Part 5 (2/2)

Firmstone ate in silence. Bennie watched with impa.s.sive dignity.

”Is your breakfast all right?” he finally asked, unbendingly.

”All right, Bennie. Better than I deserve, pouncing on you at this hour.” He again looked up at the clock.

”Come when you like, late or early, you'll get the best I can give you.”

Bennie was still rigid.

Firmstone was growing more puzzled. Bennie judged it time to support his opening.

”I'm an outspoken man, Mr. Firmstone, as becomes an American citizen. If I take an honest dollar, I'll give an honest return.”

”No one doubts that, Bennie.” Firmstone leaned back in his chair. He was going to see it out.

Bennie's support was rapidly advancing.

”You know, Mr. Firmstone, that I have my opinions and speak my mind about the oppression of the poor by the rich. I left my home in the East to come out here where it was less crowded and where there was more freedom. It's only change about, I find. In the East the rich were mostly Americans who oppressed the dagoes, being for their own good; but here it's the other way. Here's Mike the Finn, and Jansen the Swede, and Hansen the Dane, and Giuseppe the dago, and Pat the Irishman the boss of the whole dirty gang. Before G.o.d I take shame to myself for being an honest man and American born, and having this thieving gang to tell me how long I can work, and where I can buy, with a swat in the jaw and a knife in my back for daring to say my soul is my own and sticking to it against orders from the union.”

”Thunder and Mars, Bennie! What's the matter?”

Bennie's reserves came up with a rush. He thrust open the door of his room and jerked a blanket from the sacks which Zephyr had left there.

Firmstone gave a low whistle of surprise.

”There's matter for you, Mr. Firmstone.”

”Where under the sun did you get these?” Firmstone had opened one of the sacks and was looking at the ore.

”I didn't get them. Zephyr got them and asked me to see that you had them. There's a man for you! 'Twas little white paint the Lord had when he came West, but he put two good coats of it on Zephyr's back.”

Firmstone made no reply to Bennie's eulogy of Zephyr. He closed and retied the opened sacks.

”There's mighty interesting reading in these sacks, Bennie.”

”Those were Zephyr's words, sir.”

”That ore was taken from the mill last night. Luna was on s.h.i.+ft, Long was sick, and Luna put Morrison in his place.” Firmstone looked at Bennie inquisitively. He was trying his facts on the cook.

”That's so, sir,” remarked Bennie. ”But you'll never make a hen out of a rooster by pulling out his tail-feathers.”

Firmstone laughed.

”Well, Bennie, that's about the way I sized it up myself. Keep quiet about this. I want to get these sacks down to the office some time to-day.” He left the room and went to the office.

Luna reported to the office that night as usual before going on s.h.i.+ft.

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