the dwelling place of ligh-第70章
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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。 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 lan
