The old man lifted both fists like a dauntless Samson, and fixed me with his sightless eyes. He had paid hellishly for living up to his convictions, and here they seemed absolutely unshaken.
“That’s all right, too, Samuel,” I said, feebly enough, “but how do you feel now? Nobody compensated you for being laid out in that big strike, and your business was ruined, and here you are emptying the waste-basket. How about that? I think it’s fierce that you got injured, but those men in the Pullman strike weren’t out to break up society. They were fighting for their rights, that’s all. Don’t you think so now?”
“No, sir. The solid class of the community must be depended upon to preserve law and order. I think that it was the duty of the business men of Chicago to put down ruffianism in that strike and to smite whenever it raised its head. Smite it hip and thigh, as the saying is. Oh, no. Young men have fine notions about these things, ha, ha! You’ll excuse me, won’t you, but you can’t allow violence and disorder to run riot and then talk of men’s ‘rights’ as an excuse. Ah, but it was a great misfortune for me, I confess. It was the end of all my hopes. The doctors thought at first that the sight might be restored, but I have never seen a glimmer of light since. But we mustn’t repine, must we? That’d never do.”
“Samuel!” Mrs. Angier’s sharp voice pierced the room.
“Good gracious, back so soon. You’ll excuse me, I’m sure.... Coming, Adelaide, coming!”
He groped for his bucket, with its seedy sponge all but submerged in the dirty water. The water splashed a little as he hurriedly made for the door.
“Oh, dear,” he muttered, “Adelaide won’t like that!”
“AND THE EARTH WAS DRY”
Like all great ideas it seemed perfectly simple when Harrod first disclosed it to his unimportant partner John Prentiss.
“Of course we’ll get back of it. We’ve got to,” said Harrod, in the sanctity of the directors’ room. “You’ve been down to Hopeville on pay day. It’s the limit. Ordinary days there’s practically no trouble. Pay day’s a madhouse. How many men, do you think, had to have the company doctor last pay day?”