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I heard a man named Rolfe yesterday〃
The girl gave her a radiant smile。
〃Rolfe！ It is beautiful； what Rolfe said。 You think so？ I think so。 I
am for the cause； I hate the capitalist。 We will win； and get more
money； until we have all the money。 We will be rich。 And you； why do
you strike？〃
〃I was mad； too；〃 Janet replied simply。
〃Revenge！〃 exclaimed the girl； glittering again。 〃I understan'。 Here
come the scabs！ Now I show you。〃
The light had grown； but the stores were still closed and barred。 Along
Faber Street； singly or in little groups； anxiously glancing around them；
behind them； came the workers who still clung desperately to their jobs。
Gemma fairly darted at two girls who sought the edge of the sidewalk；
seizing them by the sleeves； and with piteous expressions they listened
while she poured forth on them a stream of Italian。 After a moment one
tore herself away； but the other remained and began to ask questions。
Presently she turned and walked slowly away in the direction from which
she had come。
〃I get her；〃 exclaimed Gemma； triumphantly。
〃What did you say？〃 asked Janet。
〃Listenthat she take the bread from our mouths； she is traditorescab。
We strike for them； too； is it not so？
It is no use for them to work for wages that starve。 We win the strike；
we get good wages for all。 Here comes anothershe is a Jewessyou try；
you spik。〃
Janet failed with the Jewess； who obstinately refused to listen or reply
as the two walked along with her； one on either side。 Near West Street
they spied a policeman； and desisted。 Up and down Faber Street；
everywhere； the game went on： but the police were watchful； and once a
detachment of militia passed。 The picketing had to be done quickly； in
the few minutes that were to elapse before the gates should close。
Janet's blood ran faster； she grew excited； absorbed； bolder as she
perceived the apologetic attitude of the 〃scabs〃 and she began to despise
them with Gemma's heartiness； and soon she had lost all sense of surprise
at finding herself arguing； pleading； appealing to several women in turn；
fluently； in the language of the industrial revolution。 Somebecause
she was an Americanexamined her with furtive curiosity； others
pretended not to understand； accelerating their pace。 She gained no
converts that morning； but one girl； pale； anemic with high cheek bones
evidently a Slavlistened to her intently。
〃I gotta right to work；〃 she said。
〃Not if others will starve because you work；〃 objected Janet。
〃If I don't work I starve；〃 said the girl。
〃No； the Committee will take care of youthere will be food for all。
How much do you get now？〃
〃Four dollar and a half。〃
〃You starve now；〃 Janet declared contemptuously。 〃The quicker you join
us； the sooner you'll get a living wage。〃
The girl was not quite convinced。 She stood for a while undecided； and
then ran abruptly off in the direction of West Street。 Janet sought for
others； but they had ceased coming； only the scattered； prowling
picketers remained。
Over the black rim of the Clarendon Mill to the eastward the sky had
caught fire。 The sun had risen； the bells were ringing riotously；
resonantly in the clear； cold air。 Another working day had begun。
Janet； benumbed with cold； yet agitated and trembling because of her
unwonted experience of the morning； made her way back to Fillmore Street。
She was prepared to answer any questions her mother might ask； as they
ate their dismal breakfast； and Hannah asked no questions； she longed to
blurt out where she had been； to announce that she had cast her lot with
the strikers； the foreigners； to defend them and declare that these were
not to blame for the misfortunes of the family； but men like Ditmar and
the owners of the mills； the capitalists。 Her mother； she reflected
bitterly； had never once betrayed any concern as to her shattered
happiness。 But gradually； as from time to time she glanced covertly at
Hannah's face； her resentment gave way to apprehension。 Hannah did not
seem now even to be aware of her presence； this persistent apathy filled
her with a dread she did not dare to acknowledge。
〃Mother！〃 she cried at last。
Hannah started。 〃Have you finished？〃 she asked。
〃Yes。〃
〃You've b'en out in the cold； and you haven't eaten much。〃 Janet fought
back her tears。 〃Oh yes； I have；〃 she managed to reply； convinced of the
futility of speech； of all attempts to arouse her mother to a realization
of the situation。 Perhapsthough her heart contracted at the thought
perhaps it was a merciful thing！ But to live； day after day； in the
presence of that comfortless apathy！。。。 Later in the morning she went
out； to walk the streets； and again in the afternoon； and twice she
turned her face eastward； in the direction of the Franco…Belgian Hall。
Her courage failed her。 How would these foreigners and the strange
leaders who had come to organize them receive her； Ditmar's stenographer？
She would have to tell them she was Ditmar's stenographer； they would
find it out。 And now she was filled with doubts about Rolfe。 Had he
really thought she could be of use to them！ Around the Common； in front
of the City Hall men went about their affairs alertly； or stopped one
another to talk about the strike。 In Faber Street； indeed； an air of
suppressed excitement prevailed； newsboys were shouting out extras； but
business went on as though nothing had happened to disturb it。 There
was； however； the spectacle； unusual at this time of day； of operatives
mingling with the crowd； while policemen stood watchfully at the corners；
a company of soldiers marched by； drawing the people in silence to the
curb。 Janet scanned the faces of these idle operatives； they seemed for
the most part either calm or sullen； wanting the fire and passion of the
enthusiasts who had come out to picket in the early hours of the day； she
sought vainly for the Italian girl with whom she had made friends。
Despondency grew in her； a sense of isolation； of lacking any one； now；
to whom she might turn； and these feelings were intensified by the air of
confidence prevailing here。 The strike was crushed； injustice and wrong
had triumphedwould always triumph。 In front of the Banner office she
heard a man say to an acquaintance who had evidently just arrived in
town：
〃The Chippering？ Sure； that's running。 By to…morrow Ditmar'll have a
full force there。 Now that the militia has come； I guess we've got this
thing scotched。。。〃
Just how and when that order and confidence of Faber Street began to be
permeated by disquietude and alarm； Janet could not have said。 Something
was happening； somewhereor about to happen。 An obscure； apparently
telepathic process was at work。 People began to hurry westward； a few
had abandoned the sidewalk and were running； while other pedestrians；
more timid； were equally concerned to turn and hasten in the opposite
direction。 At the corner of West Street was gathering a crowd that each
moment grew larger and larger； despite the efforts of the police to
disperse it。 These were strikers； angry strikers。 They blocked the
traffic； halted the clanging trolleys； surged into the mouth of West
Street； booing and cursing at the soldiers whose threatening line of
bayonets stretched across that thoroughfare half…way down toward the
canal； guarding the detested Chippering Mill。 Bordering West Street；
behind the company's lodging…houses on the canal； were certain low
buildings； warehouses； and on their roofs tense figures could be seen
standing out against the sky。 The vanguard of the mob； thrust on by
increasing pressure from behind； tumbled backward the thin cordon of
police； drew nearer and nearer the bayonets； while the soldiers grimly
held their ground。 A voice was heard on the roof； a woman in the front
rank of the mob gave a warning shriek； and two swift streams of icy water
burst forth from the warehouse parapet； tearing the snow from the
cobbles； flying in heavy； stinging spray as it advanced and mowed the
strikers down and drove them like flies toward Faber Street。 Screams of
fright； curses of defiance and hate mingled with the hissing of the water
and the noise of its impact with the groundlike the tearing of heavy
sail…cloth。 Then； from somewhere near the edge of the mob； came a
single； sharp detonation； quickly followed by anotherbelow the watchmen
on the roof a window crashed。 The nozzles on the roof were raised； their
streams； sweeping around in a great semi…circle； bowled down the rioters
below the tell…tale wisps of smoke； and no sooner had the avalanche of
water passed than the policemen who； forewarned； had sought refuge along
the walls； rushed forward and seized a man who lay gasping on the snow。
Dazed； half drowned； he had dropped his pistol。 They handeuffed him and
dragged him away through the ranks of the soldiers； which opened for him
to pass。 The mob； including those who had been flung down； bruised and
drenched； and who had painfully got to their feet again； had backed
beyond the reach of the water； and for a while held that ground； until
above its hoarse； defiant curses was heard； from behind； the throbbing of
d