Part 6 (2/2)

”Not me,” said Tom. ”You can stay and listen if you want to.”

Mrs. Barry sat down. ”I suppose you don't mind tellin' us how you're goin' to get the men in line,” said Pete.

”My platform's going to be an honest administration of the affairs of the union, and every man to be treated like a man. That's simple enough, ain't it?--and strong enough? And a demand for more wages. I'm going to talk these things to every man I meet. If they can kick Foley out, and get honest management and decent treatment, just by all coming out and voting, don't you think they're going to do it? They'll all fall in line.”

”That demand for more wages is a good card. Our wage contract with the bosses expires May first, you know. The men all want more money; they need it; they deserve it. If I talk for it Foley'll be certain to oppose it, and that'll weaken him.

”I wanted to talk this over with you fellows to get your opinion. I thought you might suggest something. But even if you don't like the scheme, and even if you don't want to join in the fight, I'm going to stick it out. My mind's made up.”

Tom sank back into his chair and waited for the two men to speak.

”Well, your scheme don't sound just like an insane asylum,” Pete admitted. ”Count me in.”

Tom looked across at Barry. Barry's face was turned down and his hands were inter-gripped. Tom understood. Barry had been out of work much during the last three years, and recent illness in the family had endowed him with debts. If he actively engaged in Tom's movement, and Foley triumphed, Foley's vengeance would see to it that Barry worked no more in New York. It was too great a risk to ask of a man situated as Barry was.

”I understand, Barry,” said Tom. ”That's all right. Don't you do it.”

Barry made no answer.

Mrs. Barry put her hand on her husband's shoulder. ”Jim, ain't we goin'

to be in on this fight against Foley?”

”You know why, Mary.” There was a catch in his voice.

”Yes. Because of me an' the kids. You, I know you've got as much nerve as anybody. We're goin' in, Jim. An' if we lose”--she tried to smile--”why, I ain't much of a consumptive, am I? I'll take in was.h.i.+n'

to help out.”

Tom turned his face about. Pete did the same, and their eyes met. Pete's face was set hard. He growled out something that sounded very much like an oath.

It was midnight when Tom left. The strike which Foley called on the St.

Etienne Hotel the next day gave him time for much thinking about his campaign. He acquainted several of the more influential members of the union with his purpose, asking them to keep secret what he said till he was ready to begin an open fight. All gave him sympathy, but most of them hesitated when it came to promising active a.s.sistance. ”Now if Foley only couldn't do us out of our jobs, in case you lose, we'd be right with you. But----” Fear inclined them to let bad enough alone.

This set Tom to thinking again. On Monday evening--that afternoon Foley had ordered the men back to work on the St. Etienne Hotel--Tom announced a new plan to Barry and Pete. ”We want to get every argument we can to use on the boys. It struck me we might make some use of the bosses. It's to their interest, as well as to ours, for us to have the right sort of delegate. If we could say that the bosses are sick of Foley and want us to get a decent man, and will guarantee to keep us at work no matter what Foley says,--that might have influence on some of the weak-kneed brothers.”

”The boys'd say the bosses ain't runnin' the union,” said Pete. ”If you get the bosses on your side, the boys'll all stand by Foley.”

”I thought of that. That's what'd happen if we got mixed up with anybody on the Executive Committee of the bosses except Baxter. The boys think Murphy, Bobbs, and Isaacs are pretty small potatoes, and they think Driscoll's not on the square. I guess it's a case of the pot calling the kettle black, but you know what Foley says about Driscoll. But with Baxter it's different. He's friendly to the union, and the boys know it.

A word from him might help a lot. And he hates Foley, and Foley has no use for him. I've heard Buck say as much.”

”It's worth tryin', anyhow,” Pete and Barry agreed.

”Well, I'm going to brace him to-morrow after work,” said Tom.

Chapter V

<script>