“But we can hold up the consequences if they go on a spree,” Steele replied. “Most of them are satisfied with the work and pay and grub; they don’t want to go.”
“No, but they like whiskey too, free whiskey in particular. They would say they’re not getting drunk––no man ever really expects to when he starts drinking––and talk about their ‘rights.’ There are two or three fellows in camp now who are doing a lot of mouthing about labor’s rights; I. W. W.’s, I’d say. Shouldn’t be surprised if they were the ring-leaders.”
“If more whiskey comes, we must beat them to it.”
“That’s my notion,” Atkinson said, with a nod. “I didn’t locate the booze fountain last night, but I did this morning. Took a horse at daylight and rode along the hills; about a mile south in some trees at the foot of the mountain, I came across a case of empty bottles and a keg half-full of water. That was all, but it showed where the ‘birthday party’ was.”
“That’s the place to watch, then. Better send a trusty man there to report to us immediately if he sees signs of a supply arriving for to-night. Half a dozen of us with axes will soon start a temperance wave in that locality.”
In accordance with this instruction the superintendent dispatched a reliable man to maintain guard at the spot; and Weir, feeling that all had been done that was possible under the circumstances, gave his attention to other matters.
But he perceived that with this “liquor attack” in the air, for it was but another of his enemies’ moves against him, of course, directed with the purpose of creating internal disorder, he must postpone his trip to the headwaters 203 of Terry Creek. Knowing the crafty, persistent, conscienceless character of the four men inspiring the trick, he was under no delusion that the “free whiskey” would end with a single case of bottles. Among three hundred men that would amount to but two or three drinks apiece––a mere taste, only a teaser. And because it was only a teaser, the men would want more. If he could carry them over this idle Sunday sober, they would be at work on the morrow and the chief danger be passed.
Unfortunately a manager cannot take his workmen into his confidence in such a case and explain the nature of such a cunning attack; the thing was too complex, and their untutored minds would fail to perceive if they did not actually reject the explanation, in jealousy for their “rights” concluding that they were being hoodwinked. By very perverseness they would refuse to deny themselves a free gift of whiskey.
With Pollock, however, whose interest as a director was vital, he could talk in full expectation of being understood. And moreover, owing to the entangled condition into which the company’s and his own personal affairs had come, strict honor required that he inform his visitor of the entire situation and offer, if in the director’s view such action would best serve the company’s ends, to resign.
In his office immediately after dinner he gave the easterner a complete account of happenings in San Mateo since his arrival as manager, with a statement of his father’s earlier residence here, of the fraud practiced by Sorenson and his companions on him and his tragically ruined life.