Chapter 41

THESTRIKE

ThebarnatwhichHurstwoodappliedwasexceedinglyshorthanded,andwasbeingoperatedpracticallybythreemenasdirectors.Therewerealotofgreenhandsaround—queer,hungry-lookingmen,wholookedasifwanthaddriventhemtodesperatemeans.Theytriedtobelivelyandwilling,buttherewasanairofhang-dogdiffidenceabouttheplace.

Hurstwoodwentbackthroughthebarnsandoutintoalarge,enclosedlot,wherewereaseriesoftracksandloops.Ahalfdozencarswerethere,mannedbyinstructors,eachwithapupilatthelever.Morepupilswerewaitingatoneofthereardoorsofthebarn.

InsilenceHurstwoodviewedthisscene,andwaited.Hiscompanionstookhiseyeforawhile,thoughtheydidnotinteresthimmuchmorethanthecars.Theywereanuncomfortable-lookinggang,however.Oneortwowereverythinandlean.Severalwerequitestout.Severalotherswererawbonedandsallow,asiftheyhadbeenbeatenuponbyallsortsofroughweather.

「Didyouseebythepapertheyaregoingtocalloutthemilitia.」Hurstwoodheardoneofthemremark.

「Oh,they』lldothat,」returnedtheother.「Theyalwaysdo.」

「Thinkwe』reliabletohavemuchtrouble.」saidanother,whomHurstwooddidnotsee.

「Notvery.」

「ThatScotchmanthatwentoutonthelastcar,」putinavoice,「toldmethattheyhithimintheearwitha

cinder.」

Asmall,nervouslaughaccompaniedthis.

「OneofthosefellowsontheFifthAvenuelinemusthavehadahellofatime,accordingtothepapers,」drawledanother.「Theybrokehiscarwindowsandpulledhimoffintothestreet『forethepolicecouldstop『em.」

「Yes;buttherearemorepolicearoundto-day,」wasaddedbyanother.

Hurstwoodhearkenedwithoutmuchmentalcomment.Thesetalkersseemedscaredtohim.Theirgabblingwasfeverish—thingssaidtoquiettheirownminds.Helookedoutintotheyardandwaited.

Twoofthemengotaroundquitenearhim,butbehindhisback.Theywererathersocial,andhelistenedtowhattheysaid.

「Areyouarailroadman.」saidone.

「Me.No.I』vealwaysworkedinapaperfactory.」

「IhadajobinNewarkuntillastOctober,」returnedtheother,withreciprocalfeeling.

Thereweresomewordswhichpassedtoolowtohear.Thentheconversationbecamestrongagain.

「Idon』tblamethesefellersforstriking,」saidone.「They』vegottherightofit,allright,butIhadtogetsomethingtodo.」

「Samehere,」saidtheother.「IfIhadanyjobinNewarkIwouldn』tbeoverheretakin』chanceslikethese.」

「It』shellthesedays,ain』tit.」saidtheman.「Apoormanain』tnowhere.Youcouldstarve,byGod,rightinthestreets,andthereain』tmostnoonewouldhelpyou.」

「Rightyouare,」saidtheother.「ThejobIhadIlost『causetheyshutdown.Theyrunallsummerandlayupabigstock,andthenshutdown.」

Hurstwoodpaidsomelittleattentiontothis.Somehow,hefeltalittlesuperiortothesetwo—alittlebetteroff.Tohimthesewereignorantand

commonplace,poorsheepinadriver』shand.

「Poordevils,」hethought,speakingoutofthethoughtsandfeelingsofabygoneperiodofsuccess.「Next,」saidoneoftheinstructors.

「You』renext,」saidaneighbor,touchinghim.

Hewentoutandclimbedontheplatform.Theinstructortookitforgrantedthatnopreliminarieswereneeded.

「Youseethishandle,」hesaid,reachinguptoanelectriccutoff,whichwasfastenedtotheroof.「Thisthrowsthecurrentofforon.Ifyouwanttoreversethecaryouturnitoverhere.Ifyouwanttosenditforward,youputitoverhere.Ifyouwanttocutoffthepower,youkeepitinthemiddle.」

Hurstwoodsmiledatthesimpleinformation.

「Now,thishandlehereregulatesyourspeed.Tohere,」hesaid,pointingwithhisfinger,「givesyouaboutfourmilesanhour.Thisiseight.Whenit』sfullon,youmakeaboutfourteenmilesanhour.」

Hurstwoodwatchedhimcalmly.Hehadseenmotormenworkbefore.Heknewjustabouthowtheydidit,andwassurehecoulddoaswell,withaverylittlepractice.

Theinstructorexplainedafewmoredetails,andthensaid:

「Now,we』llbackherup.」

Hurstwoodstoodplacidlyby,whilethecarrolledbackintotheyard.

「Onethingyouwanttobecarefulabout,andthatistostarteasy.Giveonedegreetimetoactbeforeyoustartanother.Theonefaultofmostmenisthattheyalwayswanttothrowherwideopen.That』sbad.It』sdangerous,too.Wearsoutthemotor.Youdon』twanttodothat.」

「Isee,」saidHurstwood.

Hewaitedandwaited,whilethemantalkedon.

「Nowyoutakeit,」hesaid,finally.

Theex-managerlaidhandtotheleverandpushedit

gently,ashethought.Itworkedmucheasierthanheimagined,however,withtheresultthatthecarjerkedquicklyforward,throwinghimbackagainstthedoor.Hestraightenedupsheepishly,whiletheinstructorstoppedthecarwiththebrake.

「Youwanttobecarefulaboutthat,」wasallhesaid.

Hurstwoodfound,however,thathandlingabrakeandregulatingspeedwerenotsoinstantlymasteredashehadimagined.Onceortwicehewouldhaveploughedthroughtherearfenceifithadnotbeenforthehandandwordofhiscompanion.Thelatterwasratherpatientwithhim,butheneversmiled.

「You』vegottogettheknackofworkingbotharmsatonce,」hesaid.「Ittakesalittlepractice.」

Oneo』clockcamewhilehewasstillonthecarpracticing,andhebegantofeelhungry.Thedaysetinsnowing,andhewascold.Hegrewwearyofrunningtoandfroontheshorttrack.

Theyranthecartotheendandbothgotoff.Hurstwoodwentintothebarnandsoughtacarstep,pullingouthispaperwrappedlunchfromhispocket.Therewasnowaterandthebreadwasdry,butheenjoyedit.Therewasnoceremonyaboutdining.Heswallowedandlookedabout,contemplatingthedull,homelylaborofthething.Itwasdisagreeable—miserablydisagreeable—inallitsphases.Notbecauseitwasbitter,butbecauseitwashard.Itwouldbehardtoanyone,hethought.

Aftereating,hestoodaboutasbefore,waitinguntilhisturncame.

Theintentionwastogivehimanafternoonofpractice,butthegreaterpartofthetimewasspentinwaitingabout.

Atlasteveningcame,andwithithungerandadebatewithhimselfastohowheshouldspendthenight.Itwashalf-pastfive.Hemustsooneat.Ifhetriedtogohome,itwouldtakehimtwohoursandahalfofcoldwalkingandriding.Besideshehadorderstoreportatseventhenextmorning,andgoinghomewouldnecessitatehisrisingatanunholyanddisagreeablehour.HehadonlysomethinglikeadollarandfifteencentsofCarrie』smoney,withwhichhehadintendedtopaythetwoweeks』coalbillbeforethepresentideastruckhim.

「Theymusthavesomeplacearoundhere,」hethought.「WheredoesthatfellowfromNewarkstay.」

Finallyhedecidedtoask.Therewasayoungfellowstandingnearoneofthedoorsinthecold,waitingalastturn.Hewasamereboyinyears—twenty-oneabout—butwithabodylankandlong,becauseofprivation.Alittlegoodlivingwouldhavemadethisyouthplumpandswaggering.

「Howdotheyarrangethis,ifamanhasn』tanymoney.」inquiredHurstwood,discreetly.

Thefellowturnedakeen,watchfulfaceontheinquirer.

「Youmeaneat.」hereplied.

「Yes,andsleep.Ican』tgobacktoNewYorkto-night.」

「Theforeman』llfixthatifyouaskhim,Iguess.Hedidme.」

「Thatso.」

「Yes.IjusttoldhimIdidn』thaveanything.Gee,Icouldn』tgohome.IlivewayoverinHoboken.」

Hurstwoodonlyclearedhisthroatbywayofacknowledgment.

「They』vegotaplaceupstairshere,Iunderstand.Idon』tknowwhatsortofathingitis.Purtytough,Iguess.Hegavemeamealticketthisnoon.Iknowthatwasn』tmuch.」

Hurstwoodsmiledgrimly,andtheboylaughed.

「Itain』tnofun,isit.」heinquired,wishingvainlyforacheeryreply.

「Notmuch,」answeredHurstwood.

「I』dtacklehimnow,」volunteeredtheyouth.「Hemaygo『way.」

Hurstwooddidso.

「Isn』ttheresomeplaceIcanstayaroundhereto-night.」heinquired.「IfIhavetogobacktoNewYork,I』mafraidIwon』t」

「There』resomecotsupstairs,」interruptedtheman,「ifyouwantoneofthem.」

「That』lldo,」heassented.

Hemeanttoaskforamealticket,buttheseeminglypropermomentnevercame,andhedecidedtopayhimselfthatnight.

「I』llaskhiminthemorning.」

Heateinacheaprestaurantinthevicinity,and,beingcoldandlonely,wentstraightofftoseektheloftinquestion.Thecompanywasnotattemptingtoruncarsafternightfall.Itwassoadvisedbythepolice.

Theroomseemedtohavebeenaloungingplacefornightworkers.Thereweresomeninecotsintheplace,twoorthreewoodenchairs,asoapbox,andasmall,round-belliedstove,inwhichafirewasblazing.Earlyashewas,anothermanwastherebeforehim.Thelatterwassittingbesidethestovewarminghishands.

Hurstwoodapproachedandheldouthisowntowardthefire.Hewassickofthebarenessandprivationofallthingsconnectedwithhisventure,butwassteelinghimselftoholdout.Hefanciedhecouldforawhile.

「Cold,isn』tit.」saidtheearlyguest.

「Rather.」

Alongsilence.

「Notmuchofaplacetosleepin,isit.」saidtheman.

「Betterthannothing,」repliedHurstwood.

Anothersilence.

「IbelieveI』llturnin,」saidtheman.

Rising,hewenttooneofthecotsandstretchedhimself,removingonlyhisshoes,andpullingtheoneblanketanddirtyoldcomforteroverhiminasortofbundle.ThesightdisgustedHurstwood,buthedidnotdwellonit,choosingtogazeintothestoveandthink

ofsomethingelse.Presentlyhedecidedtoretire,andpickedacot,alsoremovinghisshoes.

Whilehewasdoingso,theyouthwhohadadvisedhimtocomehereentered,and,seeingHurstwood,triedtobegenial.

「Better』nnothin』,」heobserved,lookingaround.

Hurstwooddidnottakethistohimself.Hethoughtittobeanexpressionofindividualsatisfaction,andsodidnotanswer.Theyouthimaginedhewasoutofsorts,andsettowhistlingsoftly.Seeinganothermanasleep,hequitthatandlapsedintosilence.

Hurstwoodmadethebestofabadlotbykeepingonhisclothesandpushingawaythedirtycoveringfromhishead,butatlasthedozedinsheerweariness.Thecoveringbecamemoreandmorecomfortable,itscharacterwasforgotten,andhepulleditabouthisneckandslept.Inthemorninghewasarousedoutofapleasantdreambyseveralmenstirringaboutinthecold,cheerlessroom.HehadbeenbackinChicagoinfancy,inhisowncomfortablehome.Jessicahadbeenarrangingtogosomewhere,andhehadbeentalkingwithheraboutit.Thiswassoclearinhismind,thathewasstartlednowbythecontrastofthisroom.Heraisedhishead,andthecold,bitterrealityjarredhimintowakefulness.

「GuessI』dbettergetup,」hesaid.

Therewasnowateronthisfloor.Heputonhisshoesinthecoldandstoodup,shakinghimselfinhisstiffness.Hisclothesfeltdisagreeable,hishairbad.

「Hell!」hemuttered,asheputonhishat.

Downstairsthingswerestirringagain.

Hefoundahydrant,withatroughwhichhadoncebeenusedforhorses,buttherewasnotowelhere,andhishandkerchiefwassoiledfromyesterday.Hecontentedhimselfwithwettinghiseyeswiththeice-coldwater.Thenhesoughttheforeman,whowasalreadyontheground.

「Hadyourbreakfastyet.」inquiredthatworthy.

「No,」saidHurstwood.

「Bettergetit,then;yourcarwon』tbereadyforalittlewhile.」

Hurstwoodhesitated.

「Couldyouletmehaveamealticket.」heaskedwithaneffort.

「Hereyouare,」saidtheman,handinghimone.

Hebreakfastedaspoorlyasthenightbeforeonsomefriedsteakandbadcoffee.Thenhewentback.

「Here,」saidtheforeman,motioninghim,whenhecamein.「Youtakethiscaroutinafewminutes.」

Hurstwoodclimbedupontheplatforminthegloomybarnandwaitedforasignal.Hewasnervous,andyetthethingwasarelief.Anythingwasbetterthanthebarn.

Onthisthefourthdayofthestrike,thesituationhadtakenaturnfortheworse.Thestrikers,followingthecounseloftheirleadersandthenewspapers,hadstruggledpeaceablyenough.Therehadbeennogreatviolencedone.Carshadbeenstopped,itistrue,andthemenarguedwith.Somecrewshadbeenwonoverandledaway,somewindowsbroken,somejeeringandyellingdone;butinnomorethanfiveorsixinstanceshadmenbeenseriouslyinjured.Thesebycrowdswhoseactstheleadersdisclaimed.

Idleness,however,andthesightofthecompany,backedbythepolice,triumphing,angeredthemen.Theysawthateachdaymorecarsweregoingon,eachdaymoredeclarationswerebeingmadebythecompanyofficialsthattheeffectiveoppositionofthestrikerswasbroken.Thisputdesperatethoughtsinthemindsofthemen.Peacefulmethodsmeant,theysaw,thatthecompanieswouldsoonrunalltheircarsandthosewhohadcomplainedwouldbeforgotten.Therewasnothingsohelpfultothecompaniesaspeacefulmethods.Allatoncetheyblazedforth,andforaweektherewasstormandstress.Carswereassailed,menattacked,policemenstruggledwith,trackstornup,andshotsfired,untilatlaststreetfightsandmobmovementsbecamefrequent,andthecitywasinvestedwithmilitia.

Hurstwoodknewnothingofthechangeoftemper.

「Runyourcarout,」calledtheforeman,wavingavigoroushandathim.Agreenconductorjumpedupbehindandrangthebelltwiceasasignaltostart.Hurstwoodturnedtheleverandranthecaroutthroughthedoorintothestreetinfrontofthebarn.Heretwobrawnypolicemengotupbesidehimontheplatform—oneoneitherhand.

Atthesoundofagongnearthebarndoor,twobellsweregivenbytheconductorandHurstwoodopenedhislever.

Thetwopolicemenlookedaboutthemcalmly.

「』Tiscold,allright,thismorning,」saidtheoneontheleft,whopossessedarichbrogue.

「Ihadenoughofityesterday,」saidtheother.「Iwouldn』twantasteadyjobofthis.」

「NorI.」

NeitherpaidtheslightestattentiontoHurstwood,whostoodfacingthecoldwind,whichwaschillinghimcompletely,andthinkingofhisorders.

「Keepasteadygait,」theforemanhadsaid.「Don』tstopforanyonewhodoesn』tlooklikearealpassenger.Whateveryoudo,don』tstopforacrowd.」

Thetwoofficerskeptsilentforafewmoments.

「Thelastmanmusthavegonethroughallright,」saidtheofficerontheleft.「Idon』tseehiscaranywhere.」

「Who』sonthere.」askedthesecondofficer,referring,ofcourse,toitscomplementofpolicemen.

「SchaefferandRyan.」

Therewasanothersilence,inwhichthecarransmoothlyalong.Therewerenotsomanyhousesalongthispartoftheway.Hurstwooddidnotseemanypeopleeither.Thesituationwasnotwhollydisagreeabletohim.Ifhewerenotsocold,hethoughthewoulddowellenough.

Hewasbroughtoutofthisfeelingbythesuddenappearanceofacurveahead,whichhehadnotexpected.Heshutoffthecurrentanddidanenergeticturnatthebrake,butnotintimetoavoidanunnaturallyquickturn.Itshookhimupandmadehimfeellikemakingsomeapologeticremarks,butherefrained.

「Youwanttolookoutforthemthings,」saidtheofficerontheleft,condescendingly.

「That』sright,」agreedHurstwood,shamefacedly.

「There』slotsofthemonthisline,」saidtheofficerontheright.Aroundthecorneramorepopulatedwayappeared.Oneortwopedestrianswereinviewahead.AboycomingoutofagatewithatinmilkbucketgaveHurstwoodhisfirstobjectionablegreeting.

「Scab!」heyelled.「Scab!」

Hurstwoodheardit,buttriedtomakenocomment,eventohimself.Heknewhewouldgetthat,andmuchmoreofthesamesort,probably.

Atacornerfartherupamanstoodbythetrackandsignaledthecartostop.

「Nevermindhim,」saidoneoftheofficers.「He』suptosomegame.」

Hurstwoodobeyed.Atthecornerhesawthewisdomofit.Nosoonerdidthemanperceivetheintentiontoignorehim,thanheshookhisfist.

「Ah,youbloodycoward!」heyelled.

Somehalfdozenmen,standingonthecorner,flungtauntsandjeersafterthespeedingcar.

Hurstwoodwincedtheleastbit.Therealthingwasslightlyworsethanthethoughtsofithadbeen.

Nowcameinsight,threeorfourblocksfartheron,aheapofsomethingonthetrack.

「They』vebeenatwork,here,allright,」saidoneofthepolicemen.

「We』llhaveanargument,maybe,」saidtheother.

Hurstwoodranthecarcloseandstopped.He

hadnotdonesowholly,however,beforeacrowdgatheredabout.Itwascomposedofex-motormenandconductorsinpart,withasprinklingoffriendsandsympathizers.

「Comeoffthecar,pardner,」saidoneofthemeninavoicemeanttobeconciliatory.「Youdon』twanttotakethebreadoutofanotherman』smouth,doyou.」

Hurstwoodheldtohisbrakeandlever,paleandveryuncertainwhattodo.

「Standback,」yelledoneoftheofficers,leaningovertheplatformrailing.「Clearoutofthis,now.Givethemanachancetodohiswork.」

「Listen,pardner,」saidtheleader,ignoringthepolicemanandaddressingHurstwood.「We』reallworkingmen,likeyourself.Ifyouwerearegularmotorman,andhadbeentreatedaswe』vebeen,youwouldn』twantanyonetocomeinandtakeyourplace,wouldyou.Youwouldn』twantanyonetodoyououtofyourchancetogetyourrights,wouldyou.」

「Shutheroff!shutheroff!」urgedtheotherofthepolicemen,roughly.「Getoutofthis,now,」andhejumpedtherailingandlandedbeforethecrowdandbeganshoving.Instantlytheotherofficerwasdownbesidehim.

「Standback,now,」theyyelled.「Getoutofthis.Whatthehelldoyoumean.Out,now.」

Itwaslikeasmallswarmofbees.

「Don』tshoveme,」saidoneofthestrikers,determinedly.「I』mnotdoinganything.」

「Getoutofthis!」criedtheofficer,swinginghisclub.「I』llgiveyeabatonthesconce.Back,now.」

「Whatthehell!」criedanotherofthestrikers,pushingtheotherway,addingatthesametimesomelustyoaths.

Crackcameanofficer』sclubonhisforehead.Heblinkedhiseyesblindlyafewtimes,wobbledonhislegs,threwuphishands,andstaggeredback.Inreturn,aswiftfistlandedontheofficer』sneck.

Infuriatedbythis,thelatterplungedleftandright,layingaboutmadlywithhisclub.Hewasablyassistedbyhisbrotheroftheblue,whopouredponderousoathsuponthetroubledwaters.Noseveredamagewasdone,owingtotheagilityofthestrikersinkeepingoutofreach.Theystoodaboutthesidewalknowandjeered.

「Whereistheconductor.」yelledoneoftheofficers,gettinghiseyeonthatindividual,whohadcomenervouslyforwardtostandbyHurstwood.Thelatterhadstoodgazinguponthescenewithmoreastonishmentthanfear.

「Whydon』tyoucomedownhereandgetthesestonesoffthetrack.」inquiredtheofficer.「Whatyoustandingtherefor.Doyouwanttostayhereallday.Getdown.」

Hurstwoodbreathedheavilyinexcitementandjumpeddownwiththenervousconductorasifhehadbeencalled.

「Hurryup,now,」saidtheotherpoliceman.

Coldasitwas,theseofficerswerehotandmad.Hurstwoodworkedwiththeconductor,liftingstoneafterstoneandwarminghimselfbythework.

「Ah,youscab,you!」yelledthecrowd.「Youcoward!Stealaman』sjob,willyou.Robthepoor,willyou,youthief.We』llgetyouyet,now.Wait.」

Notallofthiswasdeliveredbyoneman.Itcamefromhereandthere,incorporatedwithmuchmoreofthesamesortandcurses.

「Work,youblackguards,」yelledavoice.「Dothedirtywork.You』rethesuckersthatkeepthepoorpeopledown!」

「MayGodstarveyeyet,」yelledanoldIrishwoman,whonowthrewopenanearbywindowandstuckoutherhead.

「Yes,andyou,」sheadded,catchingtheeyeofoneofthepolicemen.「Youbloody,murtherin』thafe!Crackmysonoverthehead,willyou,youhardhearted,murtherin』divil.Ah,ye—」

Buttheofficerturnedadeafear.

「Gotothedevil,youoldhag,」hehalfmutteredashestaredrounduponthescatteredcompany.

Nowthestoneswereoff,andHurstwoodtookhisplaceagainamidacontinuedchorusofepithets.Bothofficersgotupbesidehimandtheconductorrangthebell,when,bang!bang!throughwindowanddoorcamerocksandstones.OnenarrowlygrazedHurstwood』shead.Anothershatteredthewindowbehind.

「Throwopenyourlever,」yelledoneoftheofficers,grabbingatthehandlehimself.

Hurstwoodcompliedandthecarshotaway,followedbyarattleofstonesandarainofcurses.

「That—hitmeintheneck,」saidoneoftheofficers.「Igavehimagoodcrackforit,though.」

「IthinkImusthaveleftspotsonsomeofthem,」saidtheother.

「Iknowthatbigguythatcalledusa—」saidthefirst.「I』llgethimyetforthat.」

「Ithoughtwewereinforitsure,oncethere,」saidthesecond.

Hurstwood,warmedandexcited,gazedsteadilyahead.Itwasanastonishingexperienceforhim.Hehadreadofthesethings,buttherealityseemedsomethingaltogethernew.Hewasnocowardinspirit.Thefactthathehadsufferedthismuchnowratheroperatedtoarouseastoliddeterminationtostickitout.HedidnotrecurinthoughttoNewYorkortheflat.Thisonetripseemedaconsumingthing.

TheynowranintothebusinessheartofBrooklynuninterrupted.PeoplegazedatthebrokenwindowsofthecarandatHurstwoodinhisplainclothes.Voicescalled「scab」nowandthen,aswellasotherepithets,butnocrowdattackedthecar.Atthedowntownendoftheline,oneoftheofficerswenttocalluphisstationandreportthetrouble.

「There』sagangoutthere,」hesaid,「layingforusyet.Bettersendsomeoneoverthereandcleanthemout.」

Thecarranbackmorequietly—hooted,watched,flungat,butnotattacked.Hurstwoodbreathedfreelywhenhesawthebarns.

「Well,」heobservedtohimself,「Icameoutofthatallright.」

Thecarwasturnedinandhewasallowedtoloafawhile,butlaterhewasagaincalled.Thistimeanewteamofofficerswasaboard.Slightlymoreconfident,hespedthecaralongthecommonplacestreetsandfeltsomewhatlessfearful.Ononeside,however,hesufferedintensely.Thedaywasraw,withasprinklingofsnowandagustywind,madeallthemoreintolerablebythespeedofthecar.Hisclothingwasnotintendedforthissortofwork.Heshivered,stampedhisfeet,andbeathisarmsashehadseenothermotormendointhepast,butsaidnothing.Thenoveltyanddangerofthesituationmodifiedinawayhisdisgustanddistressatbeingcompelledtobehere,butnotenoughtopreventhimfromfeelinggrimandsour.Thiswasadog』slife,hethought.Itwasatoughthingtohavetocometo.

TheonethoughtthatstrengthenedhimwastheinsultofferedbyCarrie.Hewasnotdownsolowastotakeallthat,hethought.Hecoulddosomething—this,even—forawhile.Itwouldgetbetter.Hewouldsavealittle.

Aboythrewaclodofmudwhilehewasthusreflectingandhithimuponthearm.Ithurtsharplyandangeredhimmorethanhehadbeenanytimesincemorning.

「Thelittlecur!」hemuttered.

「Hurtyou.」askedoneofthepolicemen.

「No,」heanswered.

Atoneofthecorners,wherethecarslowedupbecauseofaturn,anex-motorman,standingonthe

sidewalk,calledtohim:

「Won』tyoucomeout,pardner,andbeaman.Rememberwe』refightingfordecentday』swages,that』sall.We』vegotfamiliestosupport.」Themanseemedmostpeaceablyinclined.

Hurstwoodpretendednottoseehim.Hekepthiseyesstraightonbeforeandopenedtheleverwide.Thevoicehadsomethingappealinginit.

Allmorningthiswentonandlongintotheafternoon.Hemadethreesuchtrips.Thedinnerhehadwasnostayforsuchworkandthecoldwastellingonhim.Ateachendofthelinehestoppedtothawout,buthecouldhavegroanedattheanguishofit.Oneofthebarnmen,outofpity,loanedhimaheavycapandapairofsheepskingloves,andforoncehewasextremelythankful.

Onthesecondtripoftheafternoonheranintoacrowdabouthalfwayalongtheline,thathadblockedthecar』sprogresswithanoldtelegraphpole.

「Getthatthingoffthetrack,」shoutedthetwopolicemen.

「Yah,yah,yah!」yelledthecrowd.「Getitoffyourself.」

ThetwopolicemengotdownandHurstwoodstartedtofollow.

「Youstaythere,」onecalled.「Someonewillrunawaywithyourcar.」

Amidthebabbleofvoices,Hurstwoodheardoneclosebesidehim.

「Comedown,pardner,andbeaman.Don』tfightthepoor.Leavethattothecorporations.」

Hesawthesamefellowwhohadcalledtohimfromthecorner.Now,asbefore,hepretendednottohearhim.

「Comedown,」themanrepeatedgently.「Youdon』twanttofightpoormen.Don』tfightatall.」ItwasamostphilosophicandJesuiticalmotorman.

Athirdpolicemanjoinedtheothertwofromsomewhereandsomeonerantotelephoneformoreofficers.Hurstwoodgazedabout,determinedbutfearful.

Amangrabbedhimbythecoat.

「Comeoffofthat,」heexclaimed,jerkingathimandtryingtopullhimovertherailing.

「Letgo,」saidHurstwood,savagely.

「I』llshowyou—youscab!」criedayoungIrishman,jumpinguponthecarandaimingablowatHurstwood.Thelatterduckedandcaughtitontheshoulderinsteadofthejaw.

「Awayfromhere,」shoutedanofficer,hasteningtotherescue,andadding,ofcourse,theusualoaths.

Hurstwoodrecoveredhimself,paleandtrembling.Itwasbecomingseriouswithhimnow.Peoplewerelookingupandjeeringathim.Onegirlwasmakingfaces.

Hebegantowaverinhisresolution,whenapatrolwagonrolledupandmoreofficersdismounted.Nowthetrackwasquicklyclearedandthereleaseeffected.

「Lethergonow,quick,」saidtheofficer,andagainhewasoff.

Theendcamewitharealmob,whichmetthecaronitsreturntripamileortwofromthebarns.Itwasanexceedinglypoorlookingneighborhood.Hewantedtorunfastthroughit,butagainthetrackwasblocked.Hesawmencarryingsomethingouttoitwhenhewasyetahalf-dozenblocksaway.

「Theretheyareagain!」exclaimedonepoliceman.

「I』llgivethemsomethingthistime,」saidthesecondofficer,whosepatiencewasbecomingworn.Hurstwoodsufferedaqualmofbodyasthecarrolledup.Asbefore,thecrowdbeganhooting,butnow,ratherthancomenear,theythrewthings.OneortwowindowsweresmashedandHurstwooddodgedastone.

Bothpolicemenranouttowardthecrowd,butthelatterrepliedbyrunningtowardthecar.Awoman—a

meregirlinappearance-wasamongthese,bearingaroughstick.ShewasexceedinglywrathfulandstruckatHurstwood,whododged.Thereupon,hercompanions,dulyencouraged,jumpedonthecarandpulledHurstwoodover.Hehadhardlytimetospeakorshoutbeforehefell.

「Letgoofme,」hesaid,fallingonhisside.

「Ah,yousucker,」heheardsomeonesay.Kicksandblowsrainedonhim.Heseemedtobesuffocating.Thentwomenseemedtobedragginghimoffandhewrestledforfreedom.

「Letup,」saidavoice,「you』reallright.Standup.」

Hewasletlooseandrecoveredhimself.Nowherecognizedtwoofficers.Hefeltasifhewouldfaintfromexhaustion.Somethingwaswetonhischin.Heputuphishandandfelt,thenlooked.Itwasred.

「Theycutme,」hesaid,foolishly,fishingforhishandkerchief.

「Now,now,」saidoneoftheofficers.「It』sonlyascratch.」

Hissensesbecameclearednowandhelookedaround.Hewasstandinginalittlestore,wheretheylefthimforthemoment.Outside,hecouldsee,ashestoodwipinghischin,thecarandtheexcitedcrowd.Apatrolwagonwasthere,andanother.

Hewalkedoverandlookedout.Itwasanambulance,backingin.

Hesawsomeenergeticchargingbythepoliceandarrestsbeingmade.

「Comeon,now,ifyouwanttotakeyourcar,」saidanofficer,openingthedoorandlookingin.Hewalkedout,feelingratheruncertainofhimself.Hewasverycoldandfrightened.

「Where』stheconductor.」heasked.

「Oh,he』snotherenow,」saidthepoliceman.

Hurstwoodwenttowardthecarandsteppednervouslyon.Ashedidsotherewasapistolshot.Somethingstunghisshoulder.

「Whofiredthat.」heheardanofficerexclaim.「ByGod!whodidthat.」Bothlefthim,runningtowardacertainbuilding.Hepausedamomentandthengotdown.

「George!」exclaimedHurstwood,weakly,「thisistoomuchforme.」

Hewalkednervouslytothecornerandhurrieddownasidestreet.

「Whew!」hesaid,drawinginhisbreath.

Ahalfblockaway,asmallgirlgazedathim.

「You』dbettersneak,」shecalled.

Hewalkedhomewardinablindingsnowstorm,reachingtheferrybydusk.Thecabinswerefilledwithcomfortablesouls,whostudiedhimcuriously.Hisheadwasstillinsuchawhirlthathefeltconfused.Allthewonderofthetwinklinglightsoftheriverinawhitestormpassedfornothing.Hetrudgeddoggedlyonuntilhereachedtheflat.Thereheenteredandfoundtheroomwarm.Carriewasgone.Acoupleofeveningpaperswerelyingonthetablewheresheleftthem.Helitthegasandsatdown.Thenhegotupandstrippedtoexaminehisshoulder.Itwasamerescratch.Hewashedhishandsandface,stillinabrownstudy,apparently,andcombedhishair.Thenhelookedforsomethingtoeat,andfinally,hishungergone,satdowninhiscomfortablerocking-chair.Itwasawonderfulrelief.

Heputhishandtohischin,forgetting,forthemoment,thepapers.

「Well,」hesaid,afteratime,hisnaturerecoveringitself,「that』saprettytoughgameoverthere.」

Thenheturnedandsawthepapers.Withhalfasighhepickedupthe「World.」

「StrikeSpreadinginBrooklyn,」heread.「RiotingBreaksOutinallPartsoftheCity.」

Headjustedhispaperverycomfortablyandcontinued.Itwastheonethinghereadwithabsorbinginterest.