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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 represent