to him that hath-第39章
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！
element which had hitherto recognised the leadership of Brother
Simmons。 Day and night； with a zeal that never tired； he laboured
at the work of organising and disciplining the various factions and
parties in the ranks of labour into a single compact body of
fighting men under a single command。 McNish was in the grip of one
of the mightiest of human passions。 Since that day in the Perrotte
home； when he had seen the girl that he loved practically offer
herself； as he thought； to another man； he had resolutely kept
himself away from her。 He had done with her forever and he had
torn out of his heart the genuine friendship which he had begun to
hold toward the man who had deprived him of her love。 But deep in
his heart he nourished a passion for vengeance that became an
obsession； a madness with him。 He merely waited the opportunity to
gratify his passion。
He learned that the Maitland Mills were in deep water； financially。
His keen economic instinct and his deep study of economic movements
told him that a serious financial crisis； continent…wide； was
inevitable and imminent。 It only needed a successful labour war to
give the final touch that would bring the whole industrial fabric
tumbling into ruin。 The desire for immediate revenge upon the man
toward whom he had come to cherish an implacable hatred would not
suffer him to await the onset of a nation…wide industrial crisis。
He fancied that he saw the opportunity for striking an immediate
blow here in Blackwater。
He steadily thwarted Maitland's attempts to get into touch with
him； whether at the works or in his own home； where Maitland had
become a frequent visitor。 He was able only partially to allay his
mother's anxiety and her suspicion that all was not well with him。
That shrewd old lady knew her son well enough to suspect that some
untoward circumstance had befallen him； but she knew also that she
could do no more than bide her time。
With the workers of the Maitland Mills circumstances favoured the
plans of McNish and the Executive of the allied unions。 The new
manager was beginning to make his hand felt upon the wheel。 Checks
upon wastage in labour time and in machine time were being
instituted； everywhere there was a tightening up of loose screws
and a knitting up of loose ends； with the inevitable consequent
irritation。 This was especially true in the case of Tony Perrotte；
to whom discipline was ever an external force and never an inward
compulsion。 Inexact in everything he did； irregular in his habits；
irresponsible in his undertakings； he met at every turn the
pressure of the firm； resolute hand of the new manager。 Deep down
in his heart there was an abiding admiration and affection for Jack
Maitland； but he loathed discipline and kicked against it。
The first of May is ever a day of uncertainty and unrest in the
world of labour。 It is a time for readjustment； for the fixing of
wage scales； for the assertion of labour rights and the ventilating
of labour wrongs。 It is a time favourable to upheaval； and is
therefore awaited by all employers of labour with considerable
anxiety。
On the surface there was not a ripple to indicate that as far as
the Maitland Mills were concerned there was beneath a surging tide
of unrest。 So undisturbed indeed was the surface that the
inexperienced young manager was inclined to make light of the
anxieties of his father； and was confident in his assurance that
the danger of a labour crisis had； for the present at least； been
averted。
Out of the blue heaven fell the bolt。 The mails on May Day morning
brought to the desk of every manager of every industry in
Blackwater； and to every building contractor； a formal document
setting forth in terms courteous but firm the demands of the
executives of the allied unions of Blackwater。
〃Well； it has come； boy；〃 was Maitland's greeting to his son； who
came into the office for the usual morning consultation。
〃What？〃 said Jack。
〃War；〃 replied his father； tossing him the letter and watching his
face as he read it。
Jack handed him the letter without a word。
〃Well； what do you think of it？〃 said his father。
〃It might be worse。〃
〃Worse？〃 roared his father。 〃Worse？ How can it be worse？〃
〃Well； it is really a demand for an increase in wages。 The others；
I believe； are mere frills。 And between ourselves； sir； though I
haven't gone into it very carefully； I am not sure but that an
increase in wages is about due。〃
Maitland glowered at his son in a hurt and hopeless rage。
〃An increase in wages due？〃 he said。 〃After the increase of six
months ago？ The thing is preposterous。 The ungrateful
scoundrels！〃
At this point the telephone upon his desk rang。 Jack took up the
receiver。
〃Good morning； Mr。 McGinnis。 。 。 。 Yes； he is here。 Yes。 。 。 。
At least； I suppose so。 。 。 。 Oh； I don't know。 。 。 。 It is
rather peremptory。 。 。 。 All right； sir； I shall tell him。〃
〃Let me talk to him；〃 said his father； impatiently。
〃Never mind just now； Dad；〃 said Jack； with his hand over the
receiver。 Then through the telephone he said： 〃All right； sir； he
will await you here。 Good morning。〃
〃。 。 。 The old boy is wild；〃 said Jack with a slight laugh。 〃The
wires are quite hot。〃
〃This is no joke； Jack； I can tell you。 McGinnis is coming over；
is he？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Jack； 〃but we won't get much help from him。〃
〃Why not？〃 inquired his father。 〃He is a very shrewd and able
business man。〃
〃He may be all that； sir； but in a case like this； if you really
want my opinion； and I have no wish to be disrespectful； he is a
hot…headed ass。 Just the kind of employer to rejoice the heart of
a clever labour leader who is out for trouble。 Dad；〃 and Jack's
voice became very earnest； 〃let's work this out by ourselves。 We
can handle our own men better without the help of McGinnis or any
other。〃
〃That is just the trouble。 Look at this precious document； 'The
Allied Unions。' What have I got to do with them？ And signed by
Simmons and McDonough。 Who is McDonough； pray？〃
〃McDonough？ Oh； I know McDonough。 He is a little like McGinnis
big…hearted； hot…headed； good in a scrap； useless in a conference。
But I suggest； sir； that we ignore the slight unpleasant
technicalities in the manner and method of negotiation and try to
deal with our own people in a reasonable way。〃
〃I am ready always to meet my own people； but I refuse utterly to
deal with this committee！〃 It was not often that Mr。 Maitland
became profane； but in his description of this particular group of
individuals his ordinary English suffered a complete collapse。
〃Dad； McGinnis will be here in a few minutes。 I should like to
suggest one or two things； if you will allow me。〃
〃Go on；〃 said his father quickly。
〃Dad； this is war； and I have learned a little about that game
'over there。' And I have learned something about it in my athletic
activities。 The first essential is to decline to play the enemy's
game。 Let's discover his plan of campaign。 As I read this
document； the thing that hits my eye is this： do they really want
the things they ask for； or is the whole thing a blind？ What I
mean is； do they really want war or peace？ I say let's feel them
out。 If they are after peace； the thing is easy。 If they want
war； this may come to be a very serious thing。 Meantime； Dad；
let's not commit ourselves to McGinnis。 Let's play it alone。〃
Mr。 Maitland's lips had set in a thin； hard line。 His face was
like a mask of grey steel。 He sat thinking silently。
〃Here he comes；〃 said Jack； looking out of the window。 〃Dad； you
asked me to come into this with you。 Let's play the game together。
I found it wise to place the weight on the defence line。 Will you
play defence in this？〃
The lines in his father's face began to relax。
〃All right； boy； we'll play it together； and meantime I shall play
defence。〃
〃By Jove； Dad；〃 cried Jack； in a tone of exultant confidence；
〃we'll beat 'em。 And now here comes that old Irish fire…eater。
I'll go。 No alliance； Dad； remember。〃 His father nodded as Jack
left the room； to return almost immediately with Mr。 McGinnis；
evidently quite incoh
