按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
East Side。 But even before I left London I had read a book on
Syndicalism by one of the great Frenchmen； and after a while I began to
realize that the proletariat would never get anywhere through socialism。〃
〃The proletariat？〃 The word was new to Janet's ear。
〃The great mass of the workers； the oppressed； the people you saw here
to…day。 Socialism is not for them。 Socialismpolitical socialism
betrays them into the hands of the master class。 Direct action is the
thing； the general strike； war；the new creed； the new religion that
will bring salvation。 I joined the Industrial Workers of the World that
is the American organization of Syndicalism。 I went west； to Colorado
and California and Oregon； I preached to the workers wherever there was
an uprising； I met the leaders； Ritter and Borkum and Antonelli and
Jastro and Nellie Bond； I was useful to them； I understand Syndicalism as
they do not。 And now we are here； to sow the seed in the East。 Come；〃
he said； slipping his arm through hers； 〃I will take you to Headquarters；
I will enlist you； you shall be my recruit。 I will give you the cause；
the religion you need。〃
She longed to go； and yet she drew back； puzzled。 The man fired and
fascinated her； but there were reservations； apprehensions concerning
him； felt rather than reasoned。 Because of her state of rebellion； of
her intense desire to satisfy in action the emotion aroused by a sense of
wrong； his creed had made a violent appeal； but in his voice； in his
eyes； in his manner she had been quick to detect a personal； sexual note
that disturbed and alarmed her； that implied in him a lack of unity。
〃I can't； to…night；〃 she said。 〃I must go homemy mother is all alone。
But I want to help； I want to do something。〃
They were standing on a corner； under a street lamp。 And she averted her
eyes from his glance。
〃Then come to…morrow；〃 he said eagerly。 〃You know where Headquarters is；
in the Franco…Belgian Hall？〃
〃What could I do？〃 she asked。
〃You？ You could help in many waysamong the women。 Do you know what
picketing is？〃
〃You mean keeping the operatives out of the mills？〃
〃Yes； in the morning； when they go to work。 And out of the Chippering
Mill； especially。 Ditmar； the agent of that mill； is the ablest of the
lot； I'm told。 He's the man we want to cripple。〃
〃Cripple！〃 exclaimed Janet。
〃Oh； I don't mean to harm him personally。〃 Rolfe did not seem to notice
her tone。 〃But he intends to crush the strike； and I understand he's
importing scabs here to finish out an ordera big order。 If it weren't
for him； we'd have an easier fight； he stiffens up the others。 There's
always one man like that； in every place。 And what we want to do is to
make him shut down； especially。〃
〃I see；〃 said Janet。
〃You'll come to Headquarters？〃 Rolfe repeated。
〃Yes； I'll come； to…morrow；〃 she promised。
After she had left him she walked rapidly through several streets； not
heeding her directionsuch was the driving power of the new ideas he had
given her。 Certain words and phrases he had spoken rang in her head； and
like martial music kept pace with her steps。 She strove to remember all
that he had said； to grasp its purport； and because it seemed recondite；
cosmic； it appealed to her and excited her the more。 And he； the man
himself； had exerted a kind of hypnotic force that partially had
paralyzed her faculties and aroused her fears while still in his
presence： her first feeling in escaping had been one of reliefand then
she began to regret not having gone to Headquarters。 Hadn't she been
foolish？ In the retrospect； the elements in him that had disturbed her
were less disquieting； his intellectual fascination was enhanced： and in
that very emancipation from cant and convention； characteristic of the
Order to which he belonged； had lain much of his charm。 She had
attracted him as a woman； there was no denying that。 He； who had studied
and travelled and known life in many lands； had discerned in her； Janet
Bumpus； some quality to make him desire her； acknowledge her as a
comrade！ Tremblingly she exulted in the possession of that quality
whatever it might be。 Ditmar； too； had perceived it！ He had not known
how to value it。 With this thought came a flaming suggestionDitmar
should see her with this man Rolfe； she would make him scorch with the
fires of jealousy。 Ditmar should know that she had joined his enemies；
the Industrial Workers of the World。 Of the world！ Her shackles had
been cast off at last！。。。 And then； suddenly； she felt tired。 The
prospect of returning to Fillmore Street； to the silent flatmade the
more silent by her mother's tragic presenceoverwhelmed her。 The ache
in her heart began to throb again。 How could she wait until the dawn of
another day？。。。
In the black hours of the morning； with the siren dinning in her ears a
hoarse call to war； Janet leaped from her bed and began to dress。 There
is a degree of cold so sharp that it seems actually to smell； and as she
stole down the stairs and out of the door she shivered； assailed by a
sense of loneliness and fear。 Yet an insistent voice urged her on；
whispering that to remain at home； inactive； was to go mad； salvation and
relief lay in plunging into the struggle； in contributing her share
toward retribution and victory。 Victory！ In Faber Street the light of
the electric arcs tinged the snow with blue； and the flamboyant
advertisements of breakfast foods； cigarettes and ales seemed but the
mockery of an activity now unrealizable。 The groups and figures
scattered here and there farther down the street served only to
exaggerate its wide emptiness。 What could these do； what could she
accomplish against the mighty power of the mills？ Gradually； as she
stood gazing； she became aware of a beating of feet upon the snow； over
her shoulder she caught the gleam of steel。 A squad of soldiers muffled
in heavy capes and woolen caps was marching along the car…tracks。 She
followed them。 At the corner of West Street； in obedience to a sharp
command she saw them halt； turn； and advance toward a small crowd
gathered there。 It scattered； only to collect again when the soldiers
had passed on。 Janet joined them。 She heard men cursing the soldiers。
The women stood a little aside； some were stamping to keep warm； and one；
with a bundle in her arms which Janet presently perceived to be a child；
sank down on a stone step and remained there； crouching； resigned。
〃We gotta right to stay here； in the street。 We gotta right to live； I
guess。〃 The girl's teeth were chattering； but she spoke with such
vehemence and spirit as to attract Janet's attention。 〃You worked in the
Chippering； like meyes？〃 she asked。
Janet nodded。 The faded； lemon…coloured shawl the girl had wrapped about
her head emphasized the dark beauty of her oval face。 She smiled； and
her white teeth were fairly dazzling。 Impulsively she thrust her arm
through Janet's。
〃You Americanyou comrade； you come to help？〃 she asked。
〃I've never done any picketing。〃
〃I showa you。〃
The dawn had begun to break； revealing little by little the outlines of
cruel； ugly buildings； the great mill looming darkly at the end of the
street； and Janet found it scarcely believable that only a little while
ago she had hurried thither in the mornings with anticipation and joy in
her heart； eager to see Ditmar； to be near him！ The sight of two
policemen hurrying toward them from the direction of the canal aroused
her。 With sullen murmurs the group started to disperse； but the woman
with the baby； numb with cold； was slow in rising； and one of the
policemen thrust out his club threateningly。
〃Move on； you can't sit here；〃 he said。
With a lithe movement like the spring of a cat the Italian girl flung
herself between thema remarkable exhibition of spontaneous
inflammability； her eyes glittered like the points of daggers； and； as
though they had been dagger points； the policeman recoiled a little。 The
act； which was absolutely natural； superb； electrified Janet； restored in
an instant her own fierceness of spirit。 The girl said something
swiftly； in Italian； and helped the woman to rise； paying no more
attention to the policeman。 Janet walked on； but she had not covered
half the block before she was overtaken by the girl； her anger had come
and gone in a flash； her vivacity had returned； her vitality again found
expression in an abundant good nature and good will。 She asked Janet's
name； volunteering the information that her own was Gemma； that she was a
〃fine speeder〃 in the Chippering Mill； where she had received nearly
seven dollars a week。 She had been among the first to walk out。
〃Why did you walk out？〃 asked Janet curiously。
〃Why？ I get mad when I know that my wages is cut。 I want the moneyI
get married。〃
〃Is that why you are striking？〃 asked Janet curiously。
〃That is whyof course。〃
〃Then you haven't heard any of the speakers？ They say it is for a cause…
…the workers are striking for freedom； some day they will own the mills。
I heard a man named Rolfe yesterday〃
The girl gave her a radiant smile。
〃Rolfe！ It is beautiful； what Rolfe said。