Part 45 (1/2)

”Oh, father!” With a gasp she burst into tears and threw herself in her father's arms.

”That is the work of Canter and his partner, McSheen,” said Mr. Leigh grimly.

It was not the only house in which the sending back of her baskets caused tears. In many a poor little tenement there was sore weeping because of the order--in not a few a turkey had not been known for years. Yet mainly the order was obeyed.

Next day Mr. Leigh received in his office a notification that a deputation of the operatives on his road demanded to see him immediately. He knew that they were coming; but he had not expected them quite so soon. However, he was quite prepared for them and they were immediately admitted. They were a deputation of five men, two of them elderly men, one hardly more than a youth, the other two of middle age.

At their head was a large, surly man with a new black hat and a new overcoat. He was the first man to enter the room and was manifestly the leader of the party. Mr. Leigh invited them to take seats and the two older men sat down. Two of the others shuffled a little in their places and turned their eyes on their leader.

”Well, what can I do for you?” inquired Mr. Leigh quietly. His good-humored face had suddenly taken on a cold, self-contained expression, as of a man who had pa.s.sed the worst.

Again there was a slight shuffle on the part of the others and one of the older men, rising from his seat and taking a step forward, said gravely: ”We have come to submit to you----”

His speech, however, was instantly interrupted by the large man in the overcoat. ”Not by a d----d sight!” he began. ”We have come to demand two things----”

Mr. Leigh nodded.

”Only two? What may they be, please?”

”First, that you discharge a man named Kenneth McNeil, who is a non-union man----”

Mr. Leigh's eyes contracted slightly.

”--and secondly, that you give a raise of wages of fifteen per cent. to every man in your employ--and every woman, too.”

”And what is the alternative, pray?”

”A strike.”

”By whom?”

”By every soul in your employ, and, if necessary, by every man and woman who works in this city--and if that is not enough, by a tie-up that will paralyze you, and all like you.”

Mr. Leigh nodded. ”I understand.”

A slight spark came into his eyes and his lips tightened just a shade, but when he spoke his voice was level and almost impersonal.

”Will nothing less satisfy you?” he inquired.

”Not a cent,” said the leader and two of the others looked at him with admiration. ”We want justice.”

Mr. Leigh, with his eye steadily on him, shook his head and a smile came into his eyes. ”No, you don't want justice,” he said to the leader, ”you want money.”

”Yes, our money.”

Again Mr. Leigh shook his head slowly with his eyes on him. ”No, not your money--mine. Who are you?” he demanded. ”Are you one of the employees of this road?”

”My name is Wringman and I am the head of this delegation.”

”Are you an employee of this Company?”