! Do you mean to +say they were blaming him for this? Who was?" And Patricia stood +ready for battle. + +"Kamerad!" cried Vic, holding up his hands. "Not me! However, +Jack was exonerated, for it appears he sent them a letter two weeks +ago, telling them what he proposed to do, to which letter they had +raised no objection." + +"Well, what then?" inquired Patricia. + +"Oh, the usual thing. They all resolved to stand pat--no surrender-- +or, rather, let the whole line advance--you know the stuff--when +into this warlike atmosphere walked the deputation from the +Ministerial Association. It gave the E. D. C. a slight shock, so +my Dad says. The Doctor fired the first gun. My governor says +that it was like a breath from another world. His face was enough. +Everybody felt mean for just being what they were. I know exactly +what that is, for I know the way he makes me feel when I look at him +in church. You know what I mean, Pat." + +"I know," said Patricia softly, letting her hand fall upon her +mother's shoulder. + +"Well," continued Vic, "the Doctor just talked to them as if they +were his children. They hadn't been very good and he was sorry for +them. He would like to help them to be better. The other side, +too, had been doing wrong, and they were having a bad time. They +were suffering, and as he went on to tell them in that wonderful +voice of his about the women and children, every man in the room, +so the governor said, was wondering how much he had in his pocket. +And then he told them of how wicked it was for men whose sons had +died together in France to be fighting each other here in Canada. +Well, you know my governor. As he told me this tale, we just both +of us bowed our heads and wept. It's the truth, so help me, just +as you are doing now, Pat." + +"I am not," cried Patricia indignantly. "And I don't care if I am. +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 him--no one could come into his +foundry and tell him how to run his business--same 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 hand--the +Reverend Murdo Matheson. He is a good old scout, a Padre, you +know--regular fire-eater--a 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 investigate--bring out all the facts--and +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 wages--the 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 picture she makes! +What a swing!" + +Behind that swinging company of girls came the band, marching to +the tapping of the drum only. Then after a space came a figure, +pathetic, arresting, moving--a woman, obviously a workman's wife, +of middle age, grey, workworn, and carrying a babe of a few months +in her arms, marched alone. Plainly dressed, her grey head bare, +she walked proudly erect but with evident signs of weariness. The +appearance of that lone, weary, grey-haired woman and her helpless +babe struck hard upon the heart with its poignant appeal, choking +men's throats and bringing hot tears to women's eyes. Following +that lonely figure came one who was apparently the officer in +command of the column. As he came opposite the gate, his eye fell +upon the group there. Swiftly he turned about, and, like a +trumpet, his voice rang out in command: + +"Ba-t-t-a-a-lion, halt!! R-r-r-i-g-h-t turn!" + +Immediately the whole column came to a halt and faced toward the +side of the street where stood the group within the shadow of the +gate. + +"I am going to get Annette," said Patricia to her father, and she +darted off, returning almost immediately with the leader of the +girls' squad. + +"What does this mean, Annette? What are you doing? It is a great +lark!" cried Patricia. + +"Well, it is not exactly a lark," answered Annette, with a slight +laugh. "You see, we girls want to help out the boys. We are +strikers, too, you know. They asked us to take part in the parade, +and here we are. But it's got away past being a lark," she +continued, her voice and face growing stern. "There is a lot of +suffering among the workers. I know all my money has gone," she +added, after a moment, with a gay laugh. + +Meantime, the officer commanding the column had spoken a few words +to the leader of the band, and in response, to the surprise and +dismay of the venerable Doctor, the band struck up that rollicking +air associated with the time-honoured chorus, "For He's a Jolly +Good Fellow." Then all stood silent, gazing at the Doctor, who, +much embarrassed, could only gaze back in return. + +"Papa, dear," said Adrien, who with Hugh Maynard had joined them at +the gate, "you will have to speak to them." + +"Speak to them, my dear? What in the world could I say? I have +nothing to say to them." + +"Oh, but you must, Papa! Just thank them." + +"And tell them you are all for them, Daddy!" added Patricia +impulsively. + +Then the old Doctor, buttoning his coat tightly about him and +drawing himself erect, said: + +"Rupert, please run your car out to the road. Thank you." +Mounting the car, he stood waiting quietly till the cheering had +died down into silence, his beautiful, noble, saintly face lit with +the faint glow that still came from the western sky but more with +the inner light that shines from a soul filled with high faith in +God and compassion for man. + +"Gentlemen--" he began. + +"Ladies, too, Papa," said Patricia in a clear undertone. + +"Ah!" corrected the Doctor. "Ladies and Gentlemen:" while a laugh +ran down the line. "One generally begins a speech with the words +'I am glad to see you here.' These words I cannot say this +evening. I regret more deeply than you can understand the occasion +of your being here at all. And in this regret I know that you all +share. But I am glad that I can say from my heart that I feel +honoured by and deeply moved by the compliment you have just paid +me through your band. I could wish, indeed, that I was the 'jolly +good fellow' you have said, but as I look at you I confess I am +anything but 'jolly.' I have been in too many of your homes during +the last three weeks to be jolly. The simple truth is, I am deeply +saddened and, whatever be the rights or wrongs, and all fair-minded +men will agree that there are rights and wrongs on both sides, my +heart goes out in sympathy to all who are suffering and anxious and +fearful for the future. I will try to do my best to bring about a +better understanding." + +"We know that, sir," shouted a voice. "Ye done yer best." + +"But so far I and those labouring with me have failed. But surely, +surely, wise and reasonable men can find before many days a +solution for these problems. And now let me beg your leaders to be +patient a little longer, to banish angry and suspicious feelings +and to be willing to follow the light. I see that many of you are +soldiers. To you my heart goes out with a love as true as if you +were my own sons, for you were the comrades of my son. Let me +appeal to you to preserve unbroken that fine spirit of comradeship +that made the Canadian Army what it was. And let me assure you all +that, however our weak and erring human hearts may fail and come +short, the great heart of the Eternal Father is unchanging in Its +love and pity for us all. Meantime, believe me, I shall never +cease to labour and pray that very soon peace may come to us +again." Then, lifting his hands over them while the men uncovered, +he said a brief prayer, closing with the apostolic blessing. + +Startled at the burst of cheering which followed shortly after the +conclusion of the prayer, the babe broke into loud crying. Vainly +the weary mother sought to quiet her child, she herself well-nigh +exhausted with her march, being hardly able to stand erect. +Swiftly Adrien sprang from the car and ran out to her. + +"Let me carry the babe," she cried, taking the child in her arms. +"Come into the car with me." + +"No," said the woman fiercely. "I will go through with it." But +even as she spoke she swayed upon her feet. + +With gentle insistence, however, Adrien caught her arm and forced +her toward the car. + +"I will not leave them," said the woman stubbornly. + +"Speak to her, Annette," said Adrien. "She cannot walk." + +"Mrs. Egan," said Annette, coming to her, "it will be quite all +right to go in the car. It will be all the better. Think of the +fine parade it will make." + +But, still protesting, the old woman hung back, crying, "Let me go! +I will go through!" + +"Sure thing!" cried Patricia. "We will take you along. Where's +Rupert?" + +But Rupert, furious and disgusted, hung back in the shadow. + +"Here, Vic!" cried Patricia. "You take the wheel!" + +"Delighted, I am sure!" cried Vic, climbing into the seat. "Get in +here, Patsy. All set, Colonel," he added, saluting to the officer +in command of the parade, and again the column broke into cheering +as they moved off to the tap of the drum, Rupert's elegant Hudson +Six taking a place immediately following the band. + +"All my life I have longed for the spotlight," murmured Vic to his +companion, a delighted grin on his face. "But one can have too +much of a good thing. And, with Wellington, I am praying that +night may come before I reach the haunts of my comrades in arms." + +"Why, Vic, do you care?" cried Patricia. "Not I! And I think it +was just splendid of Adrien!" + +"Oh, topping! But did you see the gentle Rupert's face? Oh, it +was simply priceless! Fancy this sacred car leading a strikers' +parade." And Vic's body shook with delighted chuckles. + +"Don't laugh, Vic!" said Patricia, laying her hand upon his arm. +"The lady behind will see you." + +"Steady it is," said Vic. "But I feel as if I were the elephant in +the circus. I say, can we execute a flank movement, or must we go +through to the bitter end?" + +"Adrien," said Patricia, "do you think this night air is good for +the baby?" + +"We shall go on a bit yet," said Adrien. "Mrs. Egan is very tired +and I am sure will want to go home presently." + +But Mrs. Egan was beginning to recover her strength and, indeed, +to enjoy the new distinction of riding in a car, and in this high +company. + +"No," she said, "I must go through." She had the look and tone of +a martyr. "They chose me, you see, and I must go through!" + +"Oh, very well," said Adrien cheerfully. "We shall just go along, +Vic." + +Through the main streets of the town the parade marched and +countermarched till, in a sudden, they found themselves in front of +the McGinnis foundry. Before the gate in the high board fence +which enclosed the property, a small crowd had gathered, which +greeted the marching column with uproarious cheers. From the +company at the gate a man rushed forward and spoke eagerly to the +officer in command. + +"By Jove, there's Tony!" said Vic. "And that chap McDonough. What +does this mean?" + +After a brief conversation with Tony, who apparently was +passionately pressing his opinion, the officer shook his head and +marched steadily forward. Suddenly Tony, climbing upon the fence, +threw up his hand and, pointing toward the foundry, shouted forth +the single word, "Scabs!" Instantly the column halted. Again +Tony, in a yell, uttered the same word, "Scabs!" From hundreds of +throats there was an answering roar, savage, bloodthirsty as from a +pack of wild beasts. Tony waved his hand for silence. + +"Scabs!" he cried again. "McGinnis strike-breakers! They came to- +night. They are in there!" He swung his arm around and pointed to +the foundry. "Shall we give them a welcome? What do you say, +boys?" Again and more fiercely than before, more terribly cruel, +came the answering roar. + +"Here, this is no place for you!" cried Vic. "Let's get out." At +his touch the machine leaped forward, clear of the crowd. + +"Annette!" cried Adrien, her hand on Vic's shoulder. "Go and get +her!" + +Halting the car, Vic leaped from the wheel, ran to where the girls' +squad was halted and caught Annette by the arm. + +"Annette," he said, "get your girls away from here quick! Come +with us!" + +But Annette laughed scornfully at him. + +"Go with you? Not I! But," she added in a breathless undertone, +"for God's sake, get your ladies and the baby away. These people +won't know who you are. Move quick!" + +"Come with us, Annette!" implored Vic. "If you come, the rest will +follow." + +"Go! Go!" cried Annette, pushing him. Already the crowd were +tearing the fence to pieces with their hands, and rocks were +beginning to fly. + +Failing to move the girl, Vic sprang to the wheel again. + +"I will get you away from this, anyway," he said. + +"But Annette!" cried Patricia. "We can't leave her!" + +But Vic made no reply, and at his touch the machine leaped forward, +and none too soon, for already men were crowding about the car on +every side. + +"We are well out of that!" said Vic coolly. "And now I will take +you all home. Hello! They're messing up McGinnis's things a bit," +he added, as the sound of crashing glass came to their ears. + +Through the quiet streets the car flew like a hunted thing, and in +a very few minutes they were at the Rectory door. + +"No fuss, now, Patricia," said Adrien. "we must not alarm Mamma. +All steady." + +"Right you are! Steady it is!" said Patricia springing from the +car. Quietly but swiftly they got the woman and the child indoors. + +"Hugh! Rupert!" said Adrien, speaking in a quiet voice. "Vic +needs you out there. That is a wild car of yours, Rupert," she +added with a laugh. "It fairly flies." Gathering in her hands the +men's hats and sticks, she hurried them out of the door. + +"Cheerio!" cried Vic. "A lovely war is going on down at the +McGinnis plant. Get in and let us plan a campaign. First, to +Police Headquarters, I suppose." As they flew through the streets +Vic gave them in a few words a picture of the scenes he had just +witnessed. + +They found the Chief of Police in his office. At their first word +he was on the move. + +"I was afraid of this thing when that fool parade started," he +said. "Sergeant, send out the general alarm!" + +"How many men have you, Chief?" inquired Hugh. + +"About twenty-five, all told. But they are all over the town. How +many men are down there?" + +"There are five hundred, at least; possibly a thousand, raging like +wild bulls of Bashan." + +As he spoke, another car came tearing up and Jack Maitland sprang +from the wheel. + +"Are you in need of help, Chief?" he asked quietly. + +"All the good men we can get," said the Chief curtly. "But first +we must get the Mayor here. Sergeant, get him on the phone." + +"You go for him, Vic," said Jack. + +"Righto!" cried Vic. "But count me in on this." + +In fifteen minutes Vic was back with the Mayor, helpless with +nervous excitement. + +"Get your men out, Chief!" he shouted, as he sprang from the car. +"Get them out quick, arrest those devils and lock 'em up! We'll +show them a thing or two! Hurry up! What are you waiting for?" + +"Mr. Mayor," Jack's clear, firm, cool voice arrested the Mayor's +attention. "May I suggest that you swear in some special +constables? The Chief will need help and some of us here would be +glad to assist." + +"Yes! Yes! For God's sake, hurry up! Here's the clerk. How do +you swear them in, clerk?" + +"The Chief of Police has all the necessary authority." + +"All right, Chief. Swear them! Swear them! For heaven's sake, +swear them! Here, you, Maitland--and you, Maynard--and Stillwell--" + +With cool, swift efficiency born of his experience in the war, the +Chief went on with his arrangements. In his hands the process of +swearing in a number of special constables was speedily accomplished. +Meantime many cars and a considerable number of men had gathered +about the Police Headquarters. + +"What is that light?" cried the Mayor suddenly, pointing in the +direction of the foundry. "It's a fire! My God, Chief, do you see +that fire? Hurry up! Why don't you hurry up? They will burn the +town down." + +"All right, Mr. Mayor," said the Chief. "We shall be there in a +few minutes now. Captain Maitland," said the Chief, "I will take +the men I have with me. Will you swear in all you can get within +the next fifteen or twenty minutes, and report to me at the +foundry? Sergeant, you come along with me! I'm off!" So saying, +the Chief commandeered as many cars as were necessary, packed them +with the members of his police force available and with the +specials he had secured, and hurried away. + +After the Chief had retired, Jack stood up in his car. "Any of you +chaps want to get into this?" he said, addressing the crowd. His +voice was cheery and cool. At once a dozen voices responded. +"Righto!" "Here you are!" "Put me down!" In less than fifteen +minutes, he had secured between forty and fifty men. + +"I want all these cars," he said. "Get in, men. Hold on!" he +shouted at a driver who had thrown in his clutch. "Let no man move +without orders! Any man disobeying orders will be arrested at +once! Remember that no guns are to be used, no matter what +provocation may be given. Even if you are fired on, don't fire in +return! Does any man know where we can get anything in the shape +of clubs?" + +"Hundreds of axe handles in our store," said Rupert. + +"Right you are! Drivers, fall in line. Keep close up. Now, Mr. +Mayor, if you please." + +Armed with axe handles from Stillwell & Son's store, they set off +for the scene of action. Arrived at the foundry they found the +maddest, wildest confusion raging along the street in front of the +foundry, and in the foundry yard which was crowded with men. The +board fence along the front of the grounds had been torn down and +used as fagots to fire the foundry, which was blazing merrily in a +dozen places. Everywhere about the blazing building parties of men +like hounds on the trail were hunting down strike-breakers and, on +finding them, were brutally battering them into insensibility. + +Driving his car through the crowd, Maitland found his way to the +Chief. In a few short, sharp sentences, the Chief explained his +plan of operations. "Clear the street in front, and hold it so! +Then come and assist me in clearing this yard." + +"All right, sir!" replied Maitland, touching his hat as to a +superior officer, and, wheeling his car, he led his men back to +the thronging street. + +Meantime, the Fire Department had arrived upon the scene with a +couple of engines, a hose reel and other fire-fighting apparatus, +the firemen greatly hampered in their operations. + +Swinging his car back through the crowd, Maitland made his way to +the street, and set to work to clear the space immediately in front +of the foundry. Parking his cars at one end of the street, and +forming his men up in a single line, he began slowly to press back +the crowd. It was slow and difficult work, for the crowd, unable +to recognise his ununiformed special constables, resented their +attack. + +He called Victor to his side. "Get a man with you," he said, "and +bring up two cars here." + +"Come along, Rupert," cried Victor, seizing Stillwell, and together +they darted back to where the cars stood. Mounting one of the +cars, Maitland shouted in a loud voice: + +"The Chief of Police wants this street cleared. So get back, +please! We don't wish to hurt anyone. Now, get back!" And lining +up level with the cars, the special constables again began to press +forward, using their axe handles as bayonets and seeking to prod +their way through. + +High up on a telegraph pole, his foot on one of the climbing +spikes, was a man directing and encouraging the attack. As he drew +near, Maitland discovered this man to be no other than Tony, wildly +excited and vastly enjoying himself. + +"Come down, Tony!" he said. "Hurry up!" + +"Cheerio, Captain!" shouted Tony. "What about Festubert?" + +"Come down, Tony," said Maitland, "and be quick about it!" + +"Sorry, can't do it, Captain. I am a fixture here." + +Like a cat, Maitland swarmed up the pole and coming to a level with +Tony, struck him swiftly and unexpectedly a single blow. It caught +Tony on the chin. He swung off from the post, hung a moment, then +dropped quietly to the ground. As he fell, a woman's shriek rang +out from the crowd and tearing her way through the line came +Annette, who flung herself upon her brother. + +"Here you," said Jack, seizing a couple of men from the crowd, "get +this man in my car. Now, Annette," he continued, "don't make a +fuss. Tony isn't hurt. We'll send him quietly home. Now then, +men, let's have no nonsense," he shouted. "I want this street +cleared, and quick!" + +As he spoke, a huge man ran out from the crowd and, with an oath, +flung himself at Maitland. But before he came within striking +distance, an axe handle flashed and the man went down like a log. + +"Axe handles!" shouted Maitland. "But steady, men!" + +Over the heads of the advancing line, the axe handles swung, men +dropping before them at every step. At once the crowd began a +hasty retreat, till the pressure upon the back lines made it +impossible for those in front to escape. From over the heads of +the crowd rocks began to fly. A number of his specials were +wounded and for a moment the advance hung fire. Down through the +crowd came a fireman, dragging with him a hose preparatory to +getting into action. + +"Hello, there!" called Maitland. The fireman looked up at him. +Jack sprang down to his side. "I want to clear this street," he +said. "You can do it for me." + +"Well, I can try," said the fireman with a grin, and turning his +hose toward the crowd, gave the signal for the water, holding the +nozzle at an angle slightly off the perpendicular. In a very few +moments the crowd in the rear found themselves under a deluge of +falling water, and immediately they took to their heels, followed +as rapidly as possible by those in front. Then, levelling his +nozzle, the fireman proceeded to wash back from either side of the +street those who had sought refuge there, and before many minutes +had elapsed, the street was cleared, and in command of Maitland's +specials. + +Leaving the street under guard, Maitland and his specials went to +the help of the Chief, who was hampered more or less by His +Worship, the Mayor, and very considerably by Mr. McGinnis, who had +meantime arrived, mad with rage and demanding blood, and proceeded +to clear up the foundry yard, and rescue the strike-breakers who +had taken refuge within the burning building and in holes and +corners about the premises. It was no light matter, but under the +patient, good-natured but resolute direction of the Chief, they +finally completed their job, rounding up the strike-breakers in a +corner of the yard and driving off their assailants to a safe +distance. + +There remained still the most difficult part of their task. The +strike-breakers must be got to the Police Headquarters, the nearest +available place of safety. For, on the street beyond the water +line, the crowd was still waiting in wrathful mood. The foundry +was a wreck, but even this did not satisfy the fury of the +strikers, which had been excited by the presence of the strike- +breakers imported by McGinnis. For the more seriously injured, +ambulances were called, and these were safely got off under police +guard to the General Hospital. + +The Chief entered into consultation with the Mayor: + +"The only safe place within reach," he said, "is Police Headquarters. +And the shortest and best route is up the hill to the left. But +unfortunately, that is where the big crowd is gathered. There are +not so many if we take the route to the right, but that is a longer +way round." + +"Put the men in your cars, Chief," said McGinnis, "and smash your +way through. They can't stop you." + +"Yes, and kill a dozen or so," said the Chief. + +"Why not? Aren't they breaking the law?" + +"Oh, well, Mr. McGinnis," said the Chief, "it is easy to kill men. +The trouble is they are no use to anybody after they are dead. No, +we must have no killing to-night. To-morrow we'd be sorry for it." + +"Let us drive up and see them," suggested the Mayor. "Let me talk +to the boys. The boys know me." + +The Chief did not appear to be greatly in love with the suggestion +of the Mayor. + +"Well," he said, "it would do no harm to drive up and have a look +at them. We'll see how they are fixed, anyway. I think, Mr. +McGinnis, you had better remain on guard here. The Mayor and +Captain Maitland will come with me." + +Commandeering Rupert and his car, the Chief took his party at a +moderate pace up the street, at the top of which the crowd stood +waiting in compact masses. Into these masses Rupert recklessly +drove his car. + +"Steady there, Stillwell," warned the Chief. "You'll hurt +someone." + +"Hurt them?" said Rupert. "What do you want?" + +"Certainly not to hurt anyone," replied the Chief quietly. "The +function of my police force is the protection of citizens. Halt +there!" + +The Chief stepped out among the strikers and stood in the glare of +the headlights. + +"Well, boys," he said pleasantly, "don't you think it is time to +get home? I think you have done enough damage to-night already. I +am going to give you a chance to get away. We don't want to hurt +anyone and we don't want to have any of you down for five years or +so." + +Then the Mayor spoke up. "Men, this is a most disgraceful thing. +Most deplorable. Think of the stain upon the good name of our fair +city." + +Howls of derision drowned his further speech for a time. + +"Now, boys," he continued, "can't we end this thing right here? +Why can't you disperse quietly and go to your homes? What do you +want here, anyway?" + +"Scabs!" yelled a voice, followed by a savage yell from the crowd. + +"Men," said the Chief sharply, "you know me. I want this street +cleared. I shall return here in five minutes and anyone seeking to +stop me will do so at his own risk. I have a hundred men down +there and this time they won't give you the soft end of the club." + +"We want them sulphurously described scabs," yelled a voice. "We +ain't goin' to kill them, Chief. They're lousy. We want to give +'em a bath." And a savage yell of laughter greeted the remark. On +every hand the word was taken up: "A bath! A bath! The river! +The river!" The savage laughter of the crowd was even more +horrible than their rage. + +"All right, boys. We are coming back and we are going through. +Leave this street clear or take your chances! It's up to you!" So +saying, the car was turned about and the party proceeded back to +the foundry. + +"What are you going to do, Chief?" inquired the Mayor anxiously. + +"There are a lot of soldiers in that crowd," said the Chief. "I +don't like the looks of them. They are too steady. I hate to +smash through them." + +Arrived at the foundry, the Chief paced up and down, pondering his +problem. He called Maitland to his side. + +"How many cars have we here, Maitland?" he inquired. + +"Some fifteen, I think. And there are five or six more parked down +on the street." + +"That would be enough," said the Chief. "I hate the idea of +smashing through that crowd. You see, some of those boys went +through hell with me and I hate to hurt them." + +"Why not try a ruse?" suggested Maitland. "Divide your party. You +take five or six cars with constables up the hill to that crowd +there. Let me take the strikebreakers and the rest of the cars and +make a dash to the right. It's a longer way round but with the +streets clear, we can arrive at Headquarters in a very few +minutes." + +The Chief considered the plan for a few minutes in silence. + +"It's a good plan, Maitland," he said at length. "It's a good +plan. And we'll put it through. I'll make the feint on the left; +you run them through on the right. I believe we can pull it off. +Give me a few minutes to engage their attention before you set +out." + +Everything came off according to plan. As the Chief's detachment +of cars approached the solid mass of strikers, they slowly gave +back before them. + +"Clear the way there!" said the Chief. "We are going through!" + +Step by step the crowd gave way, pressed by the approaching cars. +Suddenly, at a word of command, the mass opened ranks and the Chief +saw before him a barrier across the street, constructed of fencing +torn from neighbouring gardens, an upturned delivery wagon, a very +ugly and very savage-looking field harrow commandeered from a +neighbouring market garden, with wicked-looking, protruding teeth +and other debris of varied material, but all helping to produce a +most effective barricade. Silently the Chief stood for a few +moments, gazing at the obstruction. A curious, ominous growl of +laughter ran through the mob. Then came a sharp word of command: + +"Unload!" + +As with one movement his party of constables were on the ground and +lined up in front of their cars, with their clubs and axe handles +ready for service. Still the mob waited in ominous silence. The +Chief drew his gun and said in a loud, clear voice: + +"I am going to clear away this barricade. The first man that +offers to prevent me I shall shoot on the spot." + +"I wouldn't do that, Chief," said a voice quietly from the rear. +"There are others, you know. Listen." + +Three shots rang out in rapid succession, and again silence fell. + +Meantime from the corner of the barricade a man had been peering +into the cars. + +"Boys!" he shouted. "They ain't there! There ain't no scabs." + +The Chief laughed quietly. + +"Who said there were?" he asked. + +"Sold, by thunder!" said the man. Then he yelled: "We'll get 'em +yet. Come on, boys, to the main street." + +Like a deer, he doubled down a side street, followed by the crowd, +yelling, cursing, swearing deep oaths. + +"Let 'em go," said the Chief. "Maitland's got through by this +time." As he spoke, two shots rang out, followed by the crash of +glass, and the headlights of the first car went black. + +"Just as well you didn't get through, Chief," said the voice of the +previous speaker. "Might've got hurt, eh?" + +"Give it to him, Chief," said Rupert savagely. + +"No use," said the Chief. "Let him go." + +Meanwhile, Maitland, with little or no opposition, had got his cars +through the crowd, which as a matter of fact were unaware of the +identity of the party until after they had broken through. + +Their way led by a circuitous route through quiet back streets, +approaching Police Headquarters from the rear. A ten-minute run +brought them to a short side street which led past the Maitland +Mills, at the entrance to which they saw under the glare of the arc +lights over the gateway a crowd blocking their way. + +"Now, what in thunder is this? Hold up a minute," said Maitland to +his driver. "Let me take a look." He ran forward to the main +entrance. There he found the gateway, which stood a little above +the street level, blocked by a number of his own men, some of whom +he recognised as members of his hockey team, and among them, +McNish. Out in the street among the crowd stood Simmons, standing +on a barrel, lashing himself into a frenzy and demanding blood, +fire, revolution, and what not. + +"McNish, you here?" said Maitland sharply. "What is it, peace or +war? Speak quick!" + +"A'm haudden these fules back fra the mill," answered McNish with +a scowl. Then, dropping into his book English, he continued +bitterly: "They have done enough to-night already. They have +wrecked our cause for us!" + +"You are dead right, McNish," answered Maitland. "And what do they +want here?" + +"They are some of McGinnis's men and they are mad at the way you +handled them over yonder. They are bound to get in here. They are +only waiting for the rest of the crowd. Yon eejit doesn't know +what he is saying. They are all half-drunk." + +Maitland's mind worked swiftly. "McNish, listen!" he said. "I am +in a deuce of a fix. I have the scabs in those cars there with me. +The crowd are following me up. What shall I do?" + +"My God, man, you're lost. They'll tear ye tae bits." + +"McNish, listen. I'll run them into the office by the side gate +down the street. Keep them busy here. Let that fool Simmons spout +all he wants. He'll help to make a row." + +His eyes fell upon a crouching figure at his feet. + +"Who is this? It's Sam, by all that's holy! Why, Sam, you are the +very chap I want. Listen, boy. Slip around to the side door and +open it wide till I bring in some cars. Then shut and bar it +quick." Carefully he repeated his instructions. "Can you do it, +Sam?" + +"I'm awful scared, Captain," replied the boy, his teeth chattering, +"but I'll try it." + +"Good boy," said Maitland. "Don't fail me, Sam. They might kill +me." + +"All right, Captain. I'll do it!" And Sam disappeared, crawling +under the gate, while Maitland slipped back to his cars and passed +the word among the drivers. "Keep close up and stop for nothing!" + +They had almost made the entry when some man hanging on the rear of +the crowd caught sight of them. + +"Scabs! Scabs!" cried the man, dashing after the cars. But Sam +was equal to his task, and as the last car passed through the +gateway he slammed and bolted the door in their faces. + +Disposing of the strike-breakers in the office, Maitland and his +guard of specials passed outside to the main gate and took their +places beside McNish and his guard. Before them the mob had become +a mad, yelling, frenzied thing, bereft of power of thought, swaying +under the fury of their passion like tree tops blown by storm, +reiterating in hoarse and broken cries the single word "Scabs! +Scabs!" + +"Keep them going somehow, McNish," said Maitland. "The Chief won't +be long now." + +McNish climbed up upon the fence and, held in place there by two +specials, lifted his hand for silence. But Simmons, who all too +obviously had fallen under the spell of the bootleggers, knew too +well the peril of his cause. Shrill and savage rose his voice: + +"Don't listen to 'im. 'E's a traitor, a blank and double-blank +traitor. 'E sold us (h)up, 'e 'as. Don't listen to 'im." + +Like a maniac he spat out the words from his foam-flecked lips, +waving his arms madly about his head. Relief came from an +unexpected source. Sam Wigglesworth, annoyed at Simmons's +persistence and observing that McNish, to whom as a labour leader +he felt himself bound, regarded the orating and gesticulating +Simmons with disfavour, reached down and, pulling a sizable club +from beneath the bottom of a fence, took careful aim and, with the +accuracy of the baseball pitcher that he was, hurled it at the +swaying figure upon the barrel. The club caught Simmons fair in +the mouth, who, being, none too firmly set upon his pedestal, +itself affording a wobbling foothold, landed spatting and swearing +in the arms of his friends below. With the mercurial temper +characteristic of a crowd, they burst into a yell of laughter. + +"Go to it now, McNish!" said Maitland. + +Echoing the laughter, McNish once more held up his hand. "Earth to +earth, ashes to ashes," he said in his deepest and most solemn +tone. The phenomenal absurdity of a joke from the solemn Scotchman +again tickled the uncertain temperament of the crowd into +boisterous laughter. + +"Men, listen tae me!" cried McNish. "Ye mad a bad mistake the +nicht. In fact, ye're a lot of fules. And those who led ye are +worse, for they have lost us the strike, if that is any +satisfaction tae ye. And now ye want to do another fule thing. +Ye're mad just because ye didn't know enough to keep out of the +wet." + +But at this point, a man fighting his way from the rear of the +crowd, once more raised the cry "Scabs!" + +"Keep that fool quiet," said McNish sharply. + +"Keep quiet yourself, McNish," replied the man, still pushing his +way toward the front. + +"Heaven help us now," said Maitland. "It's Tony, and drunk at +that!" + +It was indeed Tony, without hat, coat or vest. + +"McNish, we want those scabs," said Tony, in drunken gravity. + +"There are nae scabs here. Haud ye're drunken tongue," said McNish +savagely. + +"McNish," persisted Tony in a grave and perfectly courteous tone, +"you're a liar. The scabs are in that office." A roar again swept +the crowd. + +"Men, listen to me," pleaded McNish. "A'll tell ye about the +scabs. They are in the office yonder. But I have Captain +Maitland's word o' honour that they will be shipped out of town +by the first train." + +A savage yell answered him. + +"McNish, we'll do the shipping," said Tony, moving still nearer the +speaker. + +"Officer," said Maitland sharply to a uniformed policeman standing +by his side, "arrest that man!" pointing to Tony. + +The policeman drew his baton, took two strides forward, seized Tony +by the back of the neck and drew him in. An angry yell went up +from the mob. Maitland felt a hand upon his arm. Looking down, he +saw to his horror and dismay Annette, her face white and stricken +with grief and terror. + +"Oh, Jack," she pleaded, "don't let Tony be arrested. He broke +away from us. Let me take him. He will come with me. Oh, let me +take him!" + +"Rescue! Rescue!" shouted the crowd, rushing the cordon of police +lining the street. + +"Kill him! Kill the traitor!" yelled Simmons, struggling through +and waving unsteadily the revolver in his hand. "Down with that +tyrant, Maitland! Kill him!" he shrieked. + +He raised his arm, holding his gun with both hands. + +"Look out, Jack," shrieked Annette, flinging herself on him. + +Simultaneously with the shot, a woman's scream rang out and Annette +fell back into Maitland's arms. A silence deep as death fell upon +the mob. + +With a groan McNish dropped from the fence beside the girl. + +Annette opened her eyes and, looking up into Maitland's face, +whispered: "He didn't get you, Jack. I'm so glad." + +"Oh, Annette, dear girl! He's killed you!" + +"It's--all--right--Jack," she whispered. "I--saved--you." + +Meanwhile McNish, with her hand caught in his, was sobbing: "God, +have mercy! She's deed! She's deed!" + +Annette again opened her eyes. "Poor Malcolm," she whispered. +"Dear Malcolm." Then, closing her eyes again, quietly as a tired +child, she sank into unconsciousness. The big Scotchman, still +kissing her hand, sobbed: + +"Puir lassie, puir lassie! Ma God! Ma God! What now? What now?" + +"She is dead. The girl is dead." The word passed from lip to lip +among the crowd, which still held motionless and silent. + +"We'll get her into the office," said Maitland. + +"A'll tak her," said McNish, and, stopping down, he lifted her +tenderly in his arms, stood for a moment facing the crowd, and then +in a voice of unutterable sadness that told of a broken heart, he +said: "Ye've killed her. Ye've killed the puir lassie. Are ye +content?" And passed in through the gate, holding the motionless +form close to his heart. + +As he passed with his pathetic burden, the men on guard at the gate +bared their heads. Immediately on every hand throughout the crowd +men took off their hats and stood silent till he had disappeared +from their sight. In the presence of that poignant grief their +rage against him ceased, swept out of their hearts by an +overwhelming pity. + +In one swift instant a door had opened from another and unknown +world, and through the open door a Presence, majestic, imperious, +had moved in upon them, withering with His icy breath their hot +passions, smiting their noisy clamour to guilty silence. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A GALLANT FIGHT + + +In the Rectory the night was one long agony of fear and anxiety. +Adrien had taken Mrs. Egan and her babe home in a taxi as soon as +circumstances would warrant, and then, lest they should alarm their +mother, they made pretense of retiring for the night. + +After seeing their mother safely bestowed, they slipped downstairs, +and, muffling the telephone, sat waiting for news, slipping out now +and then to the street, one at a time, to watch the glare of the +fire in the sky and to listen for the sounds of rioting from the +town. + +At length from Victor came news of the tragedy. With whitening +face, Adrien took the message. Not for nothing had she walked the +wards in France. + +"Listen, Victor," she said, speaking in a quick, firm voice. "It +is almost impossible to get a nurse in time and quite impossible to +get one skilled in this sort of case. Come for me. I shall be +ready and shall take charge. Tell Dr. Meredith I am quite free." + +"All right. Lose no time." + +"Oh, what is it, Adrien?" said Patricia, wringing her hands. "Is +it Jack? Or Victor?" + +Adrien caught her by the shoulders: "Patricia, I want your help. +No talk! Come with me. I will tell you as I dress." + +Swiftly, with no hurry or flurry, Adrien changed into her uniform, +packed her bag, giving Patricia meantime the story of the tragedy +which she had heard over the telephone. + +"And to think it might have been Jack," said Patricia, wringing her +hands. "Oh, dear, dear Annette. Can't I help in some way, +Adrien?" + +"Patricia, listen to me, child. The first thing is keep your head. +You can help me greatly. You will take charge here and later, +perhaps, you can help me in other ways. Meantime you must assume +full responsibility for them all here. Much depends on you!" + +The girl stood gazing with wide-open blue eyes at her sister. Then +quietly she answered: + +"I'll do my best, Adrien. There's Vic." She rushed swiftly +downstairs. Suddenly she stopped, steadied her pace, and received +him with a calm that surprised that young man beyond measure. + +"Adrien is quite ready, Vic," she said. + +"Topping," said Vic. "What a brick she is! Dr. Meredith didn't +know where to turn for a nurse. The hospital is full. Every nurse +is engaged. So much sickness, you know, in town. Ah, here she is. +You are a lightning-change artist, Adrien." + +"How is Annette, Vic? Is she still living?" asked Patricia. + +"I don't know," replied Vic, wondering at the change in the girl +before him. + +"Darling," said Adrien, "I will let you know at once. I hate to +leave you." + +"Leave me!" cried Patricia. "Nonsense, Adrien, I shall be quite +all right. Only," she added, clasping her hands, "let me know when +you can." + +When the ambulance arrived at the Maitland home, Adrien was at the +door. All was in readiness--hot water, bandages, and everything +needful to the doctor's hand. + +McNish carried Annette up to the room prepared for her, laid her +down and stood in dumb grief looking down upon her. + +Adrien touched him on the arm. + +"Come," she said. And, taking his arm, led him downstairs. "Stay +here," she said. "I will bring you word as soon as possible." + +An hour later she returned, and found him sitting in the exact +position in which she had left him. He apparently had not moved +hand or foot. At her entrance he looked up, eager, voiceless. + +"She is resting," said Adrien. "The bullet is extracted. It had +gone quite through to the outer skin--a clean wound." + +"How long," said McNish, passing his tongue over his dry lips, "how +long does the doctor say--" + +"The doctor says nothing. She asked for you." + +McNish started up and went toward the door. + +"But you cannot go to her now." + +"She asked for me?" said McNish. + +"Yes. But she must be kept quite quiet. The very least excitement +might hurt her." + +"Hurt her?" said McNish, and sat down quietly. + +After a moment's silence, he said: + +"You will let me see her--once more--before she--she--" He paused, +his lips quivering, his great blue eyes pitifully beseeching her. + +"Mr. McNish," said Adrien, "she may not die." + +"Ma God!" he whispered, falling on his knees and catching her hand +in both of his. "Ma God! Dinna lee tae me." + +"Believe me, I would not," said Adrien, while the great eyes seemed +to drag the truth from her very soul. "The doctor says nothing, +but I have seen many cases of bullet wounds, and I have hope." + +"Hope," he whispered. "Hope! Ma God! hope!" His hands went to +his face and his great frame shook with silent sobbing. + +"But you must be very quiet and steady." + +Immediately he was on his feet and standing like a soldier at +attention. + +"Ay, A wull," he whispered eagerly. "Tell me what tae do?" + +"First of all," said Adrien, "we must have something to eat." + +A shudder passed through him. "Eat?" he said, as if he had never +heard the word. + +"Yes," said Adrien. "Remember, you promised." + +"Ay. A'll eat." Like a man under a mesmeric spell, he went +through the motions of eating. His mind was far away, his eyes +eager, alert, forever upon her face. + +When they had finished their meal, Adrien said: + +"Now, Mr. McNish, is there anything I can do for you?" + +"A would like to send word to ma mither," he said. "She disna ken +onything--aboot--aboot Annette--aboot Annette an' me," a faint +touch of red coming slowly up in his grey face. + +"I shall get word to her. I know the very man. I shall phone the +Reverend Murdo Matheson." + +"Ay," said McNish, "he is the man." + +"Now, then," said Adrien, placing him in an easy chair, "you must +rest there. Remember, I am keeping watch." + +With the promise that he would do his best to rest, she left him +sitting bolt upright in his chair. + +Toward morning, Maitland appeared, weary and haggard. Adrien +greeted him with tender solicitude; it was almost maternal in its +tone. + +"Oh, Adrien," said Maitland, with a great sight of relief, "you +don't know how good it is to see you here. It bucks one +tremendously to feel that you are on this job." + +"I shall get you some breakfast immediately," she answered in a +calm, matter-of-fact voice. "You are done out. Your father has +come in and has gone to lie down. McNish is in the library." + +"And Annette?" said Maitland. He was biting his lips to keep them +from quivering. "Is she still--" + +"She is resting. The maid is watching beside her. Dear Jack," she +uttered with a quick rush of sympathy, "I know how hard this is for +you. But I am not without hope for Annette." + +A quick light leaped into his eyes. "Hope, did you say? Oh, thank +the good Lord." His voice broke and he turned away from her. +"You know," he said, coming back, "she gave her life for me. Oh, +Adrien, think of it! She threw herself in the way of death for me. +She covered me with her own body." He sat down suddenly as if +almost in collapse, and buried his head in his arms, struggling for +control. + +Adrien went to him and put her arm round his shoulder--she might +have been his mother. "Dear Jack," she said, "it was a wonderful +thing she did. God will surely spare her to you." + +He rose wearily from his chair and put his arms around her. + +"Oh, Adrien," he said, "it is good to have you here. I do need, we +all need you so." + +Gently she put his arms away from her. "And now," she said +briskly, "I am going to take charge of you, Jack, of you all, and +you must obey orders." + +"Only give me a chance to do anything for you," he said, "or for +anyone you care for." + +There was a puzzled expression on Adrien's face as she turned away. +But she asked no explanation. + +"My first order, then," she said, "is this: you must have your +breakfast and then go to bed for an hour or two." + +"I shall be glad to breakfast, but I have a lot of things to do." + +"Can't they wait? And won't you do them better after a good +sleep?" + +"Some of them can't wait," he replied. "I have just got Tony to +bed. The doctor has sent him to sleep. His father and mother are +watching him. Oh, Adrien, that is a sad home. It was a terrible +experience for me. Tony I must see when he wakes and the poor old +father and mother will be over here early. I must be ready for +them." + +"Very well, Jack," said Adrien in a prompt, businesslike tone. +"You have two clear hours for sleep. You must sleep for the sake +of others, you understand. I promise to wake you in good time." + +"And what about yourself, Adrien?" + +"Oh, this is my job," she said lightly. "I shall be relieved in +the afternoon, the doctor has promised." + +When the Employers' Defence Committee met next morning there were +many haggard faces among its members. In the large hall outside +the committee room a considerable number of citizens, young and +old, had gathered and with them the Mayor, conversing in voices +tinged with various emotions, anxiety, pity, wrath, according to +the temper and disposition of each. + +In the committee room Mr. Farrington was in the chair. No sooner +had the meeting been called to order than Mr. Maitland arose, and, +speaking under deep but controlled feeling, he said: + +"Gentlemen, I felt sure none of us would wish to transact ordinary +business this morning. I was sure, too, that in the very +distressing circumstances under which we meet you would feel as I +do the need of guidance and help. I therefore took the liberty of +inviting the deputation from the Ministerial Association which +waited on us the other day to join us in our deliberation. Mr. +Haynes is away from town, but Dr. Templeton and Mr. Matheson have +kindly consented to be present. They will be here in half an +hour's time." + +A general and hearty approval of his action was expressed, after +which the Chairman invited suggestions as to the course to be +pursued. But no one was ready with a suggestion. Somehow the +outlook upon life was different this morning, and readjustment of +vision appeared to be necessary. No man felt himself qualified to +offer advice. + +From this dilemma they were relieved by a knock upon the door and +the Mayor appeared. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "I have no wish to intrude, but a great many +of our citizens are in the larger hall. They are anxious to be +advised upon the present trying situation. It has been suggested +that your committee might join with us in a general public +meeting." + +After a few moments' consideration, the Mayor's proposition was +accepted and the committee adjourned to the larger hall, Mr. +Farrington resigning the chair to His Worship, the Mayor. + +The Mayor's tongue was not so ready this morning. He explained the +circumstances of the meeting and thanked the committee for yielding +to his request. He was ready to receive any suggestions as to what +the next step should be. + +The silence which followed was broken by Mr. McGinnis, who arose +and, in a voice much shaken, he inquired: + +"Can anyone tell us just what is the last word concerning the young +girl this morning?" + +Mr. Maitland replied: "Before I left the house, the last report +was that she was resting quietly and, while the doctor was not able +to offer any hope of her recovery, he ventured to say that he did +not quite despair. And that from Dr. Meredith, as we know, means +something." + +"Thank God for that," said McGinnis, and leaning his head upon his +hand, he sat with his eyes fixed upon the floor. + +Again the Mayor asked for suggestions, but no one in the audience +appeared willing to assume the responsibility of offering guidance. + +At length Rupert Stillwell arose. He apologised for speaking in +the presence of older men, but something had to be done and he +ventured to offer one suggestion at least. + +"It occurs to me," he said, "that one thing at least should be +immediately done. Those responsible for the disgraceful riot of +last evening, and I mean more than the actual ringleaders in the +affair, should be brought to justice." He proceeded to elaborate +upon the enormity of the crime, the danger to the State of mob +rule, the necessity for stern measures to prevent the recurrence of +such disorders. He suggested a special citizens' committee for the +preservation of public order. + +His words appeared to meet the approval of a large number of those +present, especially of the younger men. + +While he was speaking, the audience appeared to be greatly relieved +to see Dr. Templeton and the Reverend Murdo Matheson walk in and +quietly take their seats. They remembered, many of them, how at a +recent similar gathering these gentlemen had advised a procedure +which, if followed, would have undoubtedly prevented the disasters +of the previous night. + +Giving a brief account of the proceedings of the meeting to the +present point, the Mayor suggested that Dr. Templeton might offer +them a word of advice. + +Courteously thanking the Mayor for his invitation, the Doctor said: + +"As I came in this room, I caught the words of my young friend, who +suggested a committee for the preservation of public order. May I +suggested that the preservation of public order in the community is +something that can be entrusted to no committee? It rests with the +whole community. We have all made mistakes, we are constantly +making mistakes. We have yielded to passion, and always to our +sorrow and hurt. We have vainly imagined that by the exercise of +force we can settle strife. No question of right or justice is +settled by fighting, for, after the fighting is done, the matter in +dispute remains to be settled. We have tried that way and to-day +we are fronted with disastrous failure. I have come from a home +over which the shadow of death hangs low. There a father and +mother lie prostrate with sorrow, agonising for the life of their +child. But a deeper shadow lies there, a shadow of sin, for the +sting of death is sin. A brother torn with self-condemnation, his +heart broken with grief for his sister, who loved him better than +her own life, lies under that shadow of sin. But, gentlemen, can +any of us escape from that shadow? Do we not all share in that +sin? For we all have a part in the determining of our environment. +Can we not, by God's grace, lift that shadow at least from our +lives? Let us turn our faces from the path of strife toward the +path of peace, for the pathway of right doing and of brotherly +kindness is the only path to peace in this world." + +The Chairman then called upon the Reverend Murdo Matheson to +express his mind. But at this point, the whole audience were +galvanised into an intensity of confused emotion by the entrance of +the Executive of the Allied Unions, led by McNish himself. Simmons +alone was absent, being at that moment, with some half dozen +others, in the care of the police. Silently the Executive +Committee walked to the front and found seats, McNish alone +remaining standing. Grey, gaunt, hollow-eyed, he met with steady +gaze the eyes of the audience, some of them aflame with hostile +wrath, for in him they recognised the responsible head of the +labour movement that had wrought such disaster and grief in the +community. + +Without apology or preface McNish began: "I am here seeking +peace," he said, in his hoarse, hard, guttural voice. "I have made +mistakes. Would I could suffer for them alone, but no, others must +suffer with me. I have only condemnation for the outrages of last +night. We repudiate them, we lament them. We tried to prevent +them, but human passion and circumstances were too strong for us. +We would undo the ill--would to God could undo the ill. How gladly +would I suffer all that has come to others." His deep, harsh voice +shook under the stress of his emotion. He lifted his head: "I +cannot deny my cause," he continued, his voice ringing out clear. +"Our cause was right, but the spirit was wrong." He paused a few +moments, evidently gathering strength to hold his voice steady. +"Yes, the spirit was wrong and this day is a black day to me. We +come to ask for peace. God knows I have no heart for war." + +Again he paused, his strong stern face working strangely under the +stress of the emotions which he was fighting to subdue. "We +suggest a committee of three, with powers to arbitrate, and we name +as our man one who till recently was one of our Union, a man of +fair and honest mind, a man without fear and with a heart for his +comrades. Our man is Captain Maitland." + +His words, and especially the name of the representative of the +labour unions produced an overwhelming effect upon the audience. +No sooner had he finished than the Reverend Murdo Matheson took the +floor. He spoke no economics. He offered no elaborate argument +for peace. In plain, simple words he told of experiences through +which he had recently passed: + +"Like one whom I feel it an honour to call my father," he began, +bowing toward Dr. Templeton, "I, too, have made a visit this +morning. Not to a home, but to a place the most unlike a home of +any spot in this sad world, a jail. Seven of our fellow-citizens +are confined there, six of them boys, mere boys, dazed and +penetrated with sorrow for their folly--they meant no crime--I am +not relieving them of the blame--the other, a man, embittered with +a long, hard fight against poverty, injustice and cruel +circumstance in another land, with distorted views of life, crazed +by drink, committed a crime which this morning fills him with +horror and grief. Late last night I was sent to the home of one of +my people. There I found an aged lady, carrying with a brave heart +the sorrows and burdens of nearly seventy years, waiting in anxiety +and grief and fear for her son, who was keeping vigil at what may +well be the deathbed of the girl he loves. You have just heard his +plea for peace. Some of you are inclined to lay the blame for the +ills that have fallen upon us upon certain classes and individuals +in this community. They have their blame and they must bear the +responsibility. But, gentlemen, a juster estimate of the causes of +these ills will convince us that they are the product of our +civilisation and for these things we must all accept our share of +responsibility. More, we must seek to remove them from among us. +They are an affront to our intelligence, an insult to our holy +religion, an outrage upon the love of our brother man and our +Father, God. Let us humbly, resolutely seek the better way, the +way we have set before us this morning, the way of right doing, of +brotherly kindness and of brotherly love which is the way of +peace." + +It was a subdued company of men that listened to his appeal. In +silence they sat looking straight before them with faces grave and +frowning, as is the way with men of our race when deeply stirred. + +It was a morning of dramatic surprises, but none were so startling, +none so dramatic as the speech of McGinnis that followed. + +"This is a day for confessions," he said, "and I am here to make +one for myself. I have been a fighter, too much of a fighter, all +my life, and I have often suffered for it. I suffered a heavy loss +last night and to-day I am sick of fighting. But I have found +this: that you can't fight men in this world without fighting women +and children, too. God knows I have no war with the old, grey- +haired lady the Padre has just told us about. I have no war with +that broken-hearted father and mother. And I have no war with +Annette Perrotte, dear girl, God preserve her." At this point, +McGinnis's command quite forsook him. His voice utterly broke +down, while the tears ran down his rugged fighting face. "I am +done with fighting," he cried. "They have named Captain Maitland. +We know him for a straight man and a white man. Let me talk with +Captain Jack Maitland, and let us get together with the Padre +there," pointing to the Reverend Murdo Matheson, "and in an hour we +will settle this matter." + +In a tumult of approval the suggestion was accepted. It was +considered a perfectly fitting thing, though afterwards men spoke +of it with something of wonder, that the Mayor should have called +upon the Reverend Doctor to close the meeting with prayer, and that +he should do so without making a speech. + +That same afternoon the three men met to consider the matter +submitted to them. Captain Jack Maitland laid before the committee +his figures and his charts setting forth the facts in regard to the +cost of living and the wage scale during the past five years. In +less than an hour they had agreed upon a settlement. There was to +be an increase of wages in keeping with the rise of the cost of +living, with the pledge that the wage scale should follow the curb +of the cost of living should any change occur within the year. The +hours of labour were shortened from ten to nine for a day's work, +with the pledge that they should be governed by the effect of the +change upon production and general conditions. And further, that a +Committee of Reference should be appointed for each shop and craft, +to which all differences should be submitted. To this committee +also were referred the other demands by the Allied Unions. + +It was a simple solution of the difficulty and upon its submission +to the public meeting called for its consideration, it was felt +that the comment of the irrepressible Victor Forsythe was not +entirely unfitting: + +"Of course!" said Victor, cheerfully. "It is the only thing. Why +didn't the Johnnies think of it before, or why didn't they ask me?" + +The committee, however, did more than settle the dispute immediately +before them. They laid before the public meeting and obtained its +approval for the creation of a General Board of Industry, under +whose guidance the whole question of the industrial life of the +community should be submitted to intelligent study and control. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SHALL BE GIVEN + + +For one long week of seven long days and seven long nights Annette +fought out her gallant fight for life, fought and won. Throughout +the week at her side Adrien waited day and night, except for a few +hours snatched for rest, when Patricia took her place, for there +was not a nurse to be had in all that time and Patricia begged for +the privilege of sharing her vigil with her. + +Every day and in the darkest days all day long, it seemed to +Adrien, McNish haunted the Maitland home--for he had abandoned all +pretence of work--his gaunt, grey face and hollow eyes imploring a +word of hope. + +But it was chiefly to Jack throughout that week that Adrien's heart +went out in compassionate pity, for in his face there dwelt a +misery so complete, so voiceless that no comfort of hers appeared +to be able to bring relief. Often through those days did Annette +ask to see him, but the old doctor was relentless. There must be +absolute quiet and utter absence of all excitement. No visitors +were to be permitted, especially no men visitors. + +But the day came when the ban was lifted and with smiling face, +Adrien came for Jack. + +"You have been such a good boy," she cried gaily, "that I am going +to give you a great treat. You are to come in with me." + +With face all alight Jack followed her into the sick room. + +"Here he is, Annette," cried Adrien. "Now, remember, no fussing, +no excitement, and just one quarter of an hour--or perhaps a little +longer," she added. + +For a moment or two Jack stood looking at the girl lying upon the +bed. + +"Oh, Annette, my dear, dear girl," he cried in a breaking voice as +he knelt down by her side and took her hand in his. + +So much reached Adrien's ears as she closed the door and passed to +her room with step weary and lifeless. + +"Why, Adrien," cried her sister, who was waiting to relieve her, +"you are like a ghost! You poor dear. You are horribly done out." + +"I believe I am, Patricia," said Adrien. "I believe I shall rest +awhile." She lay down on the bed, her face turned toward the wall, +and so remained till Patricia went softly away, leaving her, as she +thought, to sleep. + +Downstairs Patricia found Victor Forsythe awaiting her. + +"Poor Adrien is really used up," she said. "She has a deathly look +in her face. Just the same look as she had that night of the +hockey match. Do you remember?" + +"The night of the hockey dance? Do I remember? A ghastly night--a +horrid night--a night of unspeakable wretchedness." + +As Vic was speaking, Patricia kept her eyes steadily upon him with +a pondering, puzzled look. + +"What is it, Patricia? I know you want to ask me something. Is it +about that night?" + +"I wonder if you would really mind very much, Vic, if I asked you?" + +"Not in the very least. I shall doubtless enjoy it after it's out. +Painless dentistry effect. Go to it, Patsy." + +"It is very serious, Vic. I always think people in books are so +stupid. They come near to the truth and then just miss getting +it." + +"The truth. Ah! Go on, Pat." + +"Well, Vic," said Patricia with an air of one taking a desperate +venture, "why did you not give Adrien her note that night? It +would have saved her and me such pain. I cried all night long. I +had so counted on a dance with Jack--and then never a word from +him. But he did send a note. He told me so. I never told Adrien +that, for she forbade me, oh, so terribly, never to speak of it +again. Why didn't you give her or me the note, Vic?" Patricia's +voice was very pathetic and her eyes very gentle but very piercing. + +All the laughter died out of Victor's face. "Pat, I lied to you +once, only once, and that lie has cost me many an hour's misery. +But now I shall tell you the truth and the whole truth." And he +proceeded to recount the tribulations which he endured on the night +of the hockey dance. "I did it to help you both out, Pat. I +thought I could make it easy for you. It was all a sheer guess, +but it turned out to be pretty well right." + +Patricia nodded her head. "But you received no note?" + +"Not a scrap, Patricia, so help me. Not a scrap. Patricia, you +believe me?" + +The girl looked straight into Vic's honest eyes. "Yes, Vic," she +said, "I believe you. But Jack sent a note." + +Vic sprang to his feet. "Good-bye, Watson. You shall hear from me +within an hour." + +"Whatever do you mean? Where are you going?" + +"Dear lady, ask no questions. I am about to Sherlock. Farewell." + +At the door he overtook Jack. "Aha! The first link in the chain. +Hello, old chap, a word with you. May I get into your car?" + +"Certainly. Get in." + +"Now then, about that note. Nothing like diplomacy. The night of +the hockey dance you sent a note to a lady?" + +Jack glanced at him in amazement. + +"Don't be an ass, Vic. I don't feel like that stuff just now." + +"This is serious. Did you send a note by me that night of the +hockey dance?" + +"By you? No. Who said I did?" + +"Aha! The mystery deepens. By whom? Nothing like finesse." + +"It is none of your business," said Jack crossly. + +"Check," cried Vic. + +"What are you talking about, anyway?" inquired Jack. + +"A note was sent by you," said Vic impressively, "through some +agency at present unknown. So far, so good." + +"Unknown? What rubbish. I sent a note by Sam Wigglesworth, who +gave it to some of you for Adrien. What about it?" + +As they approached the entrance to the Maitland Mills Vic saw a +stream of employees issue from the gate. + +"Nothing more at present," he said. "This is my corner. Let me +out. I am in an awful hurry, Jack." + +"Will you tell me, please, what all this means?" said Jack angrily. + +"Sorry, old chap. Awfully hurried just now. See you later." + +"You are a vast idiot," grumbled Jack, as Vic ran down the street. + +He took his place at the corner which commanded the entrance to the +Maitland works. "Here I shall wait, abstractedly gazing at the +passers-by, until the unhappy Sam makes his appearance," mused Vic +to himself. "And by the powers, here Sam is now." + +From among the employees as they poured from the gate Victor +pounced upon his victim and bore him away down a side street. + +"Sam," he said, "it may be you are about to die, so tell me the +truth. I hate to take your young life." Sam grinned at his +captor, unafraid. "Cast your mind back to the occasion of the +hockey dance. You remember that?" + +"You bet I do, Mister. I made a dollar that night." + +"Ah! A dollar. Yes, you did, for delivering a note given you by +Captain Jack Maitland," hissed Vic, gripping his arm. + +"Huh-huh," said Sam. "Look out, Mister, that's me." + +"Villain!" cried Vic. "Boy, I mean. Now, Sam, did you deliver +that note?" + +"Of course I did. Didn't Captain Jack give me a dollar for it? I +didn't want his dollar." + +"The last question, Sam," said Vic solemnly, "to whom did you +deliver the note?" + +"To that chap, the son of the storekeeper." + +"Rupert Stillwell?" suggested Vic. + +"Huh-huh, that's his name. That's him now," cried Sam. "In that +Hudson car--see--there--quick!" + +"Boy," said Vic solemnly, "you have saved your life. Here's a +dollar. Now, remember, not a word about this." + +"All right, sir," grinned Sam delightedly, as he made off down the +street. + +"Now then, what?" said Vic to himself. "This thing has got past +the joke stage. I must do some thinking. Shall I tell Pat or not? +By Jove, by Jove, that's not the question. When that young lady +gets those big eyes of hers on me the truth will flow in a limpid +stream. I must make sure of my ground. Meantime I shall do the +Kamerad act." + +That afternoon Annette had another visitor. Her nurse, though +somewhat dubious as to the wisdom of this indulgence, could not +bring herself to refuse her request that McNish should be allowed +to see her. + +"But you must be tired. Didn't Jack tire you?" inquired Adrien. + +A soft and tender light stole into the girl's dark eyes. + +"Ah, Jack. He could not tire me," she murmured. "He makes so much +of what I did. How gladly would I do it again. Jack is wonderful +to me. Wonderful to me," she repeated softly. Her lip trembled +and she lay back upon her pillow and from her closed eyes two tears +ran down her cheek. + +"Now," said Adrien briskly, "you are too tired. We shall wait till +to-morrow." + +"No, no, please," cried Annette. "Jack didn't tire me. He +comforts me." + +"But Malcolm will tire you," said Adrien. "Do you really want to +see him?" + +A faint colour came up into the beautiful face of her patient. + +"Yes, Adrien, I really want to see him. I am sure he will do me +good. You will let him come, please?" The dark eyes were shining +with another light, more wistful, more tender. + +"Is he here, Adrien?" + +"Is he here?" echoed Adrien scornfully. "Has he been anywhere else +the last seven days?" + +"Poor Malcolm," said the girl, the tenderness in her voice becoming +protective. "I have been very bad to him, and he loves me so. Oh, +he is just mad about me!" A little smile stole round the corners +of her mouth. + +"Oh, you needn't tell me that, Annette," said Adrien. "It is easy +for you to make men mad about you." + +"Not many," said the girl, still softly smiling. + +McNish went toward the door of the sick room as if approaching a +holy shrine, walking softly and reverently. + +"Go in, lucky man," said Adrien. "Go in, and thank God for your +good fortune." + +He paused at the door, turned about and looked at her with grave +eyes. "Miss Templeton," he said in slow, reverent tones, "all my +life shall I thank God for His great mercy tae me." + +"Don't keep her waiting, man," said Adrien, waving him in. Then +McNish went in and she closed the door softly upon them. + +"There are only a few great moments given to men," she said, "and +this is one of them for those two happy people." + +In ten days Annette was pronounced quite fit to return to her +family. But Patricia resolved that they should have a grand fete +in the Maitland home before Annette should leave it. She planned a +motor drive in the cool of the day, and in the evening all their +special friends who had been brought together through the tragic +events of the past weeks should come to bring congratulations and +mutual felicitations for the recovery of the patient. + +Patricia was arranging the guest list, in collaboration with Mr. +Maitland and the assistance of Annette and Victor. + +"We will have our boys, of course," she began. + +"Old and young, I hope?" suggested Mr. Maitland. + +"Of course!" she cried. "Although I don't know any old ones. That +will mean all the fathers and Vic, Jack, Hugh and Rupert, and +Malcolm--" + +"Ah! It has come to Malcolm, then?" murmured Vic. "Certainly, why +not? He loves me to call him Malcolm. And then we will have Mr. +Matheson. And we must have Mr. McGinnis--they have become such +great friends. And I should like to have the Mayor, he is so +funny. But perhaps he wouldn't fit. He DOES take up a lot of +attention." + +"Cut him out!" said Victor with decision. + +"And for ladies," continued Patricia, "just the relatives--all the +mothers and the sisters. That's enough." + +"How lovely!" murmured Vic. + +"Oh, if you want any other ladies, Vic," said Patricia severely, +"we shall be delighted to invite them for you." + +"Me? Other ladies? What could I do with other ladies? Is not my +young life one long problem as it is? Ah! Speaking of problems, +that reminds me. I have a communication to make to you young +lady." Vic's manner suggested a profound and deadly mystery. He +led Patricia away from the others. "I have something to tell you, +Patricia," he said, abandoning all badinage. "I hate to do it but +it is right for you, for myself, for Adrien, and by Jove for poor +old Jack, too. Though, perhaps--well, let that go." + +"Oh, Vic!" cried Patricia. "It is about the note!" + +"Yes, Patricia. That note was given by Jack to Sam Wigglesworth, +who gave it to Rupert Stillwell." + +"And he forgot?" gasped Patricia. + +"Ah--ah--at least, he didn't deliver it. No, Patricia, we are +telling the whole truth. He didn't forget. You remember he asked +about Jack. There, I have given you all I know. Make of it what +you like." + +"Shall I tell Adrien?" asked Patricia. + +"I think certainly Adrien ought to know." + +"Then I'll tell her to-night," said Patricia. "I want it all over +before our fete, which is day after to-morrow." + +Rupert Stillwell had been in almost daily attendance upon Adrien +during the past two weeks, calling for her almost every afternoon +with his car. The day following he came for her according to his +custom. Upon Adrien's face there dwelt a gentle, tender, happy +look as if her heart were singing for very joy. That look upon her +face drove from Rupert all the hesitation and fear which had fallen +upon him during these days of her ministry to the wounded girl. He +took a sudden and desperate resolve that he would put his fate to +the test. + +Adrien's answer was short and decisive. + +"No, Rupert," she said. "I cannot. I thought for a little while, +long ago, that perhaps I might, but now I know that I never could +have loved you." + +"You were thinking of that note of Jack Maitland's which I sent you +last night?" + +"Oh, no," she said gently. "Not that." + +"I felt awfully mean about that, Adrien. I feel mean still. I +thought that as you had learned all about it from Victor, it was of +no importance." + +"Yes," she replied gently, "but I was the best judge of that." + +"Adrien, tell me," Rupert's voice shook with the intensity of his +passion, "is there no hope?" + +"No," she said, "there is no hope, Rupert." + +"There is someone else," he said, savagely. + +"Yes," she said, happily, "I think so." + +"Someone," continued Rupert, his voice trembling with rage, +"someone who distributes his affections." + +"No," she said, a happy smile in her eyes, "I think not." + +"You love him?" he asked. + +"Oh, yes," she whispered, with a little catch in her breath, "I +love him." + +At the door on their return Jack met them. A shadow fell upon his +face, but with a quick resolve, he shouted a loud welcome to them. + +"Hello, Adrien," he cried, as she came running up the steps. "You +apparently have had a lovely drive." + +"Oh, wonderful, Jack. A wonderful drive," she replied. + +"Yes, you do look happy." + +"Oh, so happy. I was never so happy." + +"Then," said Jack, dropping his voice, "may I congratulate you?" + +"Yes, I think so," she said. "I hope so." And then laughed aloud +for very glee. + +Jack turned from her with a quick sharp movement, went down the +steps and offering his hand to Rupert, said: + +"Good luck, old chap. I wish you good luck." + +"Eh? What? Oh, all right," said Rupert in a dazed sort of way. +But he didn't come into the house. + +Never was there such a day in June, never such a fete. The park +never looked so lovely and never a party so gay disported +themselves in it and gayest of them all was Adrien. All day long +it seemed as if her very soul were laughing for joy. And all day +long she kept close beside Jack, chaffing him, laughing at him, +rallying him on his solemn face and driving him half-mad with her +gay witchery. + +Then home they all came to supper, where waited them McNish and his +mother with Mr. McGinnis, for they had been unable to join in the +motor drive. + +"Ma certie, lassie! But ye're a sight for sare een. What hae ye +bin daein tae her, Mr. Jack," said Mrs. McNish, as she welcomed +them at the door. + +"The Lord only knows," said Jack. + +"But, man, look at her!" exclaimed the old lady. + +"I have been, all day long," replied Jack with a gallant attempt at +gaiety. + +"Oh, Mrs. McNish," cried the girl, rippling with joyous laughter, +"he won't even look at me. He just--what do you say--glowers, +that's it--glowers at me. And we have had such a wonderful day. +Come, Jack, get yourself ready for supper. You have only a few +minutes." + +She caught her arm through his and laughing shamelessly into his +eyes, drew him away. + +"I say, Adrien," said Jack, driven finally to desperation and +drawing her into the quiet of the library, "I am awfully glad you +are so happy and all that, but I don't see the necessity of rubbing +it into a fellow. You know how I feel. I am glad for you and--I +am glad for Rupert. Or, at least I told him so." + +"But, Jack," said the girl, her eyes burning with a deep inner +glow, "Rupert has nothing to do with it. Rupert, indeed," and she +laughed scornfully. "Oh, Jack, why can't you see?" + +"See what?" he said crossly. + +"Jack," she said softly, turning toward him and standing very near +him, "you remember the note you sent me?" + +"Note?" + +"The note you sent the night of the hockey dance?" + +"Yes," said Jack bitterly, "I remember." + +"And you remember, too, how horrid I was to you the next time I saw +you? How horrid? Oh, Jack, it broke my heart." Her voice +faltered a moment and her shining eyes grew dim. "I was so horrid +to you." + +"Oh, no," said Jack coolly, "you were kind. You were very kind and +sisterly, as I remember." + +"Jack," she said and her breath began to come hurriedly, "I got +that note yesterday. Only yesterday, Jack." + +"Yesterday?" + +"Yes, only yesterday. And I read it, Jack," she added with a happy +laugh. "And in that note, Jack, you said--do you remember--" + +But Jack stood gazing stupidly at her. She pulled the note from +her bosom. + +"Oh, Jack, you said--" + +Still Jack gazed at her. + +"Jack, you will kill me. Won't you hurry? Oh, I can't wait a +moment longer. You said you were going to tell me something, +Jack." She stood radiant, breathless and madly alluring. "And oh, +Jack, won't you tell me?" + +"Adrien," said Jack, his voice husky and uncontrolled. "Do you +mean that you--" + +"Oh, Jack, tell me quick," she said, swaying toward him. And while +she clung to him taking his kisses on her lips, Jack told her. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext of To Him That Hath, by Ralph Connor. + diff --git a/old/ththt10.zip b/old/ththt10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1621293 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ththt10.zip |